Deck 8: Planning Processes and Techniques

Question 1

Operational plans include single-use plans like budgets that apply to one specific task or time period.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The management process involves planning,organizing,leading,and controlling the use of resources to achieve performance objectives.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Strategic plans ideally set forth the goals and objectives needed to accomplish the organization's vision in terms of mission or purpose and what it hopes to be in the future.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Leading refers to guiding the efforts of human resources to ensure high levels of task accomplishment.

Question 5

Budgets are standing plans that are used over and over again.

Question 6

Plans alone don't deliver results; implemented plans do.

Question 7

Operating budgets allocate resources like labor,equipment,and space.

Question 8

Without planning,control lacks objectives and standards for measuring how well things are going and what could be done to make them go better.

Question 9

In business,tactical plans often take the form of operational plans that indicate how different components of the enterprise will contribute to the overall strategy.

Question 10

Policies set expectations for many aspects of employee behavior.

Question 11

As the time frames of planning are shrinking nowadays,top management is no longer responsible for setting longer-term plans and directions for the organization as a whole.

Question 12

Stretch goals are performance targets that we have to work extra hard to reach.

Question 13

Procedures set broad guidelines for decisions.

Question 14

For effective time management,one must become calendar-bound by letting others control one's schedule.

Question 15

An organization with flexibility operates with an orientation toward the past rather than the future.

Question 16

Controlling is the process of setting objectives and determining how to accomplish them.

Question 17

Planning helps us avoid simply being carried along by the flow of events,and focuses our attention on priorities.

Question 18

To be "over budget" is generally considered bad for a company or an individual; to come in "under budget" is generally good.

Question 19

Strategic plans are focused only on a specific department of an organization.

Question 20

A flexible budget allocates resources as if each budget were brand new.

Question 21

Contingency planning identifies alternative courses of action to take when things go wrong.

Question 22

In which step of the planning process would one know where one is placed in reaching the goals,and what strengths work in one's favor and what weaknesses may hold one back?

A)Implementing the plan and evaluating results
B)Defining the objectives
C)Developing premises regarding future conditions
D)Analyzing alternatives and making a plan
E)Determining where one stands vis-à-vis objectives

Question 23

In which phase of the planning process would one choose the alternative to accomplish one's objectives and describe what must be done to follow the best course of action?

A)Analyzing alternatives and making a plan
B)Defining the objectives
C)Implementing the plan and evaluating results
D)Determining where one stands vis-à-vis objectives
E)Developing premises regarding future conditions

Question 24

Qualitative forecasting uses expert opinions to predict the future.

Question 25

Strategic goals set by top management cascade down the organization step by step to become quality management objectives for lower levels.

Question 26

________ is a management function that guides the efforts of human resources to ensure high levels of task accomplishment.

A)Leading
B)Directing
C)Administration
D)Organizing
E)Processing

Question 27

Which of the following management functions deals with monitoring task accomplishments and taking necessary corrective action?

A)Coordinating
B)Processing
C)Controlling
D)Leading
E)Directing

Question 28

Scenario planning is a short-term version of contingency planning.

Question 29

Which of the following is the first step in the process of planning?

A)Analyzing alternatives and making a plan
B)Defining the objectives
C)Implementing the plan and evaluating results
D)Determining where one stands vis-à-vis objectives
E)Developing premises regarding future conditions

Question 30

Even though participatory planning takes more time,it can improve results by improving implementation.

Question 31

Janice,the chief technology officer at MB Appliances,is in the process of identifying the results she wants her company to achieve next year.She knows where she wants her company to reach and knows how far off the desired mark she will be along the way.She is most likely in the process of:

A)developing premises regarding future conditions.
B)defining her company's objectives.
C)analyzing her company's alternatives and making a plan.
D)implementing the plan and evaluating the results.
E)determining where her company stands vis-à-vis objectives.

Question 32

Internal benchmarking encourages members and work units to learn from competitors and non-competitors alike.

Question 33

Ryan,the supervisor at MTB Inc.,is in the process of setting certain specific goals for his team,and is deciding how his team can reach those goals.Which of the following is Ryan involved in?

A)Planning
B)Leading
C)Organizing
D)Controlling
E)Directing

Question 34

If staff planners are used,people may often lack commitment to implement the plans no matter how good they are.

Question 35

Great goals include a stretch factor that moves toward real gains.

Question 36

After evaluating the current sales of PCs in relation to the desired sales,Cesar,the marketing manager at Benson & Bros.,generates alternative campaigns that may affect the PC's expected sales.He identifies,for each campaign,things that may help or hinder progress toward the company's objectives.Cesar is currently in which phase of the planning process?

A)Defining the objectives
B)Determining where one stands vis-à-vis objectives
C)Developing premises regarding future conditions
D)Analyzing alternatives and making a plan
E)Implementing the plan and evaluating results

Question 37

________ is the process of setting objectives and determining how to accomplish them.

A)Directing
B)Controlling
C)Leading
D)Organizing
E)Planning

Question 38

Which of the following management functions deals with the allocation and arrangement of resources to accomplish tasks?

A)Planning
B)Leading
C)Organizing
D)Controlling
E)Directing

Question 39

Participatory planning includes in all planning steps the people who will be asked to help implement them and not the ones affected by the plans.

Question 40

The purpose of benchmarking is to find out what other people and organizations are doing very well,and then plan how to incorporate these ideas into one's own operations.

Question 41

Which of the following is an external source of organizational pressure?

A)Quest for operating efficiencies
B)Alternative work arrangements
C)Government regulations
D)Concerns for work-life balance
E)New organizational structures

Question 42

Which of the following is true of planning?

A)It is done by managers at scheduled times.
B)It is a one-time process.
C)It doesn't need to be evaluated or monitored for viability.
D)It can include the active participation of all employees.
E)It can deliver results even without implementation.

Question 43

In which step of the planning process does one take action and carefully measure progress toward objectives?

A)Define the objectives
B)Determine where you stand vis-à-vis objectives
C)Implement the plan and evaluate results
D)Analyze alternatives and make a plan
E)Develop premises regarding future conditions

Question 44

The link between planning and controlling begins with ________.

A)anticipating problems and opportunities
B)setting objectives and standards
C)analyzing the alternatives
D)evaluating and monitoring the results
E)understanding the internal and external organizational threats

Question 45

________occurs when an organization allows itself to be carried along by the flow of events.

A)Coordination
B)Organizational pressure
C)The complacency trap
D)Ecological fallacy
E)Ethnocentrism

Question 46

Paul,who is being given the responsibility to meet certain sales targets for next year,is preparing a list of measures he will take to reach the sales targets.His list includes such specific action items as preparing a log,checking the quality of inputs and outputs,pricing,and details about his advertising strategy.Which of the following is Paul preparing?

A)Goal
B)Policy
C)Plan
D)Concept
E)Objective

Question 47

A manager who is result oriented:

A)makes sure the most important things get first attention.
B)creates a performance-oriented sense of direction.
C)ensures that all resources are used to the best advantage.
D)anticipates problems and opportunities so they can be best dealt with.
E)devises plans and acts on them independently.

Question 48

Which of the following is true about planning?

A)Good planning improves rigidity.
B)An organization with flexibility starts losing focus.
C)Planning allows organizations to get into the complacency trap.
D)Planning improves coordination.
E)When planning is not done well,it facilitates control.

Question 49

An)________ oriented manager makes sure the most important things get first attention.

A)priority
B)result
C)advantage
D)change
E)innovation

Question 50

An)________ is a statement of action steps to be taken in order to accomplish the objectives.

A)concept
B)objective
C)guideline
D)goal
E)plan

Question 51

An)________ oriented manager ensures that all resources are used to the best interest and benefit.

A)result
B)change
C)relation
D)priority
E)advantage

Question 52

In the planning process,________ refers)to the specific results or desired outcomes that one intends to achieve.

A)objectives and goals
B)beliefs and culture
C)procedures
D)policies
E)guidelines

Question 53

Without planning,the process of ________ lacks a framework for measuring how well things are going and what could be done to improve things.

A)organizing
B)control
C)leading
D)goal setting
E)decision making

Question 54

An)________ oriented manager anticipates problems and opportunities so they can be best dealt with.

A)result
B)employee
C)priority
D)change
E)advantage

Question 55

Cesar,the marketing manager at Benson and Bros.,wants to check if the latest marketing campaign was successful in increasing the sales of PCs for the company.Which of the following steps must he take to measure the sales performance?

A)Determine where he stands vis-à-vis objectives
B)Define the objectives
C)Develop premises regarding future conditions
D)Evaluate results and revise plans if needed
E)Analyze alternatives and make a plan

Question 56

Without control,the process of ________ lacks the follow-through needed to ensure that things work out as intended.

A)planning
B)goal setting
C)leading
D)problem solving
E)directing

Question 57

Which of the following is an internal source of organizational pressure?

A)Government regulations
B)Changing social norms and ethical expectations
C)Changing technologies
D)Greater workplace diversity
E)Uncertainties of a global economy

Question 58

Performance targets that we have to work extra hard to reach are called ________.

A)stretch goals
B)tactical goals
C)objectives
D)plans
E)missions

Question 59

Even though the time frames of planning may be shrinking,________ is/are still responsible for setting longer-term plans and directions for the organization as a whole.

A)lower management
B)middle management
C)shareholders
D)top management
E)file clerks

Question 60

Which of the following is true about long-range and short-range plans?

A)There is a lot more permanency to long-term plans today than there was in the past.
B)Long-term plans are not subject to frequent revisions today.
C)Long-term plans typically look at least ten years or more into the future.
D)The time frames of planning are shifting today.
E)Lower management sets its own context to work on short-term plans.

Question 61

A ________ clarifies the purpose of the organization and expresses what it hopes to be in the future.

A)vision
B)mission
C)policy
D)procedure
E)budget

Question 62

What is the primary difference between a policy and a procedure?

A)A policy focuses on the organization as a whole,but a procedure focuses only on a single department.
B)A policy sets a broad guideline,but a procedure defines precise actions to be taken.
C)A policy is a single-use plan,but a procedure is a standing plan.
D)A policy identifies short-term directions for the organization,but a procedure identifies long-term directions.
E)A policy guides fair employment,but a procedure guides ethical principles.

Question 63

Which of the following is a single-use plan?

A)A procedure
B)A policy
C)A budget
D)A mission
E)A vision

Question 64

As AMD Inc.'s original suppliers have suddenly shut down,AMD is now making plans regarding alternate suppliers to provide resources for its manufacturing plant.Such plans are referred to as ________ plans.

A)production
B)facilities
C)marketing
D)logistics
E)financial

Question 65

An)________ plan identifies short-term activities to implement the broad plans of the company,and includes standing plans and single-use plans.

A)forecast
B)functional
C)strategic
D)operational
E)tactical

Question 66

Which of the following functional plans deal with work methods and technologies?

A)Human resource plans
B)Marketing plans
C)Facilities plans
D)Financial plans
E)Production plans

Question 67

Functional plans dealing with money and capital investments are called ________ plans.

A)marketing
B)logistics
C)financial
D)human resource
E)facilities

Question 68

________ are developed and used to implement strategic plans.

A)Tactical plans
B)Visions
C)Operational plans
D)Missions
E)Procedures

Question 69

Which of the following is true of strategic plans?

A)Plans at the middle and lower levels of the traditional organizational pyramid tend to be strategic.
B)They are focused only on a particular department or staff of employees in the organization.
C)They are short-range plans to achieve an immediate goal.
D)They refer to the "tactical" plans of the organization.
E)They ideally set forth the goals and objectives needed to accomplish the organization's vision.

Question 70

________ plans are functional plans that deal with suppliers and acquiring resource inputs.

A)Human resource
B)Logistics
C)Marketing
D)Production
E)Facilities

Question 71

________ indicate how different operations within the organization will help advance the overall strategy.

A)Operational plans
B)Policies
C)Budgets
D)Functional plans
E)Missions

Question 72

Just before the Thanksgiving weekend,Boyo's,a toy manufacturer,discovers that its supplier has used lead-based paint on one of its products.The executive committee has assembled a team to devise a plan to mitigate the issue.Boyo's is using ________ planning.

A)tactical
B)strategic
C)top-down
D)production
E)visionary

Question 73

________ plans deal with selling and distributing goods or services.

A)Production
B)Financial
C)Facilities
D)Logistics
E)Marketing

Question 74

In order to help implement the corporate strategy of Mom Corp.,it would most likely develop an)________ plan for the marketing department.

A)functional
B)operational
C)single-use
D)production
E)zero-based

Question 75

Which of the following is a standing plan?

A)A policy
B)A budget
C)A vision
D)A mission
E)A forecast

Question 76

A sexual harassment zero-tolerance policy is an example of ________ plans used by organizations.

A)facilities
B)financial
C)single-use
D)standing
E)logistics

Question 77

Which of the following functional plans deal with building a talented workforce?

A)Human resource plans
B)Logistics plans
C)Marketing plans
D)Production plans
E)Facilities plans

Question 78

Magnadyne Inc.wants to open a new automobile manufacturing unit in Bratislava.Mark's team is assigned the task of planning the work layout.Hence,Mark is dealing with the ________ plan.

A)facilities
B)financial
C)operational
D)marketing
E)inventory

Question 79

A ________ plan identifies long-term directions for the organization.

A)procedural
B)functional
C)strategic
D)tactical
E)operational

Question 80

A ________ communicates broad guidelines for making decisions and taking action in specific circumstances.

A)vision
B)procedure
C)policy
D)tactical plan
E)budget