Question 1

What should a person do to understand what the real objectives of the organisation are?

Accepted Answer

A) observe organisational member actions 
B) attend a stockholders' annual meeting 
C) read the organisation's statement of purpose 
D) read the organisation's annual report 
E) watch television news reports 
A) observe organisational member actions 
B) attend a stockholders' annual meeting 
C) read the organisation's statement of purpose 
D) read the organisation's annual report 
E) watch television news reports

Question 2

According to the textbook, organisations need at least ________ year(s)of systematic formal planning before performance is impacted.

Accepted Answer

A) one 
B) two 
C) three 
D) four 
E) five 
A) one 
B) two 
C) three 
D) four 
E) five

Question 3

Which of the following is the foundation of planning?

Accepted Answer

A) employees 
B) goals 
C) outcomes 
D) computers 
E) the planning department 
A) employees 
B) goals 
C) outcomes 
D) computers 
E) the planning department

Question 4

The North Queensland Regional Planning Group
The North Queensland Regional Planning Group convened a group of stakeholders, including the Queensland Roads Board and the Queensland Local Government Department together with representatives of local governments in the region, who are interested in working together on improving arterial roads in the region.David Dahlstrom is the senior planner for the North Queensland Regional Planning Group.Mr Dahlstrom successfully obtained a technical assistance grant.The intent is to organise all the local governments in the region into an intergovernmental unit.All of the communities will share the same visioning processes of mission, objectives and tasks.Mr Dahlstrom is now charged with developing a strategic plan for this group, called the North Queensland regional transport advisory board.
-Refer to The North Queensland Regional Planning Group (Scenario).Because of the intergovernmental nature of the North Queensland regional transport advisory board, Mr Dahlstrom's boss suggests that open-ended goals may be preferable as they offer greater flexibility.Mr Dahlstrom, a knowledgeable and experienced planner, tells her that ________.

Accepted Answer

A) a well-designed goal will also specify a time frame for accomplishment 
B) a well-designed goal will also specify a quantifiable measure of accomplishment 
C) although open-ended goals may seem preferable because of their flexibility, in fact, goals without a time frame make an organisation less flexible because you are never sure when you have met your goals 
D) the group should just concentrate on defining a mission 
E) a well-designed goal will not be challenging 
A) a well-designed goal will also specify a time frame for accomplishment 
B) a well-designed goal will also specify a quantifiable measure of accomplishment 
C) although open-ended goals may seem preferable because of their flexibility, in fact, goals without a time frame make an organisation less flexible because you are never sure when you have met your goals 
D) the group should just concentrate on defining a mission 
E) a well-designed goal will not be challenging

Question 5

An appeal of Management by Objectives (MBO)lies in its emphasis on employees working to accomplish goals which are ________.

Accepted Answer

A) companywide and realistic 
B) effective and easy to measure 
C) stated and confirmed 
D) real and understandable 
E) partly set by them 
A) companywide and realistic 
B) effective and easy to measure 
C) stated and confirmed 
D) real and understandable 
E) partly set by them

Question 6

Developing Plans
As manufacturing manager of a local manufacturer, you are interested in developing a new organisational plan.However, you are unsure about several factors.You are not sure who you should assign to the varying planning tasks and there are several other issues pending, such as the potential formation of a union for employees and rising interest rates.You also have to consider that you have contracts with large vendors that extend five years into the future and there has been enormous investment into overseas expansion scheduled to take place in the next four years.
-Refer to Developing Plans (Scenario).The fact that there are environmental uncertainties, such as the threat of unionisation and rising interest rates, means that the emphasis should be placed on ________.

Accepted Answer

A) the long term 
B) lowering risk 
C) flexibility 
D) writing specific objectives 
E) enhancing measurability of outcomes 
A) the long term 
B) lowering risk 
C) flexibility 
D) writing specific objectives 
E) enhancing measurability of outcomes

Question 7

In a short essay, define 'planning' and discuss the characteristics of formal versus informal planning as used in various organisations.

Accepted Answer

Planning involves defining the organisat

Question 8

The Dynamic Environment
Company EZ's business is technology-related and the environment is very dynamic.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 involvement of employees.
-Refer to The Dynamic Environment (Scenario).A major reason for involving employees in the planning processes is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) it is more effective in a dynamic environments 
B) it communicates top management goals better 
C) it involves employees in setting goals and they are then more likely to use the plan to direct and coordinate work 
D) it promotes creativity 
E) it focuses managers' attention on tomorrow's survival instead of today's competition 
A) it is more effective in a dynamic environments 
B) it communicates top management goals better 
C) it involves employees in setting goals and they are then more likely to use the plan to direct and coordinate work 
D) it promotes creativity 
E) it focuses managers' attention on tomorrow's survival instead of today's competition

Question 9

Competitor intelligence allows managers to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) react to competitor actions 
B) cut cost below the competition 
C) increase market diversification 
D) anticipate competitor actions 
E) set equitable employee pay levels 
A) react to competitor actions 
B) cut cost below the competition 
C) increase market diversification 
D) anticipate competitor actions 
E) set equitable employee pay levels

Question 10

In an uncertain environment, managers want to develop ________ plans.

Accepted Answer

A) general and flexible 
B) specific but flexible 
C) formal 
D) contingency 
E) mini day-to-day 
A) general and flexible 
B) specific but flexible 
C) formal 
D) contingency 
E) mini day-to-day

Question 11

Generally, operational planning dominates the planning efforts of what level in the organisation?

Accepted Answer

A) front-line staff 
B) senior front-line staff 
C) lower-level managers 
D) middle-level managers 
E) upper-level managers 
A) front-line staff 
B) senior front-line staff 
C) lower-level managers 
D) middle-level managers 
E) upper-level managers

Question 12

Developing Plans
As manufacturing manager of a local manufacturer, you are interested in developing a new organisational plan.However, you are unsure about several factors.You are not sure who you should assign to the varying planning tasks and there are several other issues pending, such as the potential formation of a union for employees and rising interest rates.You also have to consider that you have contracts with large vendors that extend five years into the future and there has been enormous investment into overseas expansion scheduled to take place in the next four years.
-Refer to Developing Plans (Scenario).For the most part, you should assign the operational planning activities to ________.

Accepted Answer

A) line staff 
B) high-performing line staff 
C) lower-level managers 
D) middle managers 
E) upper-level managers 
A) line staff 
B) high-performing line staff 
C) lower-level managers 
D) middle managers 
E) upper-level managers

Question 13

Which of the following is a qualitative forecasting technique?

Accepted Answer

A) time series analysis 
B) sales force composition 
C) regression models 
D) econometric models 
E) substitution effect 
A) time series analysis 
B) sales force composition 
C) regression models 
D) econometric models 
E) substitution effect

Question 14

It's Academic
You are a Faculty Dean for a regional university and your university Vice Chancellor has asked you to develop a plan for the faculty.He wants a plan covering the next five years and he wants it to be as specific as possible yet not overly constraining and containing some flexibility.The Vice Chancellor states that he wants the plan to be accurate so as not to waste time and so you will be well positioned for the future.
-Refer to It's Academic (Scenario).Your boss wants this plan to be very valuable to the organisation.You are aware of the overall value of planning in organisations and tell him ________.

Accepted Answer

A) organisations that plan always outperform those who do not 
B) formal planning has little long-term association with higher profits 
C) the extent of planning is more important than the process 
D) the environment may restrict higher performance 
E) overall, there is a general positive relationship between planning and performance 
A) organisations that plan always outperform those who do not 
B) formal planning has little long-term association with higher profits 
C) the extent of planning is more important than the process 
D) the environment may restrict higher performance 
E) overall, there is a general positive relationship between planning and performance

Question 15

A manager who wanted to predict next quarter's sales on the basis of four years of previous sales data would probably use time series analysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In a short essay, discuss 'traditional goal setting' and the problems associated with this type of planning.

Accepted Answer

The central theme in traditional goal se

Question 17

When management has sufficient hard data, it prefers what type of forecasting technique?

Accepted Answer

A) predictive 
B) quantitative 
C) long-term 
D) qualitative 
E) fact-based 
A) predictive 
B) quantitative 
C) long-term 
D) qualitative 
E) fact-based

Question 18

If you want to know what an organisation's real goals are, closely observe what members of the organisation actually do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Research indicates that managers who plan always outperform managers who do not plan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Formal planning involves which of the following aspects?

Accepted Answer

A) developing general objectives 
B) planning for up to one year 
C) writing objectives 
D) distributing the plan to all managerial employees 
E) carrying out the goals as each manager thinks is best 
A) developing general objectives 
B) planning for up to one year 
C) writing objectives 
D) distributing the plan to all managerial employees 
E) carrying out the goals as each manager thinks is best

What should a person do to understand what the real objectives of the organisation are?

According to the textbook, organisations need at least ________ year(s)of systematic formal planning before performance is impacted.

Which of the following is the foundation of planning?

An appeal of Management by Objectives (MBO)lies in its emphasis on employees working to accomplish goals which are ________.

In a short essay, define 'planning' and discuss the characteristics of formal versus informal planning as used in various organisations.

Competitor intelligence allows managers to do which of the following?

In an uncertain environment, managers want to develop ________ plans.

Generally, operational planning dominates the planning efforts of what level in the organisation?

Which of the following is a qualitative forecasting technique?

A manager who wanted to predict next quarter's sales on the basis of four years of previous sales data would probably use time series analysis.

In a short essay, discuss 'traditional goal setting' and the problems associated with this type of planning.

When management has sufficient hard data, it prefers what type of forecasting technique?

If you want to know what an organisation's real goals are, closely observe what members of the organisation actually do.

Research indicates that managers who plan always outperform managers who do not plan.

Formal planning involves which of the following aspects?

Managers in the Workplace

Management History

Managing the External Environment and Organisational Culture

Managing in a Global Environment

Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics

Managers As Decision Makers

Managing Change and Innovation

Strategic Management

Managerial Controls

Managing Operations

Organisational Structure and Design

Managing Teams

Managing Human Resources

Understanding and Managing Individual Behaviour

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Filters

Exam 8: Foundations of Planning

What should a person do to understand what the real objectives of the organisation are?

According to the textbook, organisations need at least ________ year(s)of systematic formal planning before performance is impacted.

Which of the following is the foundation of planning?

An appeal of Management by Objectives (MBO)lies in its emphasis on employees working to accomplish goals which are ________.

In a short essay, define 'planning' and discuss the characteristics of formal versus informal planning as used in various organisations.

Competitor intelligence allows managers to do which of the following?

In an uncertain environment, managers want to develop ________ plans.

Generally, operational planning dominates the planning efforts of what level in the organisation?

Which of the following is a qualitative forecasting technique?

A manager who wanted to predict next quarter's sales on the basis of four years of previous sales data would probably use time series analysis.

In a short essay, discuss 'traditional goal setting' and the problems associated with this type of planning.

When management has sufficient hard data, it prefers what type of forecasting technique?

If you want to know what an organisation's real goals are, closely observe what members of the organisation actually do.

Research indicates that managers who plan always outperform managers who do not plan.

Formal planning involves which of the following aspects?

Managers in the Workplace

Management History

Managing the External Environment and Organisational Culture

Managing in a Global Environment

Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics

Managers As Decision Makers

Managing Change and Innovation

Strategic Management

Managerial Controls

Managing Operations

Organisational Structure and Design

Managing Teams

Managing Human Resources

Understanding and Managing Individual Behaviour

Managers and Communication

Motivating Employees

Managers As Leaders

Filters