Question 1

identify the six main criticisms of formal planning.

Accepted Answer

One of the main arguments directed at formal planning is that it may create rigidity and lock an organization into specific goals to be achieved within specific timetables. Second, some argue that plans cannot be developed for a dynamic environment. Third, formal planning efforts typically involve a thorough investigation of the organization's capabilities and opportunities and a mechanical analysis that reduces the vision to some type of programmed routine. That approach can spell disaster for an organization. Fourth, formal planning has a tendency to focus on how to capitalize on existing business opportunities within an industry. It often does not allow managers to consider creating or reinventing an industry. Fifth, formal planning reinforces success, which may lead to failure. Finally, planning is not enough; at some point managers must begin doing.

Question 2

A well- designed goal should be measurable and quantifiable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

With traditional goal setting, employees' work efforts at their respective levels and work areas are geared to meet goals ____________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  that have been assigned in their specific areas of responsibility 
B)  so that their immediate supervisors will be retained in their position 
C)  so that the top management will be retained in their position 
D)  within the shortest amount of time possible 
A)  that have been assigned in their specific areas of responsibility 
B)  so that their immediate supervisors will be retained in their position 
C)  so that the top management will be retained in their position 
D)  within the shortest amount of time possible A

Question 4

What do written goals become?

Accepted Answer

A)  inflexible and general 
B)  old and useless 
C)  personal and collective 
D)  visible and tangible 
A)  inflexible and general 
B)  old and useless 
C)  personal and collective 
D)  visible and tangible

Question 5

Successful organizations are typically the result of what?

Accepted Answer

A)  mechanical analysis 
B)  flexibility 
C)  formal planning efforts 
D)  innovative vision 
A)  mechanical analysis 
B)  flexibility 
C)  formal planning efforts 
D)  innovative vision

Question 6

Planning involves two important elements:___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  plans and decisions 
B)  goals and plans 
C)  goals and decisions 
D)  goals and actions 
A)  plans and decisions 
B)  goals and plans 
C)  goals and decisions 
D)  goals and actions

Question 7

'Long- term' used to mean anything over three years, but now it means anything over one year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In today's dynamic business environment, successful firms recognize that planning is an ongoing process, not a tablet of rules cast in stone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Goals that are too easy to accomplish are not motivating and neither are goals that are not attainable even with exceptional effort.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

list the three planning contingency factors and illustrate how these factors influence planning.

Accepted Answer

Three contingency factors affect plannin

Question 11

The organizational hierarchy becomes flattened as the responsibility for establishing goals and developing plans is ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  pushed to the lowest organizational levels 
B)  moved to the middle organizational levels 
C)  more the work of the financial department 
D)  shifted to a formal planning department 
A)  pushed to the lowest organizational levels 
B)  moved to the middle organizational levels 
C)  more the work of the financial department 
D)  shifted to a formal planning department

Question 12

Planning involves defining the organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans _ ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  to establish the quality and quantity of work to be accomplished 
B)  to determine which manager will be in charge of which department 
C)  as to which shift will perform what work functions 
D)  for organizational work activities 
A)  to establish the quality and quantity of work to be accomplished 
B)  to determine which manager will be in charge of which department 
C)  as to which shift will perform what work functions 
D)  for organizational work activities

Question 13

E- Biz Dreams (Scenario)
Raja has just completed a Master of Science degree in computer science at Major University. He now wants to begin a new internet business selling his services as a website maker for companies in his home city. He estimates that, if his business idea is a success, within one year he will be employing at a minimum 10 programmers and 2 analysts.
-To make his business successful, Raja will first have to develop what type of plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  Operational 
B)  Strategic 
C)  Directional 
D)  Specific 
A)  Operational 
B)  Strategic 
C)  Directional 
D)  Specific

Question 14

Planning gives direction, reduces the impact of change, minimizes waste and redundancy, and___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  sets the standards used in controlling 
B)  sets the basis used for promotion of individuals within the organization 
C)  eliminates departments that are not needed within the plan 
D)  establishes the workloads for each of the departments 
A)  sets the standards used in controlling 
B)  sets the basis used for promotion of individuals within the organization 
C)  eliminates departments that are not needed within the plan 
D)  establishes the workloads for each of the departments

Question 15

Most businesses have only one objective: to make a profit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

A Business Plan (Scenario)
Imagine that you are the owner of a small company that sells typewriters, business equipment, and computer hardware. You employ about 40 people. You know that the organization needs to move in a different direction, and you want to set some long- term goals for the company. You want to write a plan that will cover the next three years only, knowing that business needs change somewhat frequently. Your goal is to write a plan that provides direction but does not contain extremely
well- defined, potentially restrictive objectives.
-Your plan will cover the entire organization. This characteristic is most consistent with what type of plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  Standard 
B)  Long term 
C)  Strategic 
D)  Specific 
A)  Standard 
B)  Long term 
C)  Strategic 
D)  Specific

Question 17

The most common ways to describe organizational plans are by their frequency of use, time frame, specificity, and___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  flexibility 
B)  attainability 
C)  breadth 
D)  quantifiability 
A)  flexibility 
B)  attainability 
C)  breadth 
D)  quantifiability

Question 18

___________can evaluate whether an organization is successful.

Accepted Answer

A)  No single measure 
B)  Stakeholders are the only groups that 
C)  Plans are also a measure that 
D)  A goal is the only measure that 
A)  No single measure 
B)  Stakeholders are the only groups that 
C)  Plans are also a measure that 
D)  A goal is the only measure that

Question 19

What is a frequently cited criticism of formal planning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Formal planning creates extra, often redundant levels of hierarchy within the organization. 
B)  Formal planning works well only for large, diversified companies. 
C)  Formal planning is too time consuming, given the dynamism in modern business environments. 
D)  Plans can't be developed for a dynamic environment. 
A)  Formal planning creates extra, often redundant levels of hierarchy within the organization. 
B)  Formal planning works well only for large, diversified companies. 
C)  Formal planning is too time consuming, given the dynamism in modern business environments. 
D)  Plans can't be developed for a dynamic environment.

Question 20

Goals are objectives, ____________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  and we use the two terms interchangeably 
B)  but goals are long term, and objectives are short term 
C)  but goals are used in reference to profits, and objectives are used in reference to production output 
D)  but goals are used by top management, and objectives are used by first- level management 
A)  and we use the two terms interchangeably 
B)  but goals are long term, and objectives are short term 
C)  but goals are used in reference to profits, and objectives are used in reference to production output 
D)  but goals are used by top management, and objectives are used by first- level management

identify the six main criticisms of formal planning.

A well- designed goal should be measurable and quantifiable.

With traditional goal setting, employees' work efforts at their respective levels and work areas are geared to meet goals ____________ .

What do written goals become?

Successful organizations are typically the result of what?

Planning involves two important elements:___________ .

'Long- term' used to mean anything over three years, but now it means anything over one year.

In today's dynamic business environment, successful firms recognize that planning is an ongoing process, not a tablet of rules cast in stone.

Goals that are too easy to accomplish are not motivating and neither are goals that are not attainable even with exceptional effort.

list the three planning contingency factors and illustrate how these factors influence planning.

The organizational hierarchy becomes flattened as the responsibility for establishing goals and developing plans is ___________.

Planning involves defining the organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans _ ___________.

Planning gives direction, reduces the impact of change, minimizes waste and redundancy, and___________ .

Most businesses have only one objective: to make a profit.

The most common ways to describe organizational plans are by their frequency of use, time frame, specificity, and___________ .

___________can evaluate whether an organization is successful.

What is a frequently cited criticism of formal planning?

Goals are objectives, ____________ .

Introduction to Management and Organisations

Management History

Organisational Culture and Environment

Managing in a Global Environment

Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics

Managers As Decision-Makers

Strategic Management

Organisational Structure and Design

Managing Human Resources

Managing Teams

Managing Change and Innovation

Understanding Individual Behaviour

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Introduction to Controlling

Managing Operations

Filters

Exam 7: Foundations of Planning

identify the six main criticisms of formal planning.

A well- designed goal should be measurable and quantifiable.

With traditional goal setting, employees' work efforts at their respective levels and work areas are geared to meet goals ____________ .

What do written goals become?

Successful organizations are typically the result of what?

Planning involves two important elements:___________ .

'Long- term' used to mean anything over three years, but now it means anything over one year.

In today's dynamic business environment, successful firms recognize that planning is an ongoing process, not a tablet of rules cast in stone.

Goals that are too easy to accomplish are not motivating and neither are goals that are not attainable even with exceptional effort.

list the three planning contingency factors and illustrate how these factors influence planning.

The organizational hierarchy becomes flattened as the responsibility for establishing goals and developing plans is ___________.

Planning involves defining the organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans _ ___________.

Planning gives direction, reduces the impact of change, minimizes waste and redundancy, and___________ .

Most businesses have only one objective: to make a profit.

The most common ways to describe organizational plans are by their frequency of use, time frame, specificity, and___________ .

___________can evaluate whether an organization is successful.

What is a frequently cited criticism of formal planning?

Goals are objectives, ____________ .

Introduction to Management and Organisations

Management History

Organisational Culture and Environment

Managing in a Global Environment

Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics

Managers As Decision-Makers

Strategic Management

Organisational Structure and Design

Managing Human Resources

Managing Teams

Managing Change and Innovation

Understanding Individual Behaviour

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Introduction to Controlling

Managing Operations

Filters