Question 1

Good managers are usually ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  a mix of both innovator and adaptor 
D)  status-quo style 
A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  a mix of both innovator and adaptor 
D)  status-quo style C

Question 2

The ___ seeks to expand on and improve something that already exists.

Accepted Answer

A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  creative style 
D)  status-quo style 
A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  creative style 
D)  status-quo style B

Question 3

Explain how justifying previous solutions and overconfidence can lead to problem solving mistakes.

Accepted Answer

When you justify previous solutions, you often will have escalating commitment and as a result you might use sunk-costs to make decisions, which can lead to poor decisions.
Overconfidence can lead to flawed decisions because a manager is overly sure he is correct, even if there is overwhelming evidence he could be wrong. For example, when companies experience a long string of success, managers tend to believe that whatever they do will lead to continued success.

Question 4

Managers frequently solve problems ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  by exploring new options 
B)  based on what worked in the past 
C)  digging for additional information 
D)  investing in new technologies 
A)  by exploring new options 
B)  based on what worked in the past 
C)  digging for additional information 
D)  investing in new technologies

Question 5

Which technique breaks a decision-making group into two subgroups and assigns them different, often competing, responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

A)  brainstorming 
B)  point-counterpoint 
C)  devil's advocate 
D)  rigorous debate 
A)  brainstorming 
B)  point-counterpoint 
C)  devil's advocate 
D)  rigorous debate

Question 6

Suppose there is a puddle of oil on a manufacturing plant floor. Wiping it up will fix the problem but what will find the reason of the leaking oil?

Accepted Answer

A)  Root cause analysis 
B)  The five why's 
C)  Creative intuition 
D)  all of these 
A)  Root cause analysis 
B)  The five why's 
C)  Creative intuition 
D)  all of these

Question 7

Which type of personal approach to problem solving likes to challenge basic assumptions to discover new alternatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  both of these 
D)  neither of these 
A)  innovator style 
B)  adaptor style 
C)  both of these 
D)  neither of these

Question 8

A ____ has the role of challenging the assumptions and assertions made by the group.

Accepted Answer

A)  brainstorming committee 
B)  point-counterpoint 
C)  devil's advocate 
D)  rigorous debater 
A)  brainstorming committee 
B)  point-counterpoint 
C)  devil's advocate 
D)  rigorous debater

Question 9

Patrick is a manager at AirTran airlines customer service department. He has a gut feeling that the number of calls people working on Saturday mornings needs to increase, but he can't prove that a problem exists. What tool is Patrick using?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rational decision making 
B)  Intuitive problem identification 
C)  Gathering information 
D)  Learning to connect the dots 
A)  Rational decision making 
B)  Intuitive problem identification 
C)  Gathering information 
D)  Learning to connect the dots

Question 10

The negativity bias is also called a ___.

Accepted Answer

A)  sunk-cost trap 
B)  downside bias 
C)  overconfidence 
D)  escalating commitment 
A)  sunk-cost trap 
B)  downside bias 
C)  overconfidence 
D)  escalating commitment

Question 11

Why is always perpetuating the status quo not a good idea, and what are some ways to overcome the status quo trap?

Accepted Answer

Always staying with the status quo can l

Question 12

Escalating commitment refers to the tendency to drop a project at the first sign of problems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A straightforward three-stage process for problem solving is sometimes called a ___ approach.

Accepted Answer

A)  rational 
B)  analytical 
C)  intellectual 
D)  both rational and analytical 
A)  rational 
B)  analytical 
C)  intellectual 
D)  both rational and analytical

Question 14

The first step to determine good alternative solutions is to research on the Internet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Sandra is a manager at a large company. There is a problem in her department. What should Sandra do when she is looking at a solution?

Accepted Answer

A)  find the perfect solution 
B)  only focus on her department 
C)  find a solution as quickly as possible 
D)  look at how this problem also affects other departments 
A)  find the perfect solution 
B)  only focus on her department 
C)  find a solution as quickly as possible 
D)  look at how this problem also affects other departments

Question 16

The first stage of problem solving is to define the problem.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

___ is a problem-solving technique that involves asking "why" over and over.

Accepted Answer

A)  Root cause analysis 
B)  The five why's 
C)  The four why's 
D)  Why? analysis 
A)  Root cause analysis 
B)  The five why's 
C)  The four why's 
D)  Why? analysis

Question 18

A radio DJ made an inappropriate comment on air, and the manager had to recognize the problem. She did this by ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  using rational decision making 
B)  using intuitive problem identification 
C)  executing a solution 
D)  learning to connect the dots 
A)  using rational decision making 
B)  using intuitive problem identification 
C)  executing a solution 
D)  learning to connect the dots

Question 19

An important aspect of collaborative problem solving is devoting time to talking ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  about the corporate environment 
B)  about other people's lives 
C)  about the outcomes other people want 
D)  about the timeline for the solution 
A)  about the corporate environment 
B)  about other people's lives 
C)  about the outcomes other people want 
D)  about the timeline for the solution

Question 20

What do managers use to make sure a proposed solution is put into action?

Accepted Answer

A)  communication 
B)  motivation 
C)  leadership skills 
D)  all of these 
A)  communication 
B)  motivation 
C)  leadership skills 
D)  all of these

Good managers are usually ____.

The ___ seeks to expand on and improve something that already exists.

Explain how justifying previous solutions and overconfidence can lead to problem solving mistakes.

Managers frequently solve problems ____.

Which technique breaks a decision-making group into two subgroups and assigns them different, often competing, responsibilities?

Suppose there is a puddle of oil on a manufacturing plant floor. Wiping it up will fix the problem but what will find the reason of the leaking oil?

Which type of personal approach to problem solving likes to challenge basic assumptions to discover new alternatives?

A ____ has the role of challenging the assumptions and assertions made by the group.

Patrick is a manager at AirTran airlines customer service department. He has a gut feeling that the number of calls people working on Saturday mornings needs to increase, but he can't prove that a problem exists. What tool is Patrick using?

The negativity bias is also called a ___.

Why is always perpetuating the status quo not a good idea, and what are some ways to overcome the status quo trap?

Escalating commitment refers to the tendency to drop a project at the first sign of problems.

A straightforward three-stage process for problem solving is sometimes called a ___ approach.

The first step to determine good alternative solutions is to research on the Internet.

Sandra is a manager at a large company. There is a problem in her department. What should Sandra do when she is looking at a solution?

The first stage of problem solving is to define the problem.

___ is a problem-solving technique that involves asking "why" over and over.

A radio DJ made an inappropriate comment on air, and the manager had to recognize the problem. She did this by ____.

An important aspect of collaborative problem solving is devoting time to talking ____.

What do managers use to make sure a proposed solution is put into action?

Introduction

Your Manager Strengths and Weaknesses

Learning About Yourself

Managing Yourself to Get Things Done

How Managers Communicate

Becoming an Ethical Manager

Motivating for Performance

Getting Things Done Through Networks, Relationships, and Soft Power

People With Coaching, Delegation, and Deliberate Practice

Handling Difficult Conversations, Conflict, and Negotiation

Managing Your Boss

Managing Teams

Achieving Desired Outcomes: Getting the Right People and Managing Performance

Managing Cross Culturally

Positive Leadership

Managing Personal and Organizational Change

Filters

Exam 5: Creative Problem Solving

Good managers are usually ____.

The ___ seeks to expand on and improve something that already exists.

Explain how justifying previous solutions and overconfidence can lead to problem solving mistakes.

Managers frequently solve problems ____.

Which technique breaks a decision-making group into two subgroups and assigns them different, often competing, responsibilities?

Suppose there is a puddle of oil on a manufacturing plant floor. Wiping it up will fix the problem but what will find the reason of the leaking oil?

Which type of personal approach to problem solving likes to challenge basic assumptions to discover new alternatives?

A ____ has the role of challenging the assumptions and assertions made by the group.

Patrick is a manager at AirTran airlines customer service department. He has a gut feeling that the number of calls people working on Saturday mornings needs to increase, but he can't prove that a problem exists. What tool is Patrick using?

The negativity bias is also called a ___.

Why is always perpetuating the status quo not a good idea, and what are some ways to overcome the status quo trap?

Escalating commitment refers to the tendency to drop a project at the first sign of problems.

A straightforward three-stage process for problem solving is sometimes called a ___ approach.

The first step to determine good alternative solutions is to research on the Internet.

Sandra is a manager at a large company. There is a problem in her department. What should Sandra do when she is looking at a solution?

The first stage of problem solving is to define the problem.

___ is a problem-solving technique that involves asking "why" over and over.

A radio DJ made an inappropriate comment on air, and the manager had to recognize the problem. She did this by ____.

An important aspect of collaborative problem solving is devoting time to talking ____.

What do managers use to make sure a proposed solution is put into action?

Introduction

Your Manager Strengths and Weaknesses

Learning About Yourself

Managing Yourself to Get Things Done

How Managers Communicate

Becoming an Ethical Manager

Motivating for Performance

Getting Things Done Through Networks, Relationships, and Soft Power

People With Coaching, Delegation, and Deliberate Practice

Handling Difficult Conversations, Conflict, and Negotiation

Managing Your Boss

Managing Teams

Achieving Desired Outcomes: Getting the Right People and Managing Performance

Managing Cross Culturally

Positive Leadership

Managing Personal and Organizational Change

Filters