Question 1

Devil's advocacy:

Accepted Answer

A)  can reduce the problems associated with an incrementalist approach to decision making. 
B)  requires a collateral organizational structure. 
C)  entails combining many plans into a final plan. 
D)  hurts organizational effectiveness.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of explorative learning?

Accepted Answer

A)  A steel mill refines its production processes 
B)  A supplier implements a TQM program 
C)  A computer company uses the Garbage can model for making decisions 
D)  A shoe manufacturer implements a network organization

Question 3

In the Organizational Insight in your text, Bill Gates used the Garbage Can model of decision making when examining which decision?

Accepted Answer

A)  How to combat the antitrust legislation 
B)  How to develop a system to compete with Apple computer 
C)  How to compete with Netscape 
D)  How to redesign Windows to compete better with Oracle

Question 4

The unstructured model of decision making is characterized by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  decision makers rethink their alternatives when they encounter obstacles. 
B)  it concentrates on programmed decisions. 
C)  it is appropriate when uncertainty is high. 
D)  it recognizes three stages of decision making: identification, development, and selection.

Question 5

Game theory utilizes all of following concepts except ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  probabilities 
B)  simultaneous moves 
C)  sequential moves 
D)  knowledge management

Question 6

Organizational learning is higher in organizations that have an adaptive culture, versus an inert culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Exploration is a type of learning where organizational members search for new kinds or forms of organizational activities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Organizational learning needs to be encouraged at what four levels?

Accepted Answer

A)  Group, division, organization, and interorganization 
B)  Individual, group, organization, and interorganization 
C)  Individual, group, division, and organization 
D)  Individual, division, organization, and interorganization

Question 9

Team learning is more important than individual learning because:

Accepted Answer

A)  most important decisions are made in groups. 
B)  groups are less effective. 
C)  top management makes strategic decisions. 
D)  only minor decisions are made in groups.

Question 10

When managers lose control of a situation, they often centralize authority in the mistaken belief that this will give them greater control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A diverse top-management team facilitates organizational learning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following models of decision making is used the least?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carnegie model 
B)  Unstructured model 
C)  Garbage can model 
D)  Rational model

Question 13

A customer wants to return a shirt that is too small to a national retail store. The retail manager will most likely make a:

Accepted Answer

A)  nonprogrammed decision by following the company's refund policy. 
B)  programmed decision by using judgment to decide whether or not to give a refund. 
C)  nonprogrammed decision by using judgment to decide whether or not to give a refund. 
D)  programmed decision by following the company's refund policy.

Question 14

The unstructured model of decision making recognizes that decision making occurs in a series of small steps that add up to a major decision over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Nystrom and Starbuck suggest that all of the following impede new learning except ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  nonprogrammed decisions 
B)  past learning 
C)  "weathering the storm strategies" 
D)  cognitive structures

Question 16

A study of how hospitals in California responded to a doctors' strike indicated that hospitals that managed the strike more easily had:

Accepted Answer

A)  an incremental approach to decision making. 
B)  an escalation of commitment. 
C)  an organic structure. 
D)  centralized decision making.

Question 17

Senge encourages workers to develop a sense of personal mastery by:

Accepted Answer

A)  repeating a single task. 
B)  Develop and use mental models. 
C)  using procedures and rules. 
D)  referring decisions to supervisors.

Question 18

Systems thinking:

Accepted Answer

A)  suggests that companies substitute information systems for the hierarchy to transmit information. 
B)  focuses on using AIT to facilitate learning among network members. 
C)  states that structure, culture, and strategy must match to foster organizational learning. 
D)  states that each level of learning affects other levels.

Question 19

Exploitative learning involves looking for new kinds of organizational activities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

An "organized anarchy" is a characteristic of which of the following models of decision making?

Accepted Answer

A)  Unstructured 
B)  Carnegie 
C)  Garbage can 
D)  Incrementalist

Exam 12: Decision Making and Organizational Learning

Devil's advocacy:

Which of the following is an example of explorative learning?

In the Organizational Insight in your text, Bill Gates used the Garbage Can model of decision making when examining which decision?

The unstructured model of decision making is characterized by all of the following except

Game theory utilizes all of following concepts except ________.

Organizational learning is higher in organizations that have an adaptive culture, versus an inert culture.

Exploration is a type of learning where organizational members search for new kinds or forms of organizational activities.

Organizational learning needs to be encouraged at what four levels?

Team learning is more important than individual learning because:

When managers lose control of a situation, they often centralize authority in the mistaken belief that this will give them greater control.

A diverse top-management team facilitates organizational learning.

Which of the following models of decision making is used the least?

A customer wants to return a shirt that is too small to a national retail store. The retail manager will most likely make a:

The unstructured model of decision making recognizes that decision making occurs in a series of small steps that add up to a major decision over time.

Nystrom and Starbuck suggest that all of the following impede new learning except ________.

A study of how hospitals in California responded to a doctors' strike indicated that hospitals that managed the strike more easily had:

Senge encourages workers to develop a sense of personal mastery by:

Systems thinking:

Exploitative learning involves looking for new kinds of organizational activities.

An "organized anarchy" is a characteristic of which of the following models of decision making?