Question 1

In relation to problems of interpretation:

Accepted Answer

A)  to make sense of ambiguous events, interpretation can provide certainty of knowledge 
B)  rational decision making assumes subjective interpretation 
C)  individuals are accurate and truthful in their interpretations of past events 
D)  individuals are biased in their interpretations of past events 
A)  to make sense of ambiguous events, interpretation can provide certainty of knowledge 
B)  rational decision making assumes subjective interpretation 
C)  individuals are accurate and truthful in their interpretations of past events 
D)  individuals are biased in their interpretations of past events D

Question 2

In relation to cognitive maps:

Accepted Answer

A)  their use avoids the need for personal experience, both actual and educational 
B)  managers try to interpret events in ways that make them consistent with pre-existing beliefs 
C)  if an event is too much like prior experience, wrong conclusions may be drawn 
D)  industry recipes have been developed to cover only those facts relevant to an industry 
A)  their use avoids the need for personal experience, both actual and educational 
B)  managers try to interpret events in ways that make them consistent with pre-existing beliefs 
C)  if an event is too much like prior experience, wrong conclusions may be drawn 
D)  industry recipes have been developed to cover only those facts relevant to an industry B

Question 3

Hubbard et al.'s 'helpful techniques when assessing alternatives' include:

Accepted Answer

A)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, expert plan, dialectic materialism, simulation, war games 
B)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, simple plan, dialectic enquiry, nominal group technique 
C)  brainstorming, nominal groups, devil's advocacy, expert plan, dialectic enquiry, simulation, war games 
D)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, simple plan, didactic enquiry, nominal group technique 
A)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, expert plan, dialectic materialism, simulation, war games 
B)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, simple plan, dialectic enquiry, nominal group technique 
C)  brainstorming, nominal groups, devil's advocacy, expert plan, dialectic enquiry, simulation, war games 
D)  brainstorming, devil's advocacy, simple plan, didactic enquiry, nominal group technique C

Question 4

Good group decisions are characterised by:

Accepted Answer

A)  individuality, trust and loyalty, shared belief system, groupthink 
B)  groupthink, respect for individual, consensus, secret voting 
C)  trust, shared belief system, high degree of cooperation, loyalty 
D)  individuality, leadership, communication skills, groupthink 
A)  individuality, trust and loyalty, shared belief system, groupthink 
B)  groupthink, respect for individual, consensus, secret voting 
C)  trust, shared belief system, high degree of cooperation, loyalty 
D)  individuality, leadership, communication skills, groupthink

Question 5

A dialectic enquiry is not suitable for decisions of high risk.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The process of 'satisficing' calls for conducting a limited rather than exhaustive search of possible alternatives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

'If a critical decision has to be made,give me a strong leader over a senior management committee any day!' Do you agree or disagree? Discuss and give reasons for your answer.

Accepted Answer

The enthusiasm of a positive-thinking le

Question 8

The criteria that apply to rational decisions do NOT include a requirement that they:

Accepted Answer

A)  allow for interdependent means and ends 
B)  are fully informed 
C)  are internally consistent and logical 
D)  aim at achieving the end goal 
A)  allow for interdependent means and ends 
B)  are fully informed 
C)  are internally consistent and logical 
D)  aim at achieving the end goal

Question 9

The inability to understand how decisions are made limits the ability to predict how future decisions will be made.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Assess the relevance of the normative approaches to decision making.Provide two examples of why rationality in decision making may be 'bounded'.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that rational decision-ma

Question 11

Cognitive maps have blind spots.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Rational decision making is based on prescriptive approach.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to Tichy and Bennis,good decision makers do NOT do which of the the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  engage and energise stakeholders 
B)  cut through complexity to get to the issue 
C)  stay involved during execution 
D)  analyse the industry structure 
A)  engage and energise stakeholders 
B)  cut through complexity to get to the issue 
C)  stay involved during execution 
D)  analyse the industry structure

Question 14

Valid approaches to understanding how decisions are made in the context of organisational conflict between decision makers include:

Accepted Answer

A)  decision making as a power struggle 
B)  decision making as a result of coalition formation 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above 
A)  decision making as a power struggle 
B)  decision making as a result of coalition formation 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above

Question 15

The group of individual factors suggested as limitations on rational decision making do NOT include:

Accepted Answer

A)  bounded rationality, ethics, emotions 
B)  ambiguity, reality 
C)  interpretation, intuition 
D)  decision-making rules 
A)  bounded rationality, ethics, emotions 
B)  ambiguity, reality 
C)  interpretation, intuition 
D)  decision-making rules

Question 16

One of the negative aspects of political decision making is that it:

Accepted Answer

A)  focuses the decision maker on the need to display strong entrepreneurship to control power 
B)  focuses the decision maker on the need for the decision to be made at a point in time 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above 
A)  focuses the decision maker on the need to display strong entrepreneurship to control power 
B)  focuses the decision maker on the need for the decision to be made at a point in time 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above

Question 17

The rational model of decision making is not always used by managers.Why?

Accepted Answer

A number of practical limitations makes

Question 18

All of the conceptual approaches to decision making see decision making as a process rather than a single judgment at some point in time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Hubbard et al.propose that risk assessment be undertaken by a process to:

Accepted Answer

A)  consider alternatives, be aggressive, forecast alternatives, plan up-front, be thorough 
B)  be conservative, narrow possible alternatives, consider competitor reactions, be flexible 
C)  be flexible, expand multiple alternatives, forecast competitor reactions, plan exit strategy 
D)  none of the above 
A)  consider alternatives, be aggressive, forecast alternatives, plan up-front, be thorough 
B)  be conservative, narrow possible alternatives, consider competitor reactions, be flexible 
C)  be flexible, expand multiple alternatives, forecast competitor reactions, plan exit strategy 
D)  none of the above

Question 20

One of the positive aspects of political decision making is that it:

Accepted Answer

A)  encourages more outcomes to be explored 
B)  enables decision makers to resist pressure from key stakeholders 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above 
A)  encourages more outcomes to be explored 
B)  enables decision makers to resist pressure from key stakeholders 
C)  both of the above 
D)  none of the above

In relation to problems of interpretation:

In relation to cognitive maps:

Hubbard et al.'s 'helpful techniques when assessing alternatives' include:

Good group decisions are characterised by:

A dialectic enquiry is not suitable for decisions of high risk.

The process of 'satisficing' calls for conducting a limited rather than exhaustive search of possible alternatives.

'If a critical decision has to be made,give me a strong leader over a senior management committee any day!' Do you agree or disagree? Discuss and give reasons for your answer.

The criteria that apply to rational decisions do NOT include a requirement that they:

The inability to understand how decisions are made limits the ability to predict how future decisions will be made.

Assess the relevance of the normative approaches to decision making.Provide two examples of why rationality in decision making may be 'bounded'.

Cognitive maps have blind spots.

Rational decision making is based on prescriptive approach.

According to Tichy and Bennis,good decision makers do NOT do which of the the following?

Valid approaches to understanding how decisions are made in the context of organisational conflict between decision makers include:

The group of individual factors suggested as limitations on rational decision making do NOT include:

One of the negative aspects of political decision making is that it:

The rational model of decision making is not always used by managers.Why?

All of the conceptual approaches to decision making see decision making as a process rather than a single judgment at some point in time.

Hubbard et al.propose that risk assessment be undertaken by a process to:

One of the positive aspects of political decision making is that it:

What is ‘strategy’?

Analysing business strategy: creating value

Analysing the external environment

Analysing the organisation’s resources and capabilities

Measuring strategic organisation performance

Gap analysis and business-level strategic options

Dynamic competitive strategy

Corporate/multi-business strategy

Acquisitions and alliances

International strategy

Capabilities,systems and structure

Leadership,people and culture

Change management

Filters

Exam 7: Strategic decision making

In relation to problems of interpretation:

In relation to cognitive maps:

Hubbard et al.'s 'helpful techniques when assessing alternatives' include:

Good group decisions are characterised by:

A dialectic enquiry is not suitable for decisions of high risk.

The process of 'satisficing' calls for conducting a limited rather than exhaustive search of possible alternatives.

'If a critical decision has to be made,give me a strong leader over a senior management committee any day!' Do you agree or disagree? Discuss and give reasons for your answer.

The criteria that apply to rational decisions do NOT include a requirement that they:

The inability to understand how decisions are made limits the ability to predict how future decisions will be made.

Assess the relevance of the normative approaches to decision making.Provide two examples of why rationality in decision making may be 'bounded'.

Cognitive maps have blind spots.

Rational decision making is based on prescriptive approach.

According to Tichy and Bennis,good decision makers do NOT do which of the the following?

Valid approaches to understanding how decisions are made in the context of organisational conflict between decision makers include:

The group of individual factors suggested as limitations on rational decision making do NOT include:

One of the negative aspects of political decision making is that it:

The rational model of decision making is not always used by managers.Why?

All of the conceptual approaches to decision making see decision making as a process rather than a single judgment at some point in time.

Hubbard et al.propose that risk assessment be undertaken by a process to:

One of the positive aspects of political decision making is that it:

What is ‘strategy’?

Analysing business strategy: creating value

Analysing the external environment

Analysing the organisation’s resources and capabilities

Measuring strategic organisation performance

Gap analysis and business-level strategic options

Dynamic competitive strategy

Corporate/multi-business strategy

Acquisitions and alliances

International strategy

Capabilities,systems and structure

Leadership,people and culture

Change management

Filters