Question 1

MBO works best in dynamic environments where new goals can be set every few weeks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Written and shared goals of formal planning ________.

Accepted Answer

A) are redundant in today's uncertain business climate 
B) reduce ambiguity in what needs to be done 
C) allow employees to adjust goals when required 
D) create too many questions about responsibilities across departments 
A) are redundant in today's uncertain business climate 
B) reduce ambiguity in what needs to be done 
C) allow employees to adjust goals when required 
D) create too many questions about responsibilities across departments

Question 3

When plans are categorized as single use versus standing,they are being differentiated by ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

An organization's mission states that it "is committed to reducing its environmental footprint"; but its facilities do not comply with statutory environmental regulations.This is an instance of how ________.

Accepted Answer

A) long-term goals differ from short-term goals 
B) an organizations stated goals are not necessarily its real goals 
C) a company's real goals are derived from its mission statement 
D) plans made by executives focus on operations 
A) long-term goals differ from short-term goals 
B) an organizations stated goals are not necessarily its real goals 
C) a company's real goals are derived from its mission statement 
D) plans made by executives focus on operations

Question 5

Rachel is the academic dean for a regional community college. The president has asked her to develop a plan for the college. He wants a plan covering the next five years, and he wants it to be as specific as possible, but not to the extent that it constrains flexibility. In developing the plan, Rachel must address several emerging issues, including advancements in teaching technology, shifting demand for various academic programs, declining student enrolment, and increasing competition from other schools. Despite projections that student enrolment will continue to decline over the next five years, Rachel must ensure that the plan allows the college to meet its employment obligations to tenured faculty who have been offered long-term teaching positions.
-Declining student enrolment and increasing competition are examples of which contingency factor that can affect planning?

Accepted Answer

A) degree of goal flexibility 
B) level of urgency 
C) degree of environmental uncertainty 
D) length of future commitments 
A) degree of goal flexibility 
B) level of urgency 
C) degree of environmental uncertainty 
D) length of future commitments

Question 6

In traditional goals setting,goals often lose clarity and unity as they make their way from the top of the organization to lower levels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In a short essay,explain and discuss in detail the four reasons for planning.

Accepted Answer

1.Planning provides direction to manager

Question 8

Nadia Mainardi is the senior planner for the Whistler-Blackcomb Regional Development Council. She has met with a group of stakeholders, including the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Tourism B.C., and others who are interested in working together to improve the Sea to Sky Highway between North Vancouver and Whistler. To date, Nadia has successfully obtained a Technical Assistance Grant from the province to help organize several small communities along the Sea to Sky Highway into an intergovernmental unit, all sharing the same mission and goals. Nadia is now charged with developing a strategic plan for this group, called the Sea to Sky Collaborative. 
-After establishing the Collaborative's goals,Nadia's boss asks what contingency factors might influence the Collaborative's plans to reach these goals.Nadia responds that planning contingency factors can be broadly grouped into three categories: ________.

Accepted Answer

A) degree of environmental uncertainty,attainability of future commitments,and degree of urgency 
B) degree of environmental uncertainty,level of profitability,and organizational structure 
C) degree of urgency,length of future commitments,and communication effectiveness 
D) degree of environmental uncertainty,length of future commitments,and organizational level 
A) degree of environmental uncertainty,attainability of future commitments,and degree of urgency 
B) degree of environmental uncertainty,level of profitability,and organizational structure 
C) degree of urgency,length of future commitments,and communication effectiveness 
D) degree of environmental uncertainty,length of future commitments,and organizational level

Question 9

Directional plans provide ________,while specific plans provide ________.

Accepted Answer

A) clarity; flexibility 
B) flexibility; clarity 
C) urgency; flexibility 
D) specificity; urgency 
A) clarity; flexibility 
B) flexibility; clarity 
C) urgency; flexibility 
D) specificity; urgency

Question 10

Goals that are beyond what seems realistic are called "stretch goals."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Rachel is the academic dean for a regional community college. The president has asked her to develop a plan for the college. He wants a plan covering the next five years, and he wants it to be as specific as possible, but not to the extent that it constrains flexibility. In developing the plan, Rachel must address several emerging issues, including advancements in teaching technology, shifting demand for various academic programs, declining student enrolment, and increasing competition from other schools. Despite projections that student enrolment will continue to decline over the next five years, Rachel must ensure that the plan allows the college to meet its employment obligations to tenured faculty who have been offered long-term teaching positions.
-The president's instructions to Rachel illustrate the tradeoff between the ________ of specific plans versus the ________ of directional plans.

Accepted Answer

A) longer time frames; higher specificity 
B) wider breadth; shorter time frames 
C) increased clarity; higher flexibility 
D) urgency; reduced flexibility 
A) longer time frames; higher specificity 
B) wider breadth; shorter time frames 
C) increased clarity; higher flexibility 
D) urgency; reduced flexibility

Question 12

Which of the following goals is most appropriate for an MBO program?

Accepted Answer

A) increase sales this quarter 
B) improve training programs 
C) decrease waste by 6 percent over the next six months 
D) reduce costs by 4 percent 
A) increase sales this quarter 
B) improve training programs 
C) decrease waste by 6 percent over the next six months 
D) reduce costs by 4 percent

Question 13

MBO programs use goals to ________ employees rather than to ________ them.

Accepted Answer

A) control; motivate 
B) motivate; control 
C) reward; punish 
D) control; reward 
A) control; motivate 
B) motivate; control 
C) reward; punish 
D) control; reward

Question 14

The term planning is used to describe any ideas developed by employees of an organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The number of years used to define short-term and long-terms plans has increased considerably because of the greater environmental certainty businesses have today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Organizations ABC and XYZ are both in the same industry and vie for the same set of customers in the marketplace. At ABC, goals are set at the top level of management each year and then broken into subgoals for each organizational level. Similarly, plans are developed at the top level and then reformulated and delegated to managers at the middle and lower levels. At XYZ, goals are developed at the top level, and then those managers meet with their subordinates at the next lower level to establish mutually agreeable goals. The middle managers then meet with the first-level managers to establish mutually agreeable goals. Finally, the first-level managers meet with each of their employees and establish mutually agreeable goals. Annual plans are then developed by organization members at all levels to meet their specific needs.
-Which organization is most likely to achieve the highest level of employee performance and organizational productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) ABC because the plans are formulated by management for each level of the organization 
B) XYZ because the goals are set participatively with employees 
C) both because the hierarchy of organizational goals is clearly defined at each level 
D) neither because they both use goals to control employees rather than to motivate them 
A) ABC because the plans are formulated by management for each level of the organization 
B) XYZ because the goals are set participatively with employees 
C) both because the hierarchy of organizational goals is clearly defined at each level 
D) neither because they both use goals to control employees rather than to motivate them

Question 17

In the traditional approach to planning,planning is done entirely by top-level managers who are often assisted by ________.

Accepted Answer

A) business-level managers 
B) functional-level managers 
C) a group of planning specialists 
D) external business consultants 
A) business-level managers 
B) functional-level managers 
C) a group of planning specialists 
D) external business consultants

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) single-use 
B) directional 
C) standing 
D) specific 
A) single-use 
B) directional 
C) standing 
D) specific

Question 19

Goals provide the direction for all management decisions and form the ________.

Accepted Answer

A) basis for profit projections to satisfy shareholders and other external stakeholders 
B) desired outcomes that the organizational members will likely achieve 
C) criteria against which actual work accomplishments can be measured 
D) foundation for all other management functions 
A) basis for profit projections to satisfy shareholders and other external stakeholders 
B) desired outcomes that the organizational members will likely achieve 
C) criteria against which actual work accomplishments can be measured 
D) foundation for all other management functions

Question 20

The first step in the goal-setting process is to review the organization's mission.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

MBO works best in dynamic environments where new goals can be set every few weeks.

Written and shared goals of formal planning ________.

When plans are categorized as single use versus standing,they are being differentiated by ________.

An organization's mission states that it "is committed to reducing its environmental footprint"; but its facilities do not comply with statutory environmental regulations.This is an instance of how ________.

In traditional goals setting,goals often lose clarity and unity as they make their way from the top of the organization to lower levels.

In a short essay,explain and discuss in detail the four reasons for planning.

Directional plans provide ,while specific plans provide .

Goals that are beyond what seems realistic are called "stretch goals."

Which of the following goals is most appropriate for an MBO program?

MBO programs use goals to employees rather than to them.

The term planning is used to describe any ideas developed by employees of an organization.

The number of years used to define short-term and long-terms plans has increased considerably because of the greater environmental certainty businesses have today.

In the traditional approach to planning,planning is done entirely by top-level managers who are often assisted by ________.

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

Goals provide the direction for all management decisions and form the ________.

The first step in the goal-setting process is to review the organization's mission.

Introduction to Management and Organizations

Organizational Culture and the Organizational Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Entrepreneurially

Managing Responsibly and Ethically

Innovation and Adaptability

Decision Making

Managing Strategically

Designing Organizational Structure

Managers and Communication

Managing Human Resources

Leadership

Motivating Employees

Managing Groups and Teams

Evidence-Based Decision Making

Filters

Exam 9: Foundations of Planning

MBO works best in dynamic environments where new goals can be set every few weeks.

Written and shared goals of formal planning ________.

When plans are categorized as single use versus standing,they are being differentiated by ________.

An organization's mission states that it "is committed to reducing its environmental footprint"; but its facilities do not comply with statutory environmental regulations.This is an instance of how ________.

In traditional goals setting,goals often lose clarity and unity as they make their way from the top of the organization to lower levels.

In a short essay,explain and discuss in detail the four reasons for planning.

Directional plans provide ________,while specific plans provide ________.

Goals that are beyond what seems realistic are called "stretch goals."

Which of the following goals is most appropriate for an MBO program?

MBO programs use goals to ________ employees rather than to ________ them.

The term planning is used to describe any ideas developed by employees of an organization.

The number of years used to define short-term and long-terms plans has increased considerably because of the greater environmental certainty businesses have today.

In the traditional approach to planning,planning is done entirely by top-level managers who are often assisted by ________.

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

Goals provide the direction for all management decisions and form the ________.

The first step in the goal-setting process is to review the organization's mission.

Introduction to Management and Organizations

Organizational Culture and the Organizational Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Entrepreneurially

Managing Responsibly and Ethically

Innovation and Adaptability

Decision Making

Managing Strategically

Designing Organizational Structure

Managers and Communication

Managing Human Resources

Leadership

Motivating Employees

Managing Groups and Teams

Evidence-Based Decision Making

Filters

Directional plans provide ,while specific plans provide .

MBO programs use goals to employees rather than to them.