Question 1

Despite the growth in the use of computers in organisations, most organisational systems are still non-cybernetic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Of the three basic managerial approaches to controls, generally speaking, the approach that is more conducive to innovation is:

Accepted Answer

A)  bureaucratic control. 
B)  timing control. 
C)  market control. 
D)  clan control.

Question 3

In relation to the accuracy of control systems, the authors suggest that:

Accepted Answer

A)  by their very nature, control systems are accurate. 
B)  no controls are often better than inaccurate controls. 
C)  inaccurate controls are usually easy to spot and correct. 
D)  inaccurate controls are not a big worry as they only report past data and consequently do not affect decision making.

Question 4

If the costs of a control process exceed the benefits gained from the controls, the manager could redesign jobs to ensure they are more specialised and therefore require experienced workers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

'Behavioural displacement', one of the potential dysfunctional aspects of control systems, is defined as a condition in which individuals attempt to improve the appearance of their performance by:

Accepted Answer

A)  manipulating resource usage and/or data rather than by achieving bona fide performance improvements. 
B)  engaging in behaviours encouraged by controls and related reward systems even though the behaviours . are actually inconsistent with goals. 
C)  creating delays so as to prevent measurements of performance. 
D)  attempting to actually undermine the control system itself.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a market mechanism used in market control?

Accepted Answer

A)  competition in relevant goods 
B)  competition in services provided 
C)  the need for goods and services must be clear 
D)  all of the given answers

Question 7

Managers, in setting up their controls, need to be wary of controlling to the extent that individual job autonomy is limited to such a point that it seriously inhibits effective job performance. This situation is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  tactical point control. 
B)  incrementalist growth control. 
C)  behavioural displacement control. 
D)  overcontrolling.

Question 8

Using clan control but with a mix of phased plans and bureaucratic controls at different times is called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  market control system. 
B)  incrementalist approach. 
C)  steering control system. 
D)  strategic control points approach.

Question 9

How can you explain the major control types and use of multiple controls?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can you explain the major control...

Question 10

Not all control systems are positive - what types of dysfunctional effects can occur from control systems? Give an example of each type from the text and your own experience.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Not all control systems are positive -...

Question 11

Managers who utilise weekly and monthly reporting cycles and test environmental reactions to tactical initiatives are most likely to be from which management level?

Accepted Answer

A)  upper management 
B)  control staffs 
C)  middle management 
D)  the quality control department

Question 12

With respect to the cost of a particular control system, and the benefits that system provides to the organisation, it is suggested that:

Accepted Answer

A)  costs should not outweigh benefits (i.e. a cost-benefit analysis should be used). 
B)  costs of control systems are too difficult to measure, so managers can never be certain of this relationship. 
C)  if the controls need to be there, they should be put in regardless of benefits. 
D)  control systems always 'pay for themselves', particularly if the controls are accepted by the group.

Question 13

In control-system development, managers react to significant environmental changes:

Accepted Answer

A)  by adopting a wait-and-see approach. 
B)  slowly and cautiously. 
C)  at a moderate rate. 
D)  rapidly.

Question 14

When a software company provides patches for consumers, it does so in response to identified computer program vulnerabilities (e.g. viruses). This company is likely to be using which control?

Accepted Answer

A)  feedback controls 
B)  feedforward controls 
C)  clan controls 
D)  concurrent controls.

Question 15

In using the incrementalist approach to controlling innovative activities in organisations, managers, in the later stages of the innovation process, will more than likely institute:

Accepted Answer

A)  hardly any controls at all. 
B)  less specific controls than used in earlier stages. 
C)  nearly a perfect market control system. 
D)  more concrete controls than at any previous stage, even to the point where some parts of the project may be killed off.

Question 16

Feedforward, concurrent, and feedback controls are based on:

Accepted Answer

A)  operation. 
B)  timing. 
C)  individuals. 
D)  departments.

Question 17

Of the three major classifications or types of controls described by the text, the type that is self-regulating (i.e. monitoring the situation and automatically taking corrective action when necessary) is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  timing control. 
B)  multiple controls. 
C)  feedforward control. 
D)  cybernetic control.

Question 18

Using a systems view, an organisation's productive cycle can be divided into three stages occurring at different times. The ______control involves regulating ongoing activities as part of the transformation process.

Accepted Answer

A)  feedback 
B)  cybernetic 
C)  concurrent 
D)  bureaucratic

Question 19

How do managers develop a balance between using strategic control levers and promoting innovation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do managers develop a balance between...

Question 20

Concerning the acceptability of control systems to organisation members, Bartol suggests that:

Accepted Answer

A)  if controls need to be there, they should be put in regardless of how much or little the group accepts them. 
B)  controls that are not accepted by the group are probably doomed to be ineffective. 
C)  groups expect to be controlled, so this issue is no big deal. 
D)  highly-accepted controls might indicate that the controls are not strict enough.

Exam 15: Controlling the Organisation