Deck 1: The Changing World of Management

Question 1

In a large company,the ideal control mechanism is for the CEO to supervise all the managers personally.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The turbulence and change in today's competitive business environment has led to demand for a new kind of leader.Organisations now need leaders who can guide their organisation through turbulence and be able to see patterns in the complexity of changing external environments.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Innovations in products,services,management systems,production processes,corporate values etc.are not strongly correlated with an organisation's long-term viability.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Management is the attainment of organisational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning,organising,leading and controlling organisational resources.

Question 5

Organising may be defined as the tasks associated with the motivation of employees in achieving organisational goals.

Question 6

Effectiveness refers to the amount of resources used to achieve an organisational goal.

Question 7

The necessary skills for managing an apartment or an organisation can be placed into three categories: conceptual,human and interpersonal.

Question 8

To gain and/or maintain a competitive advantage,today's managers must increase the emphasis on innovation,and shift away from a relentless focus on cost control.

Question 9

Conceptual skill is the manager's ability to work with and through other people and to work effectively as a group member.

Question 10

Creating a shared culture (through the communication of goals to employees throughout the organisation)in is one of the most important planning functions in management.

Question 11

'Organising' typically follows planning and reflects the way the organisation tries to accomplish their plans.

Question 12

Efficiency refers to the extent to which an organisation achieves its stated goals.

Question 13

'Controlling' defines where an organisation wants to be in the future and how to get there.

Question 14

We must consider the new challenges of the workplace at three levels: government,business and individual.

Question 15

The management function that involves use of influence to motivate employees is known as 'Leading'.

Question 16

An organisation is a social entity that is goal directed and deliberately structured.

Question 17

Controlling concerns monitoring employees' activities,determining whether the organisation is on target towards its goals,and making corrections as necessary.

Question 18

Managers within the government setting are able to influence organisations directly in their compliance with policies.

Question 19

Only the top managers in organisations are involved in the planning process.

Question 20

'Organising' refers to the use of influence to motivate employees to achieve organisational goals.

Question 21

Technical skills refer to a manager's ability to see the organisation as a whole as well as the relationship between its parts.

Question 22

How an organisation goes about accomplishing a plan is a key part of the management function of:

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

Question 23

Human skills refer to the ability of a manager to work with and through other people,and to work effectively as a group member.

Question 24

Ellie is responsible for a temporary work project that involves the participation of people from various functional departments in the organisation.Ellie should be classified as a 'functional manager'.

Question 25

The three categories of management roles include informational,interpersonal,and decisional.

Question 26

The relationship that exists between 'top managers' and 'middle managers' of an organisation may be described as a 'horizontal relationship'.

Question 27

The challenge of pollution control and sustainable development is an exclusive challenge for the business sector.

Question 28

'Sustainable development' practices are exclusively expressed in terms of environmental performance.

Question 29

The 'interpersonal' management role is associated with the dissemination of information to employees across the organisation.

Question 30

How an organisation goes about defining their future,and the most effective and efficient way of achieving this outcome is a key part of the management function of:

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

Question 31

Innovation management requires a focus on all of the following except:

A) products and services
B) production processes
C) corporate values
D) management systems
E) None of these choices.

Question 32

Companies are required to innovate more,and more quickly than ever,in today's hypercompetitive global environment.

Question 33

One of the most important challenges for managers in the business context is:

A) exposure to the sharp competitive forces of the Asian, American and European marketplaces
B) the attainment of government goals
C) the need to emphasise effectiveness over efficiency
D) maintaining competitive health care options
E) the need to emphasise efficiency over effectiveness.

Question 34

Crisis management requires managers to develop five important leadership skills: staying calm,putting people before business,knowing when to get back to business,telling the truth and remaining visible.

Question 35

A manager who is at the second management level (of the Management Level Hierarchy - see Exhibit 1.6)and directly responsible for production of goods and services is known as a 'First-Line Manager '.

Question 36

The liaison role involves the negotiation of union contracts,sales,purchases,budgets; represents departmental interests.

Question 37

Technical skill refers to a manager's understanding of and proficiency in perceiving the organisation as a whole and the relationship between its parts.

Question 38

Setting targets and standards of performance is which part of which management task:

A) setting objectives
B) measuring
C) developing people
D) planning
E) motivation.

Question 39

Top-line managers are the managers who have the responsibility for making the significant strategic policy decisions,often with staff managers assisting them in these decisions.

Question 40

The Management concept of 'future facing' relates to the ongoing development of an organisation and its culture so that it better supports creativity,adaptation and innovation rather than maintaining the status quo.

Question 41

Which of the following sets of skills are most important at lower organisational levels?

A) Planning skills
B) Human skills
C) Conceptual skills
D) Technical skills
E) Intellectual skills

Question 42

Peter Bolton is the head of the finance department in his national company.His level in the management hierarchy is that of a:

A) chief executive officer
B) top manager
C) first-line manager
D) middle manager
E) conceptual manager.

Question 43

A social entity that is goal directed and deliberately structured is referred to as:

A) an organisation
B) management
C) employees
D) students
E) tasks.

Question 44

Coaching a football team,nurturing the ill and managing a rock band are all associated with which of the following managerial skills?

A) Planning skills
B) Human skills
C) Technical skills
D) Organising skills
E) Intellectual skills

Question 45

Charlotte is the executive director of the local 'Save our Forests' action group.Her level in terms of the management hierarchy is that of a:

A) project manager
B) consultant
C) top manager
D) first-line manager
E) middle manager.

Question 46

__________ is the management function concerned with monitoring employees' activities,keeping the organisation on track toward its goals and making corrections as needed.

A) Resource allocation
B) Planning
C) Controlling
D) Efficiency
E) Organising

Question 47

When managers calculate the number of worker hours required to complete a given task,they are measuring:

A) organisational effectiveness
B) organisational efficiency
C) organisational performance
D) organisational structure
E) two of the above.

Question 48

Conceptual,human and technical skills are important for which type of employee:

A) top managers
B) middle-managers
C) first-line managers
D) non-managers
E) All of these.

Question 49

When a manager achieves an organisation's goal,but at too great a cost,they can said to have been:

A) efficient, but not effective
B) effective, but not efficient
C) neither efficient nor effective
D) a poor controller of costs
E) both efficient and effective.

Question 50

When managers undertake efforts to forecast possible changes in their situation,they can be said to be using their:

A) technical skills
B) project skills
C) conceptual skills
D) leadership skills
E) ability to control the uncontrollable.

Question 51

One of the most effective ways a manager can control their worker's output is through the use of __________.

A) performance management
B) teams
C) executive management
D) mission statements
E) strategic plans

Question 52

People with titles such as managing director,chairperson,chief executive officer and general manager would be considered part of what management group?

A) non-management
B) top-management
C) middle-management
D) functional-management
E) None of these choices.

Question 53

How a manager goes about influencing the activities of their colleagues,subordinates and superiors is a key part of the management function of:

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

Question 54

__________ skill is the cognitive ability to view the organisation holistically and understand the relationships that exist between its parts.

A) Conceptual
B) Organising
C) Human
D) Technical
E) Strategic

Question 55

Which of the following skills are most important at the 'first-line' management level?

A) conceptual skills
B) technical skills
C) human skills
D) project skills
E) None of these choices.

Question 56

Which of the following types of skills is the understanding of and proficiency in the performance of specific tasks?

A) Human skill
B) Leadership skill
C) Technical skill
D) Conceptual skill
E) Social skill

Question 57

Which of the following is not a function of management?

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

Question 58

Managers of eco-tourism operations constantly face issues related to the natural environment,government regulation and competition.These managers will rely most heavily on their:

A) conceptual skills
B) technical skills
C) human skills
D) controlling skills
E) interpersonal skills.

Question 59

The ultimate responsibility of managers is to achieve high:

A) resources
B) performance
C) shareholder satisfaction
D) profitability
E) turnover.

Question 60

The greatest threat to a manager's skill is considered to be:

A) technological obsolescence
B) age and experience
C) the inability to apply skills consistently
D) rapid change in the external environment.

Question 61

The liaison role includes the following activities:

A) maintains information links both inside and outside the organisation
B) transmit information to external stakeholders
C) maintain information links both inside and outside the organisation
D) direct and motivate subordinates
E) decide to get organisational resources.

Question 62

A ___________ would be considered part of 'vertical management',whilst a __________ would be considered part of 'horizontal management'?

A) functional manager; first line manager
B) first line manager; functional manager
C) first line manager; middle manager
D) functional manager; general manager
E) functional manager; project manager

Question 63

As the world of small and not-for-profit organisations becomes increasingly complex,managers should carefully integrate all of the following roles except:

A) manage by information
B) manage through people
C) manage through action
D) manage by exception
E) All of these choices should be integrated.

Question 64

A set of expectations for a manager's behaviour is known as:

A) an expectation
B) a task set
C) a broad system of control
D) a role
E) None of these choices.

Question 65

Maintaining information links is an activity consistent with the __________ role.

A) leader
B) spokesperson
C) figurehead
D) monitor
E) liaison

Question 66

According to Mintzberg,which of the following is an interpersonal role?

A) Spokesperson
B) Liaison
C) Negotiator
D) Monitor
E) Disturbance handler

Question 67

Managing crises in turbulent times requires all the following,except:

A) focusing on business needs
B) staying calm
C) being visible
D) putting people first
E) maintaining the truth.

Question 68

The negotiator role includes the following activities:

A) seek and receive information
B) transmit information to external stakeholders
C) maintain information links both inside and outside the organisation
D) direct and motivate subordinates
E) represent departments during union contract discussions.

Question 69

In the current management paradigm,the primary responsibility of managers is not to make decisions,but to:

A) create autocratic leaders among homogeneous employees
B) convert electronic technology to mechanical
C) create learning capability throughout the organisation
D) emphasise individual performance over team, to get the 'best' from workers
E) push decision making vertically upwards.

Question 70

The 'disturbance handler' role involves:

A) motivating and communicating with staff
B) initiating change
C) taking corrective action during disputes or crises
D) developing information sources within the organisation
E) staying well informed about current affairs.

Question 71

Major changes underway for which managers must prepare include all of the following except:

A) work place diversity
B) globalisation
C) paradigm shifts
D) technology
E) the increased importance of organising.

Question 72

The informational role,according to Mintzberg,is a(n)__________ role?

A) entrepreneur
B) leader
C) figurehead
D) celebratory
E) monitor

Question 73

In small businesses,which of the following is the most important managerial role?

A) Liaison
B) Resource allocator
C) Monitor
D) Leader
E) Figurehead

Question 74

The new paradigm emphasises work by:

A) individuals within a team
B) top managers
C) teams
D) union approved labour
E) individuals.

Question 75

The decisional role,according to Mintzberg,is a(n)__________ role?

A) entrepreneur
B) leader
C) figurehead
D) celebratory
E) monitor

Question 76

Given that all managerial jobs are not the same,what generic skills are deemed important for all managers?

A) The ability to create an exciting and demanding working environment.
B) The ability to inspire confidence in the organisation and its leadership group.
C) The ability to hide any mistake they might make from their superiors.
D) Both B and C are correct.
E) Both A and B are correct.

Question 77

The spokesperson role includes the following activities:

A) seek and receive information
B) transmit information to external stakeholders
C) maintain information links both inside and outside the organisation
D) direct and motivate subordinates
E) decide to get organisational resources.

Question 78

Which of the following represents a change from the 'traditional' approach to the 'new competency' approach to management?

A) From controller to enabler
B) From leading teams to supervising individuals
C) From collaboration to conflict management
D) From empowering to autocratic
E) None of these choices.

Question 79

Which of the following is a functional manager?

A) Project manager
B) First-line manager
C) Vice-president
D) Financial vice-president

Question 80

Elton Jones is a functional manager.Which of the following best describes his position?

A) He is responsible for a number of departments that perform varying functions.
B) He organises people across departments to perform a specific task.
C) He supervises employees with similar skills and training.
D) He is responsible for a fully integrated division and all the departments within it.