Question 1

How can managers effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing?

Accepted Answer

A)  They should discontinue formal planning. 
B)  They should set general, but rigid plans. 
C)  They should be ready to change directions if environmental conditions warrant. 
D)  They should continue to follow the set organizational plans as persistence will eventually pay. 
A)  They should discontinue formal planning. 
B)  They should set general, but rigid plans. 
C)  They should be ready to change directions if environmental conditions warrant. 
D)  They should continue to follow the set organizational plans as persistence will eventually pay.

Question 2

When uncertainty is high, plans should be ________ and ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  specific; flexible 
B)  directional; standing 
C)  short-term; directional 
D)  general; informal 
A)  specific; flexible 
B)  directional; standing 
C)  short-term; directional 
D)  general; informal

Question 3

Which of the following is one of the elements of a management by objectives (MBO) program?

Accepted Answer

A)  absence of a time frame 
B)  participative decision making 
C)  directional goals 
D)  absence of control measures 
A)  absence of a time frame 
B)  participative decision making 
C)  directional goals 
D)  absence of control measures

Question 4

Which of the following is one of the reasons why managers should plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  When work activities are coordinated around plans, inefficiencies become obvious. 
B)  Uncertainty can be eliminated and the organization can be insulated from change with planning. 
C)  Planning eliminates the need to set goals. 
D)  Planning eliminates the need to measure work effort 
A)  When work activities are coordinated around plans, inefficiencies become obvious. 
B)  Uncertainty can be eliminated and the organization can be insulated from change with planning. 
C)  Planning eliminates the need to set goals. 
D)  Planning eliminates the need to measure work effort

Question 5

________ plans are plans that are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation.

Accepted Answer

A)  Directional 
B)  Stated 
C)  Long-term 
D)  Specific 
A)  Directional 
B)  Stated 
C)  Long-term 
D)  Specific

Question 6

Planning helps managers eliminate uncertainty and insulates organizations from change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The statement that each store should have sales equal to or greater than $100 per square foot per day is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a strategic plan 
B)  a directional plan 
C)  a financial goal 
D)  a strategic goal 
A)  a strategic plan 
B)  a directional plan 
C)  a financial goal 
D)  a strategic goal

Question 8

________ involves defining the organization's goals, establishing strategies for achieving those goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities.

Accepted Answer

A)  Execution 
B)  Logistics 
C)  Planning 
D)  Operations 
A)  Execution 
B)  Logistics 
C)  Planning 
D)  Operations

Question 9

As managers plan, they develop both goals and plans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following factors has contributed to the decline in the number of years used to define short-term and long-term plans?

Accepted Answer

A)  environmental uncertainty 
B)  profit-orientation of businesses 
C)  flattened organizational structures 
D)  stagnant business conditions 
A)  environmental uncertainty 
B)  profit-orientation of businesses 
C)  flattened organizational structures 
D)  stagnant business conditions

Question 11

Which of the following is the best indicator of an organization's real goals?

Accepted Answer

A)  organizational members' actions 
B)  mission statement 
C)  annual reports 
D)  stock valuation 
A)  organizational members' actions 
B)  mission statement 
C)  annual reports 
D)  stock valuation

Question 12

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal planning as it is used in various organizations.

Accepted Answer

Planning involves defining the organizat

Question 13

________ refers to gathering information about competitors that allows managers to anticipate competitors' actions rather than merely react to them.

Accepted Answer

A)  Due diligence 
B)  Competitor intelligence 
C)  Data aggregation 
D)  Value analysis 
A)  Due diligence 
B)  Competitor intelligence 
C)  Data aggregation 
D)  Value analysis

Question 14

Goals are different from plans because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  goals identify specific steps that the organization needs to achieve, and plans identify the overall mission of the organization 
B)  goals describe financial objectives, and plans describe objectives related to social responsibility 
C)  goals are important only for small companies, and plans are important only for large companies 
D)  goals are desired outcomes, and plans describe how those outcomes will be accomplished 
A)  goals identify specific steps that the organization needs to achieve, and plans identify the overall mission of the organization 
B)  goals describe financial objectives, and plans describe objectives related to social responsibility 
C)  goals are important only for small companies, and plans are important only for large companies 
D)  goals are desired outcomes, and plans describe how those outcomes will be accomplished

Question 15

Which aspect of planning refers to documents that outline how results are to be achieved?

Accepted Answer

A)  goals 
B)  plans 
C)  objectives 
D)  performance 
A)  goals 
B)  plans 
C)  objectives 
D)  performance

Question 16

Strategic plans are usually ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  short term, directional, and standing 
B)  short term, specific, and standing 
C)  long term, directional, and single use 
D)  long term, specific, and standing 
A)  short term, directional, and standing 
B)  short term, specific, and standing 
C)  long term, directional, and single use 
D)  long term, specific, and standing

Question 17

Which of the following is true of competitor intelligence as a means of environmental scanning?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Economic Espionage Act makes it a crime in the United States to engage in competitor intelligence. 
B)  It is unethical to use competitor intelligence to make strategic business decisions. 
C)  Competitor intelligence is ethical if competitor-related information is collected from sources accessible and available to the public. 
D)  Buying competitors' products and asking their own employees to evaluate them to learn about new technical innovations is an example of the unethical practices followed in competitor intelligence. 
A)  The Economic Espionage Act makes it a crime in the United States to engage in competitor intelligence. 
B)  It is unethical to use competitor intelligence to make strategic business decisions. 
C)  Competitor intelligence is ethical if competitor-related information is collected from sources accessible and available to the public. 
D)  Buying competitors' products and asking their own employees to evaluate them to learn about new technical innovations is an example of the unethical practices followed in competitor intelligence.

Question 18

Which of the following is an assumption associated with traditional goal setting?

Accepted Answer

A)  Employees will be more motivated to try to attain goals that they helped set. 
B)  Organizational goals must not be communicated to lower level employees. 
C)  Top managers know what is best because they see the "big picture." 
D)  Organizational goals must not be broken down into individual goals. 
A)  Employees will be more motivated to try to attain goals that they helped set. 
B)  Organizational goals must not be communicated to lower level employees. 
C)  Top managers know what is best because they see the "big picture." 
D)  Organizational goals must not be broken down into individual goals.

Question 19

Several research studies have conclusively proven that planning organizations always outperform nonplanning organizations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Most company's goals can be classified as either ________ or ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  strategic; financial 
B)  operational; tactical 
C)  social; economic 
D)  strategic; operational 
A)  strategic; financial 
B)  operational; tactical 
C)  social; economic 
D)  strategic; operational

How can managers effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing?

When uncertainty is high, plans should be and .

Which of the following is one of the elements of a management by objectives (MBO) program?

Which of the following is one of the reasons why managers should plan?

________ plans are plans that are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation.

Planning helps managers eliminate uncertainty and insulates organizations from change.

The statement that each store should have sales equal to or greater than $100 per square foot per day is an example of ________.

________ involves defining the organization's goals, establishing strategies for achieving those goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities.

As managers plan, they develop both goals and plans.

Which of the following factors has contributed to the decline in the number of years used to define short-term and long-term plans?

Which of the following is the best indicator of an organization's real goals?

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal planning as it is used in various organizations.

________ refers to gathering information about competitors that allows managers to anticipate competitors' actions rather than merely react to them.

Goals are different from plans because ________.

Which aspect of planning refers to documents that outline how results are to be achieved?

Strategic plans are usually ________.

Which of the following is true of competitor intelligence as a means of environmental scanning?

Which of the following is an assumption associated with traditional goal setting?

Several research studies have conclusively proven that planning organizations always outperform nonplanning organizations.

Most company's goals can be classified as either or .

Management and Organizations

Understanding Management: Constraints and Challenges

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing Social Responsibility and Ethics

Managers As Decision Makers

Managing Change and Innovation

Strategic Management

Managerial Controls

Basic Organizational Design

Adaptive Organizational Design

Managing Human Resources

Managing Teams

Understanding Individual Behavior

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Filters

Exam 8: Foundations of Planning

How can managers effectively plan when the external environment is continually changing?

When uncertainty is high, plans should be ________ and ________.

Which of the following is one of the elements of a management by objectives (MBO) program?

Which of the following is one of the reasons why managers should plan?

________ plans are plans that are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation.

Planning helps managers eliminate uncertainty and insulates organizations from change.

The statement that each store should have sales equal to or greater than $100 per square foot per day is an example of ________.

________ involves defining the organization's goals, establishing strategies for achieving those goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities.

As managers plan, they develop both goals and plans.

Which of the following factors has contributed to the decline in the number of years used to define short-term and long-term plans?

Which of the following is the best indicator of an organization's real goals?

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal planning as it is used in various organizations.

________ refers to gathering information about competitors that allows managers to anticipate competitors' actions rather than merely react to them.

Goals are different from plans because ________.

Which aspect of planning refers to documents that outline how results are to be achieved?

Strategic plans are usually ________.

Which of the following is true of competitor intelligence as a means of environmental scanning?

Which of the following is an assumption associated with traditional goal setting?

Several research studies have conclusively proven that planning organizations always outperform nonplanning organizations.

Most company's goals can be classified as either ________ or ________.

Management and Organizations

Understanding Management: Constraints and Challenges

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing Social Responsibility and Ethics

Managers As Decision Makers

Managing Change and Innovation

Strategic Management

Managerial Controls

Basic Organizational Design

Adaptive Organizational Design

Managing Human Resources

Managing Teams

Understanding Individual Behavior

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Filters

When uncertainty is high, plans should be and .

Most company's goals can be classified as either or .