Deck 1: The Contemporary Workplace

Question 1

In a(n) __________, countries and people are increasingly interconnected with respect to labour markets and business dealings.

A) globalised world
B) ethnically diverse world
C) ethnocentric world
D) socially responsible world
E) ethical world

Answer 1

A

Question 2

To survive in the new workplace, people must do all of the following EXCEPT:

A) have an extensive knowledge of computer languages and their applications.
B) be able to contribute something of value to their employers.
C) have links with peers and others inside and outside the organisation in order to get things done.
D) act as if they are running their own businesses.
E) be able to communicate personal and work group successes and progress.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following statements does NOT describe an implication of technology for the new economy?

A) The demand for knowledge workers with the skills to utilise technology to full advantage is increasing.
B) The lessons of e-business are being Applied. to e-government.
C) Technology is an indispensable part of everyday operations in all types of businesses.
D) In virtual space, people in remote locations can hold meetings, share information and files, make plans, and solve problems together.
E) Work will still be the same, even with computers and high technology.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following attributes accurately describes the new economy?

A) The new economy is a global economy.
B) The new economy is knowledge-driven.
C) Only alternatives A and C describe attributes of the new economy.
D) The new economy is performance-driven.
E) All of these are attributes of the new economy.

Question 5

In Charles Handy's description of changing careers, a person who performs specific tasks as needed and is compensated on a fee-for-services basis is a:

A) part-time worker.
B) contract worker.
C) service worker.
D) licensed worker.
E) holiday worker.

Question 6

Which of the following are appropriate targets for ethical and social responsibility issues?

A) Employees' behaviour
B) Changing needs of an increasingly global economy
C) Concerns for the natural environment
D) None of the options listed
E) All of the options listed

Question 7

Treating certain people unfairly and denying them the full benefits of organisational membership is called:

A) discrimination.
B) prejudice.
C) poor quality of work life.
D) the glass ceiling effect.
E) selective human resource management.

Question 8

The existence of an invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from rising above a certain level of organisational responsibility is called the:

A) glass ceiling effect.
B) harassment effect.
C) promotion barrier.
D) mirrored wall effect.
E) sticky floor effect.

Question 9

__________ is the collective brainpower or shared knowledge of a workforce that can be used to create value.

A) Managerial expertise
B) Intellectual capital
C) A learning organisation
D) Knowledge management
E) Managerial competency

Question 10

The typical career in the 21st century:

A) all of the options listed.
B) none of the options listed.
C) will require skills to be carefully maintained and upgraded over time.
D) won't be uniformly full-time and limited to a single organisation.
E) will require skills to be portable and of value to more than one employer.

Question 11

__________ introduces you to the concepts, themes and directions that are consistent with career success and organisational leadership in today's high performance work settings.

A) The study of the global economy
B) The study of workforce diversity
C) The study of decision-making
D) The study of great leaders
E) The study of management

Question 12

Several technological trends are occurring in the new economy. Which of the following is not one of these trends?

A) Low-skill workers who are displaced from declining industries will not need to re-tool their skills to find adequate alternative employment.
B) The demand for knowledge workers with the skills to utilise technology to full advantage is increasing.
C) Computer competency must be mastered and continuously developed as a foundation for career success.
D) The rate of technological change will continue to accelerate.
E) The internet, computers and information technology have transformed and continue to transform the modern workplace.

Question 13

In the 21st century, organisations and their members will encounter all of the following ethical expectations EXCEPT:

A) the expectation of protecting consumers through product safety and fair practices.
B) the expectation that stockholders' interests should be the primary consideration when organisations make decisions affecting the environment.
C) the expectation of sustainable development and protection of the natural environment.
D) the expectation of protecting human rights, including employment policies and practices.
E) the expectation of treating customers right and acting in ways consistent with society's values.

Question 14

Differences among members of the workforce -- such as age, gender and national origin -- are characteristics of:

A) management challenges.
B) workforce diversity.
C) organisational gaps.
D) economic barriers for workforce development.
E) cultural similarities.

Question 15

__________ are successful because they are better than their competitors at gaining extraordinary results from the people working for them.

A) High-technology companies
B) Australasian companies
C) High-performing companies
C) Japanese companies
E) Companies that embrace diversity

Question 16

_________ is the worldwide interdependence of resource flows, product markets, and business competition that characterises the new economy.

A) Globalisation
B) International management
C) Economic internationalisation
D) Cross-cultural business
E) World interdependence

Question 17

Someone whose mind is a critical asset to employers and who adds to the intellectual capital of the organisation is a(n):

A) administrator.
B) top-level manager.
C) information competent manager.
D) knowledge worker.
E) functional manager.

Question 18

The best employers share all of the following characteristics EXCEPT:

A) they have high performance expectations.
B) they provide employees with both valued rewards and respect for work-life balance.
C) they excel at fully utilising employees' talents and valuing their contributions.
D) they are extremely good at attracting and retaining talented employees.
E) they excel at exploiting the natural environment.

Question 19

According to Charles Handy, a __________ is a person who pursues career paths with a traditional character.

A) service worker
B) part-time worker
C) temporary skilled worker
D) contract worker
E) core worker

Question 20

All but one of the following workplace pressures involving ethics and social responsibility toward human capital will affect organisations and their members in the future. Identify the pressure that will NOT affect organisations and their members.

A) Employees' demands for less self-determination and greater supervisory oversight
B) Occupational safety and health
C) Job security
D) Equal employment opportunities
E) Equity of compensation and benefits

Question 21

Which statement about middle management is true?

A) Middle managers constitute the first level of an organisation's hierarchy of authority.
B) Middle managers are functional managers and consequently do not have other managers reporting to them.
C) Middle managers work with peers to help coordinate activities across the organisation.
D) Middle management includes executives and vice presidents.
E) Middle managers develop high-level action plans for implementation by persons working below them.

Question 22

A hierarchical classification of managers identifies a manager by levels such as:

A) administrative and general.
B) top, middle and team leaders or supervisors.
C) headquarters and branch.
D) experienced and inexperienced.
E) functional, staff and line.

Question 23

Displaying negative, irrational opinions and attitudes toward members of diverse populations is considered to be:

A) holding power within your own hands.
B) unholy.
C) an injustice.
D) illegal.
E) prejudice.

Question 24

Managers who work in public or not-for-profit organisations are called:

A) staff managers.
B) administrators.
C) general managers.
D) line managers.
E) functional managers.

Question 25

The forces behind the changes that are occurring in organisations include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) diminished skill capacity of the workforce.
B) emerging technologies.
C) competition.
D) customers' demands for quality products and services.
E) globalisation.

Question 26

Which of the following statements does NOT accurately describe the impact of resource utilisation and goal attainment on organisational performance?

A) When resource utilisation is good and goal attainment is low, organisational performance is efficient but not effective.
B) When resource utilisation is good and goal attainment is high, organisational performance is both effective and efficient.
C) When resource utilisation is poor and goal attainment is high, organisational performance is effective but not efficient.
D) When resource utilisation is poor and goal attainment is low, organisational performance is neither effective nor efficient.
E) Organisational performance is unaffected by poor versus good resource utilisation and low versus high goal attainment.

Question 27

Which of the following accurately describes an open system?

A) An open system treats its employees as responsible adults.
B) An open system is permissive in observing the rules of management science.
C) An open system is a collection of subsystems that do not relate to one another.
D) An open system interacts with the external environment in a continual process of transforming resource inputs into product outputs in the form of finished goods and/or services.
E) An open system is consistent with the Theory Y system of management.

Question 28

A measure of the resource cost associated with goal accomplishment is called:

A) productivity.
B) the bottom line.
C) performance efficiency.
D) organisational competency.
E) performance effectiveness.

Question 29

A manager who is responsible for complex organisational units that include many functional areas of activity is:

A) a team captain.
B) a general manager.
C) an administrator.
D) a multifunctional manager.
E) a technocrat.

Question 30

Which statement(s) regarding an organisation's environment is/are true?

A) The environment is a critical element of the open systems model.
B) Feedback from the environment tells an organisation how well it is doing.
C) The environment is a supplier of resources and a source of customers.
D) All of these are false statements regarding an organisation's environment.
E) All of these are true statements regarding an organisation's environment.

Question 31

Which statement concerning managers and administrators is true?

A) Administrators deal with human resources, while managers deal with material resources.
B) Administrators are managers who work in public or not-for-profit organisations.
C) Administrators deal with material resources, while managers deal with human resources.
D) Administrators cannot be managers and managers cannot be administrators.
E) Not-for-profit organisations do not have managers; business enterprises do not have administrators.

Question 32

Which of the following statements accurately describes the open systems model of organisations?

A) The environment provides resource inputs including finished goods and/or services.
B) The environment consumes product outputs including people, money, materials, technology and information.
C) Workflows are part of the resource inputs.
D) Resource inputs affect product outputs through a feedback loop.
E) The organisation creates a transformation process for turning resources into outputs.

Question 33

__________ are responsible for the performance of the organisation as a whole or of one of its major parts.

A) General managers
B) Middle managers
C) Functional managers
D) Top managers
E) Team leaders or supervisors

Question 34

A manager who emphasises cost containment, even at the expense of missing production targets, is more interested in __________ than in __________.

A) productivity; quality of work life
B) productivity; performance effectiveness
C) performance effectiveness; performance efficiency
D) productivity; performance efficiency
E) performance efficiency; performance effectiveness

Question 35

Organisations are changing in a variety of ways. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways mentioned in the text?

A) Concern for work-life balance
B) Focus on profitability
C) New workforce expectations
D) Embrace of networking
E) Focus on speed

Question 36

An output measure of task or goal accomplishment is called:

A) performance effectiveness.
B) performance efficiency.
C) productivity.
D) organisational competency.
E) the bottom line.

Question 37

__________ are in charge of relatively large departments or divisions consisting of several smaller work units.

A) Top managers
B) Team leaders or supervisors
C) Functional managers
D) General managers
E) Middle managers

Question 38

A clear sense of purpose that is tied to __________ is increasingly viewed as a source of organisational strength and performance advantage.

A) producing goods and services for worldwide consumption
B) making a profit and providing a high return to stockholders
C) producing quality products and providing customer satisfaction
D) making the highest return on investment and having the greatest profitability
E) expanding through mergers and acquisitions

Question 39

Managing with an organisation-wide commitment to continuous improvement and meeting customer needs completely is the concept of:

A) Theory Z.
B) good leadership.
C) Total quality management.
D) systems theory.
E) organisational behaviour.

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT one of the critical survival skills for the new workplace?

A) Finance
B) Marketing
C) Entrepreneurship
D) Passion for renewal
E) Love of technology

Question 41

A person who coordinates complex projects with task deadlines and does so while working with many persons of different expertise both inside and outside the organisation is called a:

A) staff manager.
B) project manager.
C) team leader.
D) group supervisor.
E) labour leader.

Question 42

The overall quality of human experiences in the workplace is known as:

A) quality of work life.
B) human conditions analysis.
C) standards for workplace experiences.
D) total quality management.
E) quality assurance.

Question 43

The four basic functions of management are:

A) delegating, planning, organising and order giving.
B) organising, leading, controlling and order giving.
C) delegating, leading, controlling and decision-making.
D) planning, leading, controlling and decision-making.
E) planning, organising, leading and controlling.

Question 44

Which statement about quality of work life (QWL) is false?

A) QWL expresses true respect for people at work.
B) QWL is part of any manager's accountability.
C) QWL provides for protection of individual rights.
D) QWL changes very little during tough economic times.
E) QWL deals with human resource utilisation in the performance process.

Question 45

A manager who has responsibility for a single area of activity in the organisation is:

A) a line manager.
B) a general manager.
C) a staff manager.
D) an administrator.
E) a functional manager.

Question 46

The responsibilities of team leaders and supervisors include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) planning meetings and work schedules.
B) clarifying goals and tasks and gathering ideas for improvement.
C) recommending pay increases and new assignments.
D) paying attention to long-run problems and opportunities in the external environment.
E) recruiting, training and developing team members.

Question 47

Truly effective managers utilise organisational resources in ways that result in both __________ and __________.

A) high-performance outcomes; high levels of satisfaction for the workers
B) high-performance outcomes; high returns to the stockholders
C) high-quality products or services; high returns to the stockholders
D) high profit margins; large market shares
E) high returns to the stockholders; high levels of satisfaction for the workers

Question 48

________ managers use their special technical expertise to support the efforts of __________ managers.

A) General; functional.
B) Administrative; general.
C) Higher-level; lower-level.
D) Line; staff.
E) Staff; line.

Question 49

The responsibilities of team leaders and supervisors include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) encouraging high performance and teamwork.
B) developing and implementing action plans for large departments or divisions
C) coordinating with other teams and supporting their work efforts.
D) informing team members about organisational goals and expectations.
E) informing higher levels of team needs and accomplishments.

Question 50

Managerial work is changing in all of the following ways except:

A) symbolically, managers remain at the top of the organisational pyramid.
B) the best managers are known more for 'helping' and 'supporting' rather than for 'directing' and 'order-giving'.
C) more emphasis is placed on teamwork.
D) the title of manager is often replaced with 'coordinator', 'coach' or 'team leader'.
E) the role of managers is to help workers serve customer needs.

Question 51

When the operating workers are at the top of the organisation's decision-making process and supported by the managers located at the bottom, the organisation is operating with:

A) an ineffective management concept.
B) a wrong-sided pyramid.
C) an out-dated organisational chart.
D) an upside-down pyramid.
E) an upside-down organisational chart.

Question 52

In a department store, a department supervisor would be considered to be:

A) a line manager.
B) a general manager.
C) an administrator.
D) a staff manager.
E) an executive.

Question 53

An upside-down pyramid has several practical implications. Which of the following is/are included among these practical implications?

A) A manager's job is to support workers' efforts to add value to the organisation's goods or services.
B) The best managers are often known for 'helping' and 'supporting' rather than 'directing' and 'order-giving'.
C) Each individual is a value-added worker who creates eventual value for the organisation's customers or clients.
D) None of the options listed is practical implications of the upside-down pyramid.
E) All of the options listed are practical implications of the upside-down pyramid.

Question 54

Which of the following statements accurately describes managers?

A) All of the options listed
B) None of the options listed
C) Managers help others to achieve high performance.
D) Managers are responsible for their own work as well as the overall performance accomplishments of a team, work group, department or entire organisation.
E) Managers have the most vital job in society.

Question 55

When general managers develop action priorities for their jobs that include goals and plans spanning long and short time frames, they are performing the important activity of:

A) agenda setting.
B) leading.
C) motivating.
D) controlling.
E) information processing.

Question 56

__________ pursue work unit performance objectives that are consistent with higher-level organisational goals.

A) Top managers
B) Middle managers
C) Team leaders or supervisors
D) Functional managers
E) General managers

Question 57

Suppose a manager starts an affirmative action program to increase opportunities for minority advancement and then communicates the objectives of the program to all employees. By doing this the manager gains their support and participation. This manager is performing which management function?

A) Planning
B) Organising
C) Leading
D) Motivating
E) Controlling

Question 58

A plant manager who oversees the purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, sales and personnel functions may be described as:

A) a staff manager.
B) an administrator.
C) a functional manager.
D) a controller.
E) a general manager.

Question 59

Managers who have responsibility for work activities that make a direct contribution to production of the organisation's product or service are called:

A) staff managers.
B) middle managers.
C) general managers.
D) line managers.
E) administrators.

Question 60

A __________ is a person who is in charge of a small work group composed of non-managerial workers.

A) staff manager
B) team leader
C) middle manager
D) line manager
E) functional manager

Question 61

Suppose a company's president identifies a problem with the company's employee turnover rate and decides to develop a policy to increase the company's commitment to its employees. The president is practicing the management function of:

A) planning.
B) organising.
C) leading.
D) controlling.
E) decision-making.

Question 62

Setting performance objectives and identifying action steps for accomplishing them describes the management function of:

A) leading.
B) organising.
C) controlling.
D) decision-making.
E) planning.

Question 63

Suppose that a manager sets up a committee to develop procedures for dealing with company-wide training needs and then assigns people to conduct specific training programs. This manager is performing which management function?

A) Organising
B) Planning
C) Motivating
D) Leading
E) Controlling

Question 64

The ability to work well in cooperation with other persons is described as:

A) a human skill.
B) a technical skill.
C) a communicative skill.
D) an administrative skill.
E) a conceptual skill.

Question 65

Measuring work performance, comparing results to objectives, and taking corrective action as needed describes the management function of:

A) planning.
B) organising.
C) controlling.
D) leading.
E) delegating.

Question 66

According to Henry Minztberg, managerial roles that involve interactions with people inside and outside the work unit are called:

A) informational roles.
B) decisional roles.
C) technical roles.
D) human roles.
E) interpersonal roles.

Question 67

According to the research conducted on the nature of managerial work, which of the following is false?

A) Managers work at fragmented and varied tasks.
B) Managers work at an intense pace.
C) Managers spend much time working alone.
D) Managers work long hours.
E) Managers work with many communication media.

Question 68

__________ skills remain relatively consistent in importance across all levels of management.

A) Technical
B) Diagnostic
C) Conceptual
D) Human
E) Analytical

Question 69

Which of the following statements does NOT provide a correct description of the forces affecting lifelong learning?

A) Only managers must be concerned about the demanding quest for high performance.
B) Workers are expected to become involved, fully participate, demonstrate creativity, and find self-fulfilment in their work.
C) Workers are expected to use new technologies to their full advantage.
D) Change is a way of life that demands new individual and organisational responses.
E) Workers are expected to be team players who understand the needs and goals of the total organisation.

Question 70

One conclusion of John Kotter's research on effective general managers is that they must pay attention to the importance of:

A) building organisation structures that enforce discipline.
B) motivating workers through incentive pay and reward plans.
C) developing technical knowledge regarding the tasks at hand.
D) serving as a figurehead in office ceremonies.
E) establishing good interpersonal relationships at work.

Question 71

When a manager monitors the progress of an affirmative action program to advance minorities within the corporation; reviews progress on changes in employee attitudes; calls a special meeting to discuss problems; and makes appropriate adjustments in the program, the manager is performing the function of:

A) leading.
B) controlling.
C) planning.
D) organising.
E) delegating.

Question 72

Arousing the enthusiasm of employees to work hard and to direct their efforts toward fulfilling plans and accomplishing objectives describes the management function of:

A) leading.
B) planning.
C) organising.
D) controlling.
E) order giving.

Question 73

A management team that is thinking critically and analytically in developing an organisational strategy for dealing with a highly competitive global environment is using _____ skills.

A) conceptual
B) technical
C) strategic
D) learning
E) human

Question 74

According to Henry Minztberg, managerial roles that involve using information to make decisions in order to solve problems or address opportunities are called:

A) informational roles.
B) decisional roles.
C) interpersonal roles.
D) technical roles.
E) conceptual roles.

Question 75

Assigning tasks, allocating resources, and arranging the coordinated activities of individuals and groups to implement plans describes the management function of:

A) planning.
B) leading.
C) controlling.
D) delegating.
E) organising.

Question 76

According to Henry Minztberg, managerial roles that involve the giving, receiving and analysing of information are called:

A) interpersonal roles.
B) decisional roles.
C) technical roles.
D) informational roles.
E) conceptual roles.

Question 77

The ability to apply a special proficiency or expertise to perform specific tasks is known as:

A) a procedural skill.
B) a technical skill.
C) an administrative skill.
D) a conceptual skill.
E) a supervisory skill.

Question 78

Managerial competencies are implied in which of the following managerial elements?

A) The information, interpersonal and decision-making demands of managerial roles.
B) The management processes of planning, organising, leading and controlling.
C) The managerial activities of agenda setting and networking.
D) None of the options listed reflects managerial competencies.
E) All of the options listed reflect managerial competencies.

Question 79

A manager who is using spreadsheet software to prepare a departmental budget is exercising a __________ skill.

A) supervisory
B) conceptual
C) creative
D) technical
E) strategic

Question 80

Which of the following is NOT among the skills and personal characteristics that the text describes as providing a foundation for continued professional development and career success?

A) The ability to share ideas and findings clearly in written and oral expression.
B) The ability to initiate change in ambiguous situations.
C) The ability to work effectively as a team member and team leader.
D) The ability to gather and analyse information for creative problem-solving.
E) The ability to sustain a positive impression, instil confidence, and maintain career advancement.