Deck 7: Problem Analysis and Decision Making

Question 1

The step in the decision-making process where you demonstrate your creativity is to ________.

A)evaluate and follow-up
B)develop alternatives
C)identify the problem
D)collect relevant information
E)implement the decision

Answer 1

B

Question 2

You can improve the final outcome in the decision-making process if you acknowledge your biases and overtly attempt to control them.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In developing alternatives,the fewer alternatives you can generate the better your final decision will be.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Solving the wrong problem perfectly is no better outcome,and may be worse,than coming up with the wrong solution to the right problem.

Question 5

Which of the following is one way to help a supervisor properly implement the decision?

A)centralize authority
B)assign responsibilities
C)determine success potential
D)enlist employee cooperation
E)consider possible deadlines

Question 6

Decision trees are useful tools to analyze all EXCEPT ________.

A)marketing
B)equipment purchases
C)investment
D)hiring
E)quality control

Question 7

The first step in the decision-making process is ________.

A)diagram a decision tree
B)identify the problem
C)evaluate alternatives
D)collect information
E)interview employees

Question 8

Identify and explain the steps a supervisor uses in the decision-making process.

Question 9

Marginal analysis deals with what type of cost in a particular decision?

A)indirect labor
B)direct labor
C)average
D)additional
E)minimal

Question 10

If follow-up and evaluation indicate that the sought-after results weren't achieved,the supervisor must still implement the final decision.

Question 11

A decision-making tool for supervisors that permits decision makers to place a monetary value on the various consequences likely to result from the selection of a particular course of action is called the ________.

A)objective strategy
B)expected value analysis
C)strategy formulation
D)probability of occurrence
E)intuitive approach

Question 12

A useful way to analyze hiring,marketing,investment,equipment purchases,pricing,and similar decisions that involve a progression of decisions is to use ________.

A)market research
B)PERT diagrams
C)just-in-time inventories
D)a decision tree
E)accounting procedures

Question 13

The following are steps in the decision-making process EXCEPT ________.

A)collect relevant information
B)develop objectives
C)develop alternatives
D)follow up and evaluate
E)select the best alternative

Question 14

Selection of the best alternative in the decision-making process depends on which of the following?

A)commitment to the issue
B)support of middle managers
C)quantity of information gathered
D)supervisor's ingenuity in developing alternatives
E)volume of output

Question 15

A decision tree analyzes which of the following?

A)global competition
B)accounting procedures
C)trade agreements
D)equipment purchases
E)monetary value

Question 16

A discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of affairs is called a(n)________.

A)problem
B)opportunity
C)puzzle
D)possibility
E)graphic illustration

Question 17

Once the problem has been identified in the decision-making process,you will need to ________.

A)diagram a decision tree
B)develop alternatives
C)evaluate alternatives
D)collect information
E)interview employees

Question 18

The concept of marginal or incremental analysis helps decision makers to ________.

A)determine global competition
B)analyze trade agreements
C)protect government expenditures
D)establish accounting procedures
E)optimize returns or minimize costs

Question 19

A process that deals with the additional cost in a particular decision rather than the average cost is called ________ analysis.

A)economic
B)strategic
C)marginal
D)net income
E)net productivity

Question 20

A rational and analytical way of looking at decisions is called the ________.

A)judgmental process
B)information super highway
C)intuitive process
D)subjective instinct
E)decision-making process

Question 21

________ is the tendency for supervisors to base judgments on readily obtainable information.

A)Escalation of commitment
B)Prejudgment
C)Premature decision making
D)Availability heuristic
E)Representative heuristic

Question 22

________ causes individuals to match the likelihood of an occurrence with something that has familiarity.

A)Escalation of commitment
B)Bias
C)Premature judgment
D)Availability heuristic
E)Representative heuristic

Question 23

Heuristics are commonly found in two forms - knowledge and representative.

Question 24

People using the behavioral style of decision making have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ________.

A)working well with others
B)seeking acceptance
C)concern with the achievement of others
D)avoiding conflict
E)seeking lots of information

Question 25

The blackjack strategy illustrates a phenomenon called ________.

A)representative heuristic
B)availability heuristic
C)escalation of commitment
D)unexpected events
E)expected events

Question 26

A style of decision making that relies heavily on meetings for communicating is the ________ style.

A)behavioral
B)analytic
C)autocratic
D)conceptual
E)directive

Question 27

For supervisors ________ can help to explain why,when conducting performance appraisals,they tend to give more weight to more recent behaviors of an employee than behaviors of six or nine months ago.

A)premature judgment
B)bias
C)availability heuristic
D)representative heuristic
E)escalation of commitment

Question 28

Which style of decision making is very broad in outlook and considers many alternatives?

A)intuitive
B)analytic
C)behavioral
D)directive
E)conceptual

Question 29

Identify and explain the styles of decision-making.

Question 30

Advantages of group decision-making would include which of the following?

A)groupthink
B)time consuming
C)increased legitimacy
D)minority domination
E)pressure to conform

Question 31

Directive-type decision makers procrastinate and focus on long-term decisions.

Question 32

What must you guard against when making a decision?

A)non-programmed decisions
B)marginal analysis
C)utilitarian view of ethics
D)ringisei
E)biases

Question 33

When a supervisor confronts an ill-structured problem,there is no cut-and-dry solution.A custom-made,________ response is required.

A)immediate
B)programmed
C)group generated
D)nonprogrammed
E)deliberate

Question 34

Which of the following is a style of decision-making?

A)autocratic
B)democratic
C)analytic
D)liaise faire
E)cooperative

Question 35

Explain the difference between a programmed and non-programmed decision?

Question 36

A style of decision making that characterizes managers as careful decision makers with the ability to adapt or cope with new situations is the ________ style.

A)behavioral
B)analytic
C)autocratic
D)conceptual
E)directive

Question 37

There are several advantages to group decision-making.One advantage is the desire to develop more and better alternatives.Another advantage is ________.

A)pressure to conform
B)ambiguous responsibility
C)cultural input
D)faster decision-making process
E)increases acceptance of a solution

Question 38

People using the directive style of decision making are efficient and logical.

Question 39

When a supervisor encounters a(n)________ problem,the goal is clear,the problem familiar,and information about the problem easily defined and complete.

A)periodic
B)well-structured
C)consistent
D)ill-structured
E)catastrophic

Question 40

People using the directive style of decision making have which of the following characteristics?

A)high tolerance for ambiguity
B)incongruous thinking
C)rationality
D)need for maximum information
E)efficient and logical

Question 41

A simple technique for overcoming pressures for conformity that retard the development of creative alternatives is ________.

A)group problem solving
B)brainstorming
C)the Delphi technique
D)groupthink
E)nominal group technique

Question 42

The utilitarian view of ethics makes decisions solely on the basis of their outcomes or consequences.

Question 43

When members of a group meet face-to-face and interact with one another,they create potential for ________.

A)a decision better than one made by the best individual
B)total quality management
C)self-managed teams
D)groupthink
E)disloyalty

Question 44

The ethical position that requires individuals to impose and enforce rules fairly and impartially so there is an equitable distribution of benefits and costs is the ________ view.

A)justice
B)intuitive
C)utilitarian
D)rights
E)management

Question 45

List and explain some advantages and disadvantages of group decision-making over individual decision-making.

Question 46

New trends toward individual rights and social justice mean that supervisors need ethical standards based on non-utilitarian criteria.

Question 47

Disadvantages of group decision making would include which of the following?

A)quick arrival at decision
B)generates few alternatives
C)lack of acceptance of a solution
D)decreased legitimacy
E)pressure to conform

Question 48

Someone holding the ethical position in which decisions are made solely on the basis of their outcomes or consequences has a(n)________ viewpoint.

A)justice
B)utilitarian
C)rights
D)management
E)intuitive

Question 49

Identify and explain the different views on ethics.

Question 50

Individuals,rather than groups,increasingly tend to be making decisions in organizations today.