Exam 1: Managers and Management

How do customers play a role in changing the job of the modern manager?

Companies that are well managed can prosper during difficult economic times by depending on ________.

The emphasis that managers give to various activities is generally based on their ________.

We all have a vested interest in understanding the way organizations are managed because ________.

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a part of the planning function of a manager?

Most people who study management think that Fayol's categories are more useful than Mintzberg's.

In a short essay, compare the tasks, priorities, and responsibilities of first-line, middle, and top managers.

The Busy Day (Scenario) Don Sakaguchi, manager at Control Systems, Inc., sighs as he sips his coffee at 5 A.M. and reads his agenda for the day. Don's first duty is to preside over a retirement party for a beloved employee and say a few words on her behalf. Next, he will give a tour to a news reporter who is writing a story on the new plant expansion. Don then has a meeting with the unit manager, Phil Johnson, to discuss Phil's recent performance drop (a task Don always hates). Finally, in the late afternoon, Don will be reviewing the recent equipment malfunction and deciding whether to deploy extra people to get the equipment running as soon as possible. What a day! -When Don reviews the equipment malfunction, what management role will he play in deciding whether to bring in extra people?

In a short essay, list and discuss the interpersonal managerial roles developed by Mintzberg. Include specific examples of each role.

Application of Skills (Scenario) Harris, a budding stand-up comedian, spent months hanging out at Laugh Town, a local club, meeting other stand-ups, doing a lot of listening and finding out how they learned their trade. It got to the point where several of the star acts were trying out their new material on Harris. If Harris laughed, the material must be good, they said. Finally Harris got to the point where he wanted to try out his own act. Bobby G, a successful comic, agreed to listen to Harris. Bobby laughed a few times, but as he performed his material Harris couldn't help but wonder about the odd, pained expression on Bobby's face. When it was over, Bobby told him, "Very funny, Harris. Keep working on it." It was at that point that Harris decided he would become an agent for other comedians. Somehow, he knew that that was what he was truly suited for. -Recognizing that the pained expression on Bobby G's face had more meaning than Bobby's encouraging words is an example of Harris using which skill?

Which is an important job responsibility for a middle manager?

Almost all managerial tasks involve ________.

Joe, the Manager (Scenario) As a production supervisor, Joe determines the number of output units his department will produce each week. On Monday, he informs his team that the schedule is going to be difficult this week due to the increased number of output units. He goes on to tell them that he is confident that they can fulfill the schedule because they are tough, talented, and "when the going gets tough, they are the ones who get going." Each day during the week, Joe checks the amount of output that the employees have completed and the number of units that have been rejected. -When Joe decides the number of output units his team will be able to produce this week, which management process is he performing?

Non-profit organizations are different from for-profit organizations primarily ________.

Determining who reports to whom is part of the controlling function of management.

A candy manufacturer that made candy at a lower cost without improving the quality of the candy could be said to ________.

A pharmaceutical company manager attending a meeting of academic scientists would be functioning in which role?

Managers who are effective at meeting organizational goals always act efficiently.

In order to be considered a manager, an individual must direct or oversee the work of others.

In a short essay, discuss the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.