Question 1

According to Barnard, a manager's commands will be accepted over the long term if ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Barnard, a manager's commands will be accepted over the long term if they are authenticated as coming from a manager. This means that the subordinates must recognize the manager's authority to give commands and that the commands must be clear and understood. The use of formal communication channels may help to ensure that the commands are authenticated and therefore more likely to be accepted.

Question 2

The three main types of authority that can exist within an organization are ________.

Accepted Answer

Line, staff, and functional are the three main types of authority within an organization, where line authority involves direct control over subordinates, staff authority provides support and advice, and functional authority allows control over specific processes or tasks.

Question 3

A manager who is directly responsible for executing a function has ________.

Accepted Answer

Operating responsibility refers to the direct responsibility for executing a function or task. This is different from general or consultative responsibility, which may involve a broader oversight or advisory role, and cyclical responsibility, which implies responsibility for periodic or recurring tasks. Specific responsibility is not a commonly used term in management, but can be interpreted as similar to operating responsibility.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the four key dimensions for appraising manager responsibility?

Accepted Answer

The four key dimensions for appraising manager responsibility are behavior with upper management, behavior with other groups, behavior with subordinates, and personal attitudes and values. Behavior with stockholders is not one of the key dimensions.

Question 5

Jack is the business head at Micron Computers. The firm has set its revenue target for the year at $5 million. Jack will have to ensure that this financial target is met by overseeing the performance of the firm's various departments and providing necessary direction and guidance. In this scenario, Jack has ________.

Accepted Answer

Jack has general responsibility as he is overseeing the overall performance of the firm's departments to meet the revenue target, which involves a broad scope of duties rather than focusing on specific tasks or operations.

Question 6

In terms of personal attitudes and values, responsible managers ________.

Accepted Answer

Responsible managers conserve corporate resources as if the resources were their own. This reflects their attitude of responsibility towards the organization's resources and their personal values of conservation and frugality. The other options are not necessarily indicative of responsible managerial attitudes and values.

Question 7

Barnard defines ________ as the character of communication by which an order is accepted by an individual as governing the actions that individual takes within the system.

Accepted Answer

Barnard defines authority as the character of communication by which an order is accepted by an individual as governing the actions that individual takes within the system. Accountability refers to being responsible for one's actions, while responsibility refers to a duty or obligation to do something. Personal attitude and influence are not directly related to the concept defined by Barnard.

Question 8

The right to perform or command is ________.

Accepted Answer

The right to perform or command refers to the power or the right that is granted to individuals to perform certain actions or make decisions. This is known as authority. Responsibility refers to a sense of duty or obligation to complete a task or achieve a goal. Delegation is the act of assigning tasks or responsibilities to others. Accountability refers to the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions or decisions. Centralization refers to the concentration of power or authority in a single entity or individual. Therefore, the best choice is B, authority.

Question 9

Responsible managers make sure that any gaps between their areas and those of other managers are securely filled. This is classified under which of the following key dimensions of responsible management behavior?

Accepted Answer

This behavior falls under the key dimension of behavior with other groups, as it involves filling gaps between the manager's area and other managers' areas.

Question 10

According to Barnard, to enhance the probability of acceptance of authority, communication channels should be ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Barnard, formal communication channels are necessary to establish authority and legitimacy. They provide a clear and consistent flow of information, which helps to avoid misunderstandings and promotes acceptance of authority. Informal channels, on the other hand, can undermine authority and lead to confusion and conflict. Lateral channels and customized channels may be useful in some contexts, but they are not essential for establishing authority. Cultural-fairness is also important in communication, but it is not directly related to the acceptance of authority.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about authority?

Accepted Answer

Authority allows its holder to allocate the organization's resources to achieve organizational objectives. Option A describes responsibility, B describes influence, C describes commitment, and E describes coercion.

Question 12

Jack is the business head at Micron Computers. The firm has set its revenue target for the year at $5 million. Jack will have to ensure that this financial target is met by providing necessary direction and guidance to the different department heads who are directly responsible for the execution of the work performed by their departments. In this scenario, the organization's various department heads have _________.

Accepted Answer

The department heads are directly responsible for the execution of work performed by their departments, which indicates that they have operating responsibility.

Question 13

Top Pumps Ltd, a company that manufactures rubber seals for water pumps, has a total of 200 employees. Max is an assembly line worker whose job is to fix a rubber component into the spring coil of each unit that is produced. He is a crucial part in the assembly line of 30 workers but has just this limited role. Which of the following is most similar to Max's role?

Accepted Answer

Lloyd's role is similar to Max's as both have specific tasks within a larger process, without overseeing others or having multiple responsibilities.

Question 14

Barnard maintains that authority will be accepted under all the following conditions , EXCEPT when ________.

Accepted Answer

Barnard states that authority will be accepted when the individual believes the order is consistent with the purpose of the organization, can understand it, sees it as compatible with personal interests, and is mentally and physically able to comply. The exception is when the individual considers informal communication channels to be more credible than formal ones.

Question 15

Which of the following would be least likely to enhance acceptance of a manager's commands?

Accepted Answer

Use of informal communication channels may not lead to enhanced acceptance of a manager's commands as it may appear to go against the formal authority structure in the organization and lead to confusion and lack of clarity among subordinates about the manager's orders. It may also lead to mistrust and decreased respect for the manager's authority.

Question 16

In terms of their attitude toward and conduct with subordinates, responsible managers ________.

Accepted Answer

Responsible managers pass praise and credit along to subordinates as a way to motivate them and build their confidence. This helps to create a positive work environment and maintain high levels of employee morale.

Question 17

Which of the following key dimensions of responsible management behavior is concerned with managers accepting criticism for mistakes and buffering their groups from excessive criticism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following key dimensions of...

Question 18

A manager who guides and directs the execution of a function through the person accepting operating responsibility has ________.

Accepted Answer

A manager who guides and directs the execution of a function through the person accepting operating responsibility has general responsibility.

Question 19

A manager responsible for executing a limited portion of a function has ________.

Accepted Answer

A manager responsible for executing a limited portion of a function has specific responsibility, as their duties are focused on a specific area rather than generalized. Choice C could also be a possible answer, as operating responsibility implies a role in executing a specific function or process. However, it does not specify the limited nature of the manager's responsibility as clearly as specific responsibility. Choices A, D, and E are not appropriate, as they either imply a broader or more consultative role, or do not specify the limited nature of the manager's responsibility.

Question 20

Lisa recently joined the HR department at Tandem Corp, a cycle manufacturing firm. In her role as an HR executive, she is responsible for answering all employee queries on payroll issues. In this scenario, Lisa has ________.

Accepted Answer

Lisa has specific responsibility related to answering employee queries on payroll issues, which is a clearly defined and specific task assigned to her as an HR executive.

Quiz 12: Responsibility, Authority, and Delegation