Exam 9: Organizational Decision Making

Dorothea examines the research literature to identify the best method for generating ideas. After reviewing the literature, she has identified four approaches that are typically used. Of these four, which is she most likely to note generates the fewest ideas and fewest creative ideas?

While no member of the city council wishes to vote to allow public funds to pay for a private investment. However, each member censors him- or herself during the deliberation and ignoring their contradictory thoughts as the consensus toward supporting the funding builds. What decision making problem is at work here?

Tyrion realizes his employees each has some of the information needed to make a decision, but are also lacking important information. He calls a meeting to provide all employees with as complete a set of information as possible. Tyrion's actions most closely align with the _______________ of decision making.

Which of the following occurs because of group members being overly concerned about protecting one's turf and keep colleagues happy?

Jolene has noted the importance of effective communication in helping to manage and direct organizational decision making. Which of the following is a piece of advice she might give her employees as they engage in the decision making process?

Which theoretical model involves reactive decision-making and successive but limited comparisons of alternatives?

Explain the dangers of the Abilene paradox.

Imagine that you are an executive in an organization that has a high degree of interdependence among its departments and employees within the same department. What interpersonal factor will be extremely important in helping to ensure effective decision making?

Routine problems with clear procedures for determining the correct course of action are known as _______________ decisions.

Demonstrate the importance of communication channels within an organization.

Analyze how the Rationality and Bounded Rationality models of decision making differ.

Danielle wishes to encourage her employees to always act in an ethical manner. She asks an intern to review the literature to identify organizational factors that encourage unethical behaviors. What is a key point the intern is likely to see in his review?

Why are face-to-face brainstorming groups less productive in idea generation than nominal groups?

Explain how an organization can work to encourage its members to make ethical decisions when faced with workplace ethical dilemmas.

Robb and Jon are getting ready to go play paintball with their friends. They work to generate the best strategy for their side. Thirty minutes later their friend, Brandon, joins them and presents his suggestions. Then they are joined by Peter who offers his comments. This strategy session most closely parallels _______________.

Brianne wishes to have all necessary information to make the optimal choice among the various alternatives in selecting the new Chief Operating Officer for her company. However, she realizes that she cannot have full information for all candidates but she still wishes to use logical reasoning rather than relying on emotions. Brianne's approach to decision making fits the ________________.

What idea generation technique attempts to combat members' dominance, conformity, and social loafing by regulating the entry of members over time?

Beatrix has found all the necessary information to make a choice between two candidates. She has listed the strengths and weaknesses of each as well as having examined how selecting one alternative rather than the other could impact her organization. She is using this information to look toward the future rather than relying on emotions or politics. Beatrix's decision making is consistent with the _______________.

A local civic group gets together and each member in attendance is asked to answer the following question, "What service activities should be involved in this year?" Everyone writes down three alternatives, reads their choices to the group, and the clarification is sought. After this all members vote privately to identify the top five choices. This approach is called _______________.

Which of the following is a central theme of each of the organizational decision making models discussed by the textbook authors?