Question 1

Being decisive means:

Accepted Answer

A)  making a decision without making any human compromise. 
B)  reaching a decision within a reasonable amount of time. 
C)  making the simplest possible decision. 
D)  taking as much time as needed to choose an alternative.

Question 2

In the rational model of decision making,evaluation of alternatives:

Accepted Answer

A)  is the last step. 
B)  should be as objective as possible. 
C)  can only be done with the help of a decision tree. 
D)  is the only step which requires subjective rationality.

Question 3

Antonio is the owner of a popular Italian restaurant.He decides to stop offering takeaway services to its customers because he feels the beauty in the way food is presented will be lost when it is packaged.His customers are very unhappy with his decision.Which human compromise has Antonio made in his decision?

Accepted Answer

A)  Personal perspective 
B)  Simplicity 
C)  Recency syndrome 
D)  Stereotyping

Question 4

When a supervisor needs to build support for a solution,such as cutting costs or improving productivity,it is best for the supervisor to:

Accepted Answer

A)  use group decision making. 
B)  make the decisions alone. 
C)  let his or her boss make the decision. 
D)  make the decision with the help of top management only.

Question 5

In the context of human compromises in decision making,_____ interferes with good decisions when the decision maker focuses more on justifying an alternative than on weighing alternatives against previously defined criteria.

Accepted Answer

A)  rationalization 
B)  simplification 
C)  personification 
D)  generalization

Question 6

To use the probability theory,a supervisor:

Accepted Answer

A)  needs to know or be able to estimate the value of each possible outcome. 
B)  must assume that only one choice is right. 
C)  needs to be able to balance the application of bounded rationality with groupthink. 
D)  must use database management software such as Access or Oracle Database.

Question 7

The downside of taking a simpler approach to decision making is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  it tends to bypass innovative solutions. 
B)  an alternative that meets minimum standards of acceptability is chosen. 
C)  it limits a decision maker's understanding of the people involved. 
D)  only recent events are taken into consideration.

Question 8

In which of the following situations should a supervisor make a decision alone?

Accepted Answer

A)  When the supervisor needs to cut costs or improve productivity 
B)  When a decision must be made quickly, as in an emergency 
C)  When the supervisor needs to build support for a solution 
D)  When the consequences of a poor decision are significant

Question 9

An idea-generating process in which group members state their ideas,have their ideas recorded,and no one comments on the ideas until the process is complete is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)  brainstorming. 
B)  bounded rationality. 
C)  stereotyping. 
D)  groupthink.

Question 10

When the consequences of a decision are great,which of the following should the supervisor follow?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spend less time on the decision to avoid confusion 
B)  Use the rational model of decision making 
C)  Avoid using alternative solutions 
D)  Limit the money spent in identifying and evaluating alternatives

Question 11

Whenever supervisors ask for input from a group,they should be sure they intend to use the information,or:

Accepted Answer

A)  the group members will fall victim to groupthink. 
B)  the group will suffer from the recency syndrome. 
C)  the group members will be offended. 
D)  the group will be more likely to use self-censorship.

Question 12

In the rational model of decision making,identifying alternative solutions is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  last step that involves getting feedback. 
B)  step during which the best alternative is implemented. 
C)  next step after recognizing the problem. 
D)  only step which requires subjective rationality.

Question 13

Which of the following is a practice to develop creativity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Think of only a few alternatives to avoid overthinking. 
B)  Evaluate alternatives immediately after you think of them. 
C)  Employ the process of bounded rationality when thinking of ideas. 
D)  Jot down all alternatives without rejecting any.

Question 14

James is the supervisor of a group responsible for coming up with a name for a new product.He finds that his group has fallen victim to groupthink.Which of the following steps should he take to rectify this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  He should ask his group members to be more agreeable and appoint one member to act as a mindguard who urges other members to go along with the group. 
B)  He should apply pressure against group members who disagree. 
C)  He should let the members of the group think that they are invulnerable. 
D)  He should appoint one group member to act as devil's advocate, challenging the position of the majority.

Question 15

Which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stereotyped views of opponents 
B)  Opposing the group's position against any objections 
C)  An illusion of being vulnerable 
D)  Disagreeing with the group's ideas

Question 16

Samuel is the new supervisor of a restaurant.In order to improve customer satisfaction,he offers free drinks with each meal,which is a failed option that was tried by the previous supervisor.Samuel has fallen into the decision-making trap of:

Accepted Answer

A)  promising too much. 
B)  overlooking precedent. 
C)  treating every decision like a crisis. 
D)  assuming only one choice is right.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true of brainstorming?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a technique used to promote groupthink. 
B)  It is an idea-generating process. 
C)  It is designed to eliminate stereotypes. 
D)  It is a measure of the recency syndrome.

Question 18

Which of the following is a step that supervisors can take to encourage more participation in a group meeting without it leading to the phenomenon of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

A)  Designating a mindguard to urge other members to go along with the group 
B)  Criticizing anyone who plays the role of devil's advocate 
C)  Reacting positively when people contribute ideas 
D)  Asking questions indirectly and reacting dismissively to anyone who disagrees with the group's view

Question 19

When supervisors notice that their group is showing the symptoms of groupthink:

Accepted Answer

A)  they should defend the group's position against any objections. 
B)  they should encourage group members to listen with an open mind. 
C)  they should urge group members to go along with the group. 
D)  they should create an illusion of invulnerability.

Question 20

In a crisis,a supervisor should:

Accepted Answer

A)  inform his or her boss before taking any action. 
B)  weigh each employee's qualifications and select the best employee. 
C)  quickly select the course of action that seems best. 
D)  list all the possible responses.

Exam 9: Problem Solving,decision Making,and Creativity