Question 1

________ is a one-time plan specifically designed to meet the needs of a unique situation.

Accepted Answer

A)  A strategic plan 
B)  A single-use plan 
C)  A multipurpose plan 
D)  An operational plan 
A)  A strategic plan 
B)  A single-use plan 
C)  A multipurpose plan 
D)  An operational plan

Question 2

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 3

The quality of the planning process and the appropriate implementation of the plans probably ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  should be studied more to factually determine which contributes the most 
B)  contribute more to high performance than does the extent of planning 
C)  don't contribute to high performance nearly as much as the extent of planning 
D)  contribute less to high performance than does the extent of planning 
A)  should be studied more to factually determine which contributes the most 
B)  contribute more to high performance than does the extent of planning 
C)  don't contribute to high performance nearly as much as the extent of planning 
D)  contribute less to high performance than does the extent of planning

Question 4

Management by objectives (MBO) is a management system in which the first step is setting specific performance goals that are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  established and that can be easily accomplished 
B)  jointly determined by employees and their managers 
C)  developed in such a manner that the employees are self-directed and do not need supervision 
D)  determined by top management with clarity so that the objectives are clear to even the most incompetent employee 
A)  established and that can be easily accomplished 
B)  jointly determined by employees and their managers 
C)  developed in such a manner that the employees are self-directed and do not need supervision 
D)  determined by top management with clarity so that the objectives are clear to even the most incompetent employee

Question 5

Which of the following is true concerning an organization's stated objectives?

Accepted Answer

A)  Organizations typically have internal and external sets of objectives. 
B)  Stated objectives are usually in line with short-term actions. 
C)  Organizations may issue different objectives to stockholders, customers, employees, and the public. 
D)  Organizations issue identical objectives to all constituents. 
A)  Organizations typically have internal and external sets of objectives. 
B)  Stated objectives are usually in line with short-term actions. 
C)  Organizations may issue different objectives to stockholders, customers, employees, and the public. 
D)  Organizations issue identical objectives to all constituents.

Question 6

In the MBO system, ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  objectives are determined by management 
B)  progress toward objectives is periodically reviewed 
C)  goals are used as controls 
D)  goals are only reviewed at the time of completion 
A)  objectives are determined by management 
B)  progress toward objectives is periodically reviewed 
C)  goals are used as controls 
D)  goals are only reviewed at the time of completion

Question 7

The president has expressed concern regarding the impact of planning on the ability of the organization to respond to emerging changes in the higher education environment, such as distance learning and corporate universities. You should tell the president that planning ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  forces managers to look at the present 
B)  eliminates the consideration of the impact of change 
C)  forces managers to anticipate change 
D)  increases uncertainty 
A)  forces managers to look at the present 
B)  eliminates the consideration of the impact of change 
C)  forces managers to anticipate change 
D)  increases uncertainty

Question 8

In times of dynamic environmental change, well-defined and precisely developed action plans enhance organizational performance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Strategic plans can be categorized as long term, directional, and single use.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In a short essay, describe how managers can effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing.

Accepted Answer

In an uncertain environment, managers wa

Question 11

When we categorize plans as being single-use versus standing, we categorize them by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  specificity 
B)  time frame 
C)  breadth 
D)  frequency of use 
A)  specificity 
B)  time frame 
C)  breadth 
D)  frequency of use

Question 12

What do written goals become?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Amana Highway Collaborative (Scenario)
The Regional Planning Council convened a group of stakeholders, including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Community Affairs, who are interested in working together on improving a major highway called Amana Highway. Firas is the senior planner for the Regional Planning Council. Firas successfully obtained a technical assistance grant. The intent is to organize the 15 small communities along Amana Highway into an intergovernmental unit. All of the communities will share the same visioning processes of mission, objectives, and tasks. Firas is now charged with developing a strategic plan for this group, called the Amana Highway Collaborative.
-First, Firas must determine the goals he wants to achieve. To do so, he must follow a series of steps for goal setting. The first step in setting goals for this new group should be to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  request input from others and then formulate specific goals 
B)  evaluate available resources 
C)  determine the goals individually and then ask for input from others 
D)  formally establish the organization's mission 
A)  request input from others and then formulate specific goals 
B)  evaluate available resources 
C)  determine the goals individually and then ask for input from others 
D)  formally establish the organization's mission

Question 14

The Dynamic Environment (Scenario)
A group of shareholders at Company EZ has strongly suggested that the firm update its planning practices to include more participative decision making and greater feedback to employees.
-Because the managers at Company EZ work in such an uncertain environment, it is essential that they develop a plan. What will they have to do to plan in such an environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Make their plans as rigid as possible. 
B)  Recognize that their plan must be general. 
C)  Train their employees in setting goals and establishing plans. 
D)  Be determined to continue with their plan even if the conditions change. 
A)  Make their plans as rigid as possible. 
B)  Recognize that their plan must be general. 
C)  Train their employees in setting goals and establishing plans. 
D)  Be determined to continue with their plan even if the conditions change.

Question 15

Planning is concerned with how objectives are to be accomplished, not what is to be accomplished.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Retail Planning (Scenario)
Tarek is president and CEO of a retail chain that is about to begin operations in numerous major cities across the Arab region. The stores will sell home furnishings that are considered moderately priced for the average-income buyer. During the last few months he has been working to lay out directions for the managers of the stores. Tarek and his vice presidents have decided that each store should have sales equal to or greater than $100 per square meter per day. To attract an adequate number of customers, the store should be well maintained both inside and out.
-The primary task that Tarek and the vice presidents have been performing during the last couple of months is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  making plans 
B)  establishing networks 
C)  designing the stores 
D)  laying out ideas 
A)  making plans 
B)  establishing networks 
C)  designing the stores 
D)  laying out ideas

Question 17

Goals and objectives are two terms used interchangeably in the planning process.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

As organizations expand and update their computing technology, they are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  in a state of low environmental uncertainty 
B)  relying on lower level management to do the planning 
C)  in a state of high environmental uncertainty 
D)  committed to whatever future expenses are generated by that plan 
A)  in a state of low environmental uncertainty 
B)  relying on lower level management to do the planning 
C)  in a state of high environmental uncertainty 
D)  committed to whatever future expenses are generated by that plan

Question 19

Fatalistic attitudes have never been displayed in Arab societies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

When can the traditional top-down approach to planning be effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only when the planning involves lower level management. 
B)  Only if managers understand that they must create usable documents that members actually use. 
C)  Only when the documents look impressive. 
D)  Only when the documents are prepared for the corporate planning staff. 
A)  Only when the planning involves lower level management. 
B)  Only if managers understand that they must create usable documents that members actually use. 
C)  Only when the documents look impressive. 
D)  Only when the documents are prepared for the corporate planning staff.

________ is a one-time plan specifically designed to meet the needs of a unique situation.

What is a frequently cited criticism of formal planning?

The quality of the planning process and the appropriate implementation of the plans probably ________.

Management by objectives (MBO) is a management system in which the first step is setting specific performance goals that are ________.

Which of the following is true concerning an organization's stated objectives?

In the MBO system, ________.

The president has expressed concern regarding the impact of planning on the ability of the organization to respond to emerging changes in the higher education environment, such as distance learning and corporate universities. You should tell the president that planning ________.

In times of dynamic environmental change, well-defined and precisely developed action plans enhance organizational performance.

Strategic plans can be categorized as long term, directional, and single use.

In a short essay, describe how managers can effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing.

When we categorize plans as being single-use versus standing, we categorize them by ________.

What do written goals become?

Planning is concerned with how objectives are to be accomplished, not what is to be accomplished.

Goals and objectives are two terms used interchangeably in the planning process.

As organizations expand and update their computing technology, they are ________.

Fatalistic attitudes have never been displayed in Arab societies.

When can the traditional top-down approach to planning be effective?

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

________ is a one-time plan specifically designed to meet the needs of a unique situation.

What is a frequently cited criticism of formal planning?

The quality of the planning process and the appropriate implementation of the plans probably ________.

Management by objectives (MBO) is a management system in which the first step is setting specific performance goals that are ________.

Which of the following is true concerning an organization's stated objectives?

In the MBO system, ________.

The president has expressed concern regarding the impact of planning on the ability of the organization to respond to emerging changes in the higher education environment, such as distance learning and corporate universities. You should tell the president that planning ________.

In times of dynamic environmental change, well-defined and precisely developed action plans enhance organizational performance.

Strategic plans can be categorized as long term, directional, and single use.

In a short essay, describe how managers can effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing.

When we categorize plans as being single-use versus standing, we categorize them by ________.

What do written goals become?

Planning is concerned with how objectives are to be accomplished, not what is to be accomplished.

Goals and objectives are two terms used interchangeably in the planning process.

As organizations expand and update their computing technology, they are ________.

Fatalistic attitudes have never been displayed in Arab societies.

When can the traditional top-down approach to planning be effective?

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