Question 1

Which approach to management argues that human factors alone may affect workplace efficiency?
A) The administrative perspective
B) The bureaucratic perspective
C) The behavioral perspective
D) The quality perspective

Accepted Answer

The behavioral perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior and how it affects efficiency, productivity, and employee satisfaction. This approach to management recognizes the motivation, attitudes, and behaviors of employees as critical factors that can influence outcomes in the workplace. The administrative and bureaucratic perspectives, on the other hand, focus more on organizational structure, hierarchy, and systems of authority. The quality perspective prioritizes continuous improvement and quality assurance, rather than strictly addressing human factors.

Question 2

At the break-even point
A) the total costs of inventory are minimized.
B) there is neither a profit nor a loss.
C) demand for complementary items is balanced.
D) reorder points equal total holding costs.

Accepted Answer

The break-even point is the level of sales at which total revenue equals total costs, resulting in neither a profit nor a loss.

Question 3

MRP is a useful tool to
A) recover fixed and variable costs.
B) minimize total inventory costs.
C) improve product quality.
D) reduce inventory costs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of MRP is a useful tool to
A) recover...

Question 4

Which of the following is not considered a shortcoming of scientific management?
A) It did not appreciate the social context of work.
B) It paid too much attention to the needs of workers beyond pay.
C) It often led to dehumanizing working conditions.
D) It prohibited employee initiative.

Accepted Answer

Scientific management is criticized for its failure to consider the social context of work, its potential to cause dehumanizing working conditions, and its tendency to limit employee initiative. However, paying too much attention to the non-monetary needs of workers was not typically viewed as a shortcoming of scientific management. In fact, one of the primary aims of scientific management was to improve working conditions and productivity, which could promote greater job satisfaction and other non-monetary benefits for workers.

Question 5

When reliability and efficiency are most important to a business, which approach to management is likely to be the best?
A) Bureaucratic approach
B) Administrative approach
C) Scientific management
D) Total quality management

Accepted Answer

The bureaucratic approach emphasizes a structured and formalized system with clear rules and procedures, which enhances reliability and efficiency in business operations.

Question 6

Which approach views management as a profession that can be learned by understanding basic principles?
A) Bureaucratic approach
B) Administrative approach
C) Scientific management
D) Total quality management

Accepted Answer

The administrative approach views management as a profession that can be learned by understanding basic principles. It emphasizes the development of a body of knowledge that can be applied to improve management practices.

Question 7

The percentage of unionized workers
A) has increased in the manufacturing sector.
B) has declined to less than 10% in 2012.
C) has focused very successfully on white collar workers.
D) continues to remain about the same since the 1940s.

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, the percentage of unionized workers has declined to less than 10% in 2012.

Question 8

Which of the following would be least likely to be a characteristic of an ideal bureaucracy as defined by Weber?
A) Career advancement based on merit
B) Well defined hierarchy
C) Few rules and procedures
D) Specialization of labor

Accepted Answer

Weber's ideal bureaucracy emphasizes a rational and efficient organization with well-defined hierarchy and specialization of labor. It also values career advancement based on merit, which rewards employees for their competence and hard work. However, having few rules and procedures can lead to ambiguity and inconsistency in decision making, which would not meet the ideal bureaucratic standard.

Question 9

Building quality into the product rather than relying on quality inspections after the product has already been made reflects a principle of
A) scientific management.
B) TQM.
C) MRP.
D) cross-functional teams.

Accepted Answer

Building quality into the product is a core principle of Total Quality Management (TQM), which emphasizes the importance of continuously improving all aspects of the production process to achieve high-quality products. TQM focuses on preventing defects and errors rather than detecting and correcting them after the fact, as would be the case with quality inspections. Scientific management (A) refers to a system of management developed by Frederick Taylor in the early 20th century, which emphasizes improving efficiency and productivity through the use of scientific methods and techniques. While this can certainly relate to quality improvement efforts, it is not specifically focused on building quality into the product. MRP (C) stands for Material Requirements Planning and refers to a production planning and scheduling system used to manage manufacturing processes. Cross-functional teams (D) are groups of individuals from different functional areas of an organization who work together on a specific project or problem. While cross-functional teams can certainly contribute to quality improvement efforts, they are not specifically focused on building quality into the product itself.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about TQM is true?
A) In TQM, quality is the role of quality control specialists.
B) In TQM, satisfying the customer is primarily the responsibility of marketing.
C) The TQM perspective views quality as the central purpose of the organization whereas the operational perspective focuses on efficiency.
D) Most major firms have not yet adopted TQM.

Accepted Answer

TQM (Total Quality Management) perspective emphasizes that quality is the central purpose of the organization and involves everyone in the organization, not just quality control specialists. In contrast, the operational perspective focuses on efficiency and improving processes. Therefore, option A and B are incorrect. Option D is also incorrect because many major firms have adopted TQM.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a principle of the administrative approach to management?
A) Unity of leadership
B) Unity of command
C) Unity of direction
D) Equity

Accepted Answer

Unity of leadership is not a recognized principle of the administrative approach to management, which was developed by Henri Fayol. Fayol's principles include unity of command (one boss for each person) and unity of direction (one plan for a group of activities having the same objective), among others, but not unity of leadership.

Question 12

The employee handbook today is an example of the use of impersonal rules and procedures to provide a fair and consistent way of dealing with employees. This is a positive contribution made by which approach to management?
A) Scientific management
B) Bureaucratic management
C) Total quality management
D) Administrative management

Accepted Answer

The use of impersonal rules and procedures to provide a fair and consistent way of dealing with employees is a key characteristic of bureaucratic management, which emphasizes formalized rules, hierarchical authority, and clear division of labor. Scientific management focuses on maximizing efficiency in work processes, while total quality management emphasizes continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Administrative management focuses on the overall organization and coordination of tasks within the organization.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a key element of the TQM approach?
A) Focus on the customer
B) Continuous improvement
C) Employee involvement
D) Scientifically study each part of a task and develop the best method of performing the task

Accepted Answer

Scientifically study each part of a task and develop the best method of performing the task is not a key element of TQM approach. However, it is a key element of Scientific Management approach. The key elements of TQM include focus on the customer, continuous improvement, and employee involvement.

Question 14

Which of the following quality experts advanced the use of statistics for constant quality improvement and assisted Japanese business leaders after World War II?
A) W. Edward Deming
B) Joseph M. Juran
C) Phillip Crosby
D) Arnand V. Feigenbaum

Accepted Answer

W. Edward Deming advanced the use of statistics for constant quality improvement and assisted Japanese business leaders after World War II. He is famously known for his 14 principles of management, which prioritize a focus on quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

Question 15

Weber's principle of specialization builds on the earlier work of
A) Adam Smith.
B) Frederick Taylor.
C) Sun Tsu.
D) Niccolo Machiavelli.

Accepted Answer

Weber's principle of specialization is based on the concept of division of labor, which was first articulated by Adam Smith in his book "The Wealth of Nations." Smith argued that division of labor increases productivity and efficiency by allowing workers to specialize in specific tasks. Frederick Taylor's work focused on scientific management and improving worker efficiency through time and motion studies, but did not directly address specialization as a guiding principle. Sun Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli were both strategic thinkers, but their work did not specifically relate to the organization of work or specialization.

Question 16

With a focus on statistical tools and techniques to improve efficiency, the scientific management perspective became known as
A) MRP.
B) EOQ.
C) the operational perspective.
D) the quantitative management school.

Accepted Answer

The use of statistical tools and techniques to improve efficiency falls under the quantitative management school. Therefore, the best choice is D. MRP (A) stands for Material Requirement Planning and is a production planning and inventory control system. EOQ (B) stands for Economic Order Quantity and is a formula used to determine the optimal order quantity to minimize the total cost of inventory management. Option C, the operational perspective, is not a commonly used term in the field of management.

Question 17

A traditional perspective of management that examines the entire organization as a rational entity is
A) total quality management.
B) scientific management.
C) administrative management.
D) bureaucratic management.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A traditional perspective of management that examines...

Question 18

Unity of command suggests that
A) employees' efforts should be focused on achieving organizational objectives.
B) each employee should be assigned to only one supervisor.
C) the chain of command should follow a top-down direction.
D) workers must minimize deviations from standard procedures.

Accepted Answer

Unity of command suggests that an employee should be accountable to one and only one supervisor. This helps to avoid confusion, conflict, and unnecessary duplication of work. It ensures that each individual knows what his/her duties are and to whom he/she is responsible.

Question 19

Quantitative methods used in the quantitative management school include
A) quality management, bureaucratic management, and MRP.
B) EOQ, soldiering, and division of labor.
C) break-even analysis, EOQ, and MRP.
D) MRP, quality management, and time and motion studies.

Accepted Answer

The quantitative management school focuses on the application of mathematical and statistical methods in managing organizations effectively. Break-even analysis, economic order quantity (EOQ), and material requirements planning (MRP) are all quantitative methods that are commonly used in this approach. Quality management and time and motion studies are also important, but are not mentioned in the options. Bureaucratic management and soldiering are not quantitative methods.

Question 20

In which type of organization are Fayol's administrative principles most likely to still be applicable?
A) Apple
B) Microsoft
C) Toys R Us
D) The US Army

Accepted Answer

Fayol's administrative principles are most likely to still be applicable in bureaucratic organizations such as the US Army, which have a clear hierarchy, formalized rules and procedures, and a centralized decision-making process. The other options, such as Apple and Microsoft, operate in a more dynamic and decentralized environment, where flexibility and innovation are key factors for success. Toys R Us is also not a good fit, as the company has struggled to adapt to changing market conditions and has ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

Quiz 1: Management and Its Evolution

Which approach to management argues that human factors alone may affect workplace efficiency?

At the break-even point

MRP is a useful tool to

Which of the following is not considered a shortcoming of scientific management?

When reliability and efficiency are most important to a business, which approach to management is likely to be the best?

Which approach views management as a profession that can be learned by understanding basic principles?

The percentage of unionized workers

Which of the following would be least likely to be a characteristic of an ideal bureaucracy as defined by Weber?

Building quality into the product rather than relying on quality inspections after the product has already been made reflects a principle of

Which of the following statements about TQM is true?

Which of the following is not a principle of the administrative approach to management?

The employee handbook today is an example of the use of impersonal rules and procedures to provide a fair and consistent way of dealing with employees. This is a positive contribution made by which approach to management?

Which of the following is not a key element of the TQM approach?

Which of the following quality experts advanced the use of statistics for constant quality improvement and assisted Japanese business leaders after World War II?

Weber's principle of specialization builds on the earlier work of

With a focus on statistical tools and techniques to improve efficiency, the scientific management perspective became known as

A traditional perspective of management that examines the entire organization as a rational entity is

Unity of command suggests that

Quantitative methods used in the quantitative management school include

In which type of organization are Fayol's administrative principles most likely to still be applicable?