Question 1

When all employees are exceedingly clear about what is expected from them, guidelines for task completion are clear and understood, and rules and regulations in fulfilling their duties are clearly defined, it is likely the ____ leadership style is in place.

Accepted Answer

The autocratic leadership style involves a clear chain of command, where the leader holds all the power and makes all the decisions. In such a style, expectations and guidelines are clearly defined, and rules and regulations are strictly enforced. Therefore, when employees are exceedingly clear about what is expected from them, it is likely the autocratic leadership style is in place.

Question 2

A positive problem may be viewed as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A positive problem can be defined as an opportunity or a favorable situation that requires action to optimize results. The other answer choices are not as fitting as 'opportunity' to describe a positive problem.

Question 3

Leadership can best be defined as the ability to

Accepted Answer

Leadership is about influencing or inspiring others towards a common goal or vision. While identifying problems, relating to others, and generating solutions are important aspects, the heart of leadership lies in the ability to influence others. Dealing effectively with others is also important, but it is more of an outcome of good leadership rather than a definition of it.

Question 4

The leadership style advocating that a leader makes all decisions and tells subordinates what to do and how to do it is called

Accepted Answer

The description given aligns with an autocratic leadership style where the leader has complete control and makes all decisions without input from their subordinates.

Question 5

Ophelia Sawyer discovered problems in coordinating the work flow going from her department to marketing. To solve the problem, she identified some situations that needed correction and asked employees to submit their suggestions for improvement. After their suggestions were summarized, the employees selected one for implementation. Next, a supervisor was given responsibility and authority to oversee implementation and to keep Ophelia informed. Ophelia's actions exhibit the ____ leadership style.

Accepted Answer

Ophelia's actions of identifying the problem and asking for suggestions from employees demonstrate a democratic leadership style, where the leader actively involves and empowers employees in decision-making and problem-solving. The selection of one suggestion and giving a supervisor responsibility and authority also shows that Ophelia values collaboration and teamwork rather than solely relying on her own authority as an authoritarian leader.

Question 6

Robin Baker, a top manager at Westinghouse, has recently been put in charge of a new multi-million dollar project. She selects several individuals to participate in this effort and assigns each certain tasks to perform. Furthermore, she has set up a group hierarchy and indicated that all decisions must be routed through this chain of command. Robin is exhibiting which leadership style?

Accepted Answer

Robin's leadership style is autocratic as she has set up a group hierarchy and all decisions must be routed through this chain of command. She has also individually assigned certain tasks to the members, indicating a more directive approach to managing the project.

Question 7

____ is the process of developing a set of possible alternative solutions and choosing one alternative from among that set.

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is decision making - developing and selecting from alternative solutions.

Question 8

Gary Downs recently has noticed that the plant he is managing is delivering only 30 percent of its products on time. To determine what is causing the problem, he assembles the various department heads and the plant supervisor to get their input on the matter. Although the ultimate responsibility is his, he has no difficulty in delegating decision-making authority to any member of this group. This participative style of leadership suggests that Gary is a(n) ____ leader.

Accepted Answer

Gary's behavior of assembling the various department heads and the plant supervisor to get their input on the matter and delegating decision-making authority to any member of this group suggests that he is a participative leader. He believes in involving his subordinates in the decision-making process and values their contributions. This leadership style can promote teamwork and increase employee morale, ultimately leading to improved performance.

Question 9

When looking at the company's sales figures, Marta sees that her salespeople have not achieved high sales in Japan. She is at what stage in the managerial decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Marta is identifying the problem, as she is assessing the sales figures and recognizing that her salespeople have not achieved high sales in Japan.

Question 10

Shyana has formal power in the Coffee Lovers, Ltd. organization while Sam has informal power. One of the primary differences between Shyana and Sam is that Shyana has ____ within the organizations while Sam does not.

Accepted Answer

Shyana has formal power, which means that she has been given authority by the organization to make decisions and give orders. Sam, on the other hand, has informal power, which comes from his ability to influence others without formal authority. Therefore, the difference between them is that Shyana has authority (choice E) within the organization, while Sam does not.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a step in the decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Solving the identified problem is not a step in the decision-making process. The other options, identifying the problem or opportunity, generating alternatives, selecting an alternative, implementing and evaluating the solution, are all important steps in the decision-making process.

Question 12

The leadership style advocating that a leader involve subordinates in most decisions as well as the assignment of tasks is called

Accepted Answer

The participative leadership style involves involving subordinates in decision-making and task assignment. It is also referred to as democratic leadership as it allows for active involvement from the team members. The other options such as laissez-faire, hands-off, and existential do not involve much active participation from subordinates, while authoritarian involves a strict control from the leader.

Question 13

The ___ leadership style tends to take initiative and be visionary.

Accepted Answer

The entrepreneurial leadership style is known for taking initiative and being visionary. This style is often associated with founders of startups or individuals who are leading a new venture or project. Autocratic leadership tends to be more focused on control, participatory leadership involves collaboration and shared decision-making, consensus requires reaching agreement among all members, and consultative involves seeking input from individuals before making a decision.

Question 14

What is a disadvantage associated with the participative style of leadership?

Accepted Answer

The disadvantage associated with the participative style of leadership is that the decision-making process can be time-consuming because it involves gathering input from multiple stakeholders and considering various perspectives. This can sometimes slow down the implementation of decisions and hinder productivity.

Question 15

When Terri began her first managerial job, she tried the authoritarian style. She believed she could accomplish more that way, but later she could not say whether it actually worked. She then tried the entrepreneurial style because one of her best managers had used it successfully. She, however, found it a bit awkward. Now, with a different group of subordinates, she is trying the democratic style, with some success. What concluding remark would you make about the different leadership styles that Terri has tried?

Accepted Answer

Terri's experience demonstrates that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Different leadership styles can be effective depending on various factors, including the manager's preference, the nature of the work situation, and subordinates' characteristics. This suggests that the best approach is to be flexible and willing to adapt to the situation at hand, rather than rigidly adhering to one leadership style.

Question 16

When a manager identifies an opportunity, he or she generates alternatives to pursue the opportunity, selects one of them, implements it, and then evaluates the results. This manager is acting out the ____ process.

Accepted Answer

The process described involves identifying a problem/opportunity, generating alternatives, selecting one, implementing it, and evaluating the results. This is the core of the decision-making process, where a manager weighs available options and chooses one to pursue. Option A (alternative-generating) is a part of this process but not comprehensive enough to capture the entire process. Option B (control) involves monitoring and adjusting ongoing activities rather than initiating new ones. Option C (managing) is too broad; it can encompass decision-making but also involves other processes like planning, organizing, and leading. Option E (formal leadership) is not relevant to the process described; it involves directing and guiding others, not generating and selecting alternatives.

Question 17

As Kyle conducts his annual evaluations of his employees, he notices that MariElena and Debbie have both been less productive since they were relocated in the same department. Kyle is in what stage of the managerial decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Kyle is in the stage of identifying the problem or opportunity. He has noticed a decrease in productivity from MariElena and Debbie since their relocation, which indicates a problem that needs to be addressed. The other stages of the managerial decision-making process involve generating alternatives, selecting an alternative, and implementing and evaluating a solution, which Kyle has not yet reached.

Question 18

Although Frank is not in top management, he is charismatic and well liked by others in his organization. Other employees often look to Frank to see how he reacts to new policies implemented by top management, and they follow his lead. Frank has ____ leadership in his organization.

Accepted Answer

Frank's leadership is not officially recognized by the organization, but rather emerges naturally from his ability to influence and guide others based on his personal qualities and relationships. This is the definition of informal leadership.

Question 19

The first step in the managerial decision-making process is to

Accepted Answer

The first step in the managerial decision-making process is to identify an opportunity. This means recognizing a situation or problem that requires a decision to be made. Without identifying an opportunity, there is no basis for making a decision. Evaluating the problem, creating a problem opportunity, identifying a solution, and generating alternative solutions all come after the identification of the opportunity.

Question 20

What is the most significant difference between leaders and assembly line workers in regard to affecting the behavior of others?

Accepted Answer

The most significant difference between leaders and assembly line workers is their power to affect the behavior of others. Leaders have the power to make decisions, set goals, and influence the direction of the organization, while assembly line workers typically have very little authority and are focused on completing their individual tasks. The other options listed (communication skills, interpersonal skills, decision-making, and technical skills) may also be important for both leaders and assembly line workers, but in terms of affecting the behavior of others, power is the most significant difference.

Quiz 6: Understanding the Management Process