A Manager S Dilemma

A MANAGER’S DILEMMA

31. According to the company profile in ” A Manager’s Dilemma”, which of the following best describes the type of decision Mark Galasso is faced with in the introduction of his company’s new dirt bike? a. programmed decision b. nonprogrammed (moderate) c. universal d. unethical e. orthodox

32. All of the following are mentioned as major competitors of Connondale Corporation according to the company profile in “A Manager’s Dilemma” EXCEPT: a. Yamaha b. Suzuki c. Harley Davidson (easy) d. Kawasaki e. Honda

THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

33. Decision-making is (simplistically) typically described as which of the following? a. deciding what is correct b. putting preference on paper c. choosing among alternatives (moderate) d. processing information to completion e. the end result of data collection

34. A series of eight steps that begins with identifying a problem and decision criteria and allocating weights to those criteria; moves to developing, analyzing, and selecting an alternative that can resolve the problem; implements the alternative; and concludes with evaluating the decision's effectiveness is the ______. a. decision-making process. (easy) b. managerial process. c. maximin style. d. bounded rationality approach. e. legalistic opportunism process.

35. The first step in the decision-making process is which of the following? a. developing decision criteria b. allocating weights to the criteria c. analyzing alternatives d. identifying a problem (moderate) e. implementing the decision's effectiveness

36. "A discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of affairs" describes which of the steps in the decision-making process? a. criteria weight allocation b. analysis of alternatives c. problem identification (difficult) d. decision effectiveness evaluation e. decision criteria identification 37. Which of the following statements is true concerning problem identification? a. Problems are generally obvious. b. A symptom and a problem are basically the same. c. Well trained managers generally agree on what is considered a problem. d. The problem must be such that it exerts some type of pressure for the manager to act. (moderate) e. To be considered a problem, managers must be aware of the discrepancy but not have the resources necessary to take action.

38. Which of the following must be present in order to initiate the decision-making process? a. plenty of time b. pressure to act (moderate) c. a lack of authority d. a lack of resources e. environmental certainty

39. Managers aren't likely to characterize something as a problem if they perceive ______. a. they don't have authority to act. (difficult) b. pressure to act. c. a discrepancy. d. they have sufficient resources. e. they have budgetary authority.

40. If a manager was purchasing a computer system, issues such as price and model are examples of which part of the decision-making process? a. problem identification b. criteria weight allocation c. identifying decision criteria (difficult) d. evaluating decision effectiveness e. implementing the alternative

41. Which of the following is the step in the decision-making process that follows identifying a problem and decision criteria? a. allocating weights to the criteria (moderate) b. analyzing the alternatives c. selecting the best alternative d. implementing the alternative e. evaluating the decision's effectiveness

42. In allocating weights to the decision criteria, which of the following is helpful to remember? a. All weights must be the same. b. The total of the weights should sum to 1.0. c. Every factor criterion considered, regardless of its importance, must receive some weighting. d. Assign the most important criterion a score, and then assign weights against that standard. (difficult) e. The most important and least important criteria should receive the inverse weighting standard. 43. In step six of the decision-making process, each alternative is evaluated by appraising it against the ______. a. subjective goals of the decision maker. b. criteria. (moderate) c. assessed values. d. implementation strategy. e. discrepancy status. 44. Selecting an alternative in the decision-making process is accomplished by ______. a. choosing the alternative with the highest score. (easy) b. choosing the one you like best. c. selecting the alternative that has the lowest price. d. selecting the alternative that is the most reliable. e. choosing the alternative you think your boss would prefer.

45. ______includes conveying a decision to those affected and getting their commitment to it. a. Selecting an alternative b. Evaluation of decision effectiveness c. Implementation of the alternatives (moderate) d. Analyzing alternatives e. Developing alternatives

46. Which of the following is important in effectively implementing the chosen alternative in the decision-making process? a. getting upper management support b. double checking your analysis for potential errors c. allowing those impacted by the outcome to participate in the process (moderate) d. ignoring criticism concerning your chosen alternative e. implementing your chosen alternative quickly

47. Which of the following is the final step in the decision-making process? a. identifying the problem b. evaluating the decision's effectiveness (easy) c. identifying decision criteria d. selecting an alternative that can resolve the problem e. allocating weights to alternatives.

48. Which of the following is important to remember in evaluating the effectiveness of the decision-making process? a. Ignore criticism concerning the decision-making. b. You may have to start the whole decision process over. (difficult) c. Restart the decision-making process if the decision is less than 50% effective. d. 90% of problems with decision-making occur in the implementation step. e. Keep track of problems with the chosen alternative, but only change those issues that upper management demand.

THE PERVASIVENESS OF DECISION MAKING

49. Decision-making is synonymous with ______. a. managing. (easy) b. leading. c. controlling. d. planning. e. organizing.

50. Which of the following is not a "planning" decision? a. What are the organization's long-term objectives? b. What strategies will best achieve those objectives? c. How many subordinates should I have report directly to me? (moderate) d. What should the organization's short-term objectives be? e. How difficult should individual goals be? 51. Which of the following is not an "organizing" decision? a. What are the organization's long-term objectives? (moderate) b. How many employees should I have report directly to me? c. How should jobs be designed? d. How much centralization should there be in the organization? e. When should the organization implement a different structure?

52. Which of the following is not a "leading" decision? a. How do I handle employees who appear to be low in motivation? b. What is the most effective leadership style in a given situation? c. How will a specific change affect worker productivity? d. When is the right time to stimulate conflict? e. How should jobs be designed? (moderate)

53. Which of the following is not a "controlling" decision? a. What activities in the organization need to be controlled? b. How should those activities be controlled? c. When is a performance deviation significant? d. When is the right time to stimulate conflict? (moderate) e. What type of management information system should the organization have?

THE MANAGER AS DECISION MAKER

54. Managers are assumed to be ______; they make consistent, value- maximizing choices within specified constraints. a. rational (easy) b. leaders c. organized d. satisficers e. programmed

55. Rational managerial decision-making assumes that decisions are made in the best ______interests of the organization. a. economic (moderate) b. payoff c. statistical d. revenue e. budgetary

56. Which of the following is true about managerial rational decision-making? a. Most decisions managers face allow for rational decision-making. b. Managers can make rational decisions if provided the right set of assumptions. (difficult) c. Rational decision-making is always possible if the goals are clear and straightforward. d. Time pressure forces managers into rational decision-making. e. Rational decision-making is generally possible when the decision involves "things" but not people.

57. Which of the following is not a valid assumption about rationality? a. The problem is clear and unambiguous. b. A single well-defined goal is to be achieved. c. Preferences are clear. d. Preferences are constantly changing. (difficult) e. No time or cost constraints exist. 58. In "bounded rationality," managers construct ______models that extract the essential features from problems. a. multiple b. binding c. interactive d. simplified (difficult) e. past

59. According to the text, because managers can’t possibly analyze all information on all alternatives, managers ______, rather than ______. a. maximize; satisfice b. maximize; minimize c. satisfice; minimize d. satisfice; maximize (moderate)

60. The type of decision-making in which the solution is considered "good enough" is known as which of the following? a. intuition b. rational c. maximizing d. satisficing (moderate) e. "gut feeling"

61. When a decision-maker chooses an alternative under perfect rationality, she chooses a ______decision, while under bounded rationality she chooses a ______decision. a. minimizing; satisfying b. satisficing; maximizing c. maximizing; satisficing (difficult) d. maximizing; minimizing e. minimizing; maximizing

62. An increased commitment to a previous decision despite evidence that it may have been wrong is referred to as ______. a. economies of commitment b. escalation of commitment (moderate) c. dimensional commitment d. expansion of commitment

63. An unconscious process of making decisions on the basis of experience and accumulated judgment is ______decision-making. a. rational b. intuitive (easy) c. bounded d. satisficing e. programmed

64. According to the text, all of the following are aspects of intuition EXCEPT: a. experienced-based decisions b. affect-initiated decisions c. cognitive-based decisions d. values or ethics-based decisions e. programmed decisions (easy) 65. According to the text, ______are straightforward, familiar, and easily defined problems. a. poorly-structured problems b. well-structured problems (moderate) c. unique problems d. non-programmed problems e. programmed problems

66. Well-structured problems align well with which type of decision-making? a. programmed (moderate) b. satisficing c. intuition d. "gut feeling" e. "garbage can" approach

67. The most efficient way to handle well-structured problems is through ______decision-making. a. linear b. unique c. focused d. hit-and-miss e. programmed (moderate)

68. ______decision-making is relatively simple and tends to rely heavily on previous solutions. a. Nonprogrammed b. Linear c. Satisficing d. Integrative e. Programmed (moderate)

69. Programmed decision-making tends to rely on which of the following? a. the problem solver's ability to think on his/her feet b. the development of a clear set of alternative solutions c. previous solutions (easy) d. identification of the actual problem e. accurate weighting of the decision criteria

70. A ______is a series of interrelated sequential steps that a manager can use for responding to a structured problem. a. procedure (easy) b. rule c. policy d. system e. solution

71. A ______is an explicit statement that tells a manager what he or she ought or ought not to do. a. procedure b. policy c. rule (moderate) d. solution e. system 72. A ______provides guidelines to channel a manager's thinking in a specific direction. a. system b. rule c. solution d. policy (moderate) e. procedure

73. Which of the following factors contrasts the difference between a policy and a rule? a. a policy establishes parameters (difficult) b. a rule establishes parameters c. a policy is more explicit d. a rule is more ambiguous e. a policy leaves little to interpretation

74. According to the text, a ______typically contains an ambiguous term that leaves interpretation up to the decision maker. a. system b. rule c. solution d. policy (moderate) e. procedure

75. A business school's statement that it "strives for productive relationships with local organizations," is an example of a ______. a. rule. b. policy. (moderate) c. procedure. d. commitment. e. contract.

76. Which of the following is a characteristic of poorly-structured problems? a. They are typical. b. They tend to be rehashed problems from the organization. c. Information is straightforward. d. They tend to have incomplete or ambiguous information. (difficult) e. They are fast breaking in nature.

77. When problems are ______, managers must rely on ______in order to develop unique solutions. a. well-structured; nonprogrammed decision making b. well-structured; pure intuition c. poorly-structured; nonprogrammed decision making (moderate) d. poorly-structured; programmed decision making

78. Which of the following terms is associated with nonprogrammed decisions? a. unique (moderate) b. recurring c. routine d. repetitive e. well-defined 79. Lower-level managers typically confront what type of decision-making? a. unique b. nonroutine c. programmed (moderate) d. nonprogrammed e. nonrepetitive

80. What type of decision-making facilitates organizational efficiency? a. nonprogrammed b. unique c. nonrepetitive d. nonroutine e. programmed (difficult)

81. Which of the following is an accurate statement concerning the impact of programmed decisions on organizations? a. They maximize the need for managers to exercise discretion. b. They decrease the need for high-cost managerial talent. (moderate) c. They increase the amount of judgment needed by managers. d. They decrease organizational efficiency. e. They are associated with Creative Operating Procedures.

82. ______is a situation in which a manager can make accurate decisions because the outcome of every alternative is known. a. Certainty (easy) b. Risk c. Uncertainty d. Maximax e. Maximin

83. If an individual knows the price of three similar cars at different dealerships, he/she is operating under what type of decision-making condition? a. risk b. uncertainty c. certainty (easy) d. factual e. unprogrammed

84. ______is those conditions in which the decision maker is able to estimate the likelihood of certain outcomes. a. Certainty b. Risk (easy) c. Uncertainty d. Maximax e. Maximin

85. A retail clothing store manager who estimates how much to order for the current spring season based on last spring's outcomes is operating under what kind of decision-making condition? a. seasonal b. risk (difficult) c. uncertainty d. certainty e. cyclical 86. ______is a situation in which a decision maker has neither certainty nor reasonable probability estimates available. a. Certainty b. Risk c. Uncertainty (easy) d. Maximax e. Maximin

87. A person at a horse racetrack who bets all of his/her money on the odds-based longshot to "win" (rather than "place" or "show") is making what kind of choice? a. maximax (moderate) b. maximin c. minimax d. minimin

88. Which of the following best describes “maximizing the minimum possible payoff?” a. maximax b. maximin (moderate) c. minimax d. minimin

89. An individual making a "maximin" type of choice has what type of psychological orientation concerning uncertain decision-making? a. optimist b. realist c. pessimist (moderate) d. satisficer e. extremist

90. Which of the following would best describe the psychological orientation of an individual making a “maximax” type of choice? a. optimist (moderate) b. realist c. pessimist d. satisficer e. extremist

91. According to the text, a manager who desires to minimize his or her maximim “regret” will opt for a ______choice. a. maximax b. maximin c. minimax (moderate) d. minimin

92. All of the following are mentioned in the text as decision-making styles EXCEPT: a. directive b. egotistical (moderate) c. analytic d. conceptual e. behavioral 93. Which of the following decision-making styles have low tolerance for ambiguity and are rational in their way of thinking? a. directive (moderate) b. egotistical c. analytic d. conceptual e. behavioral

94. A manager who "by tomorrow wants to know the most logical answer to the problem that will increase profits for this month" has which of the following decision-making styles? a. analytic b. directive (difficult) c. conceptual d. behavioral e. empirical

95. The decision-making style that makes fast decisions and focuses on the short terms is referred to as the ______style. a. directive (moderate) b. egotistical c. analytic d. conceptual e. behavioral

96. According to the text, which of the following decision-making styles often result in making decisions with minimal information and assessing few alternatives? a. directive (moderate) b. egotistical c. analytic d. conceptual e. behavioral

97. A(n) ______-type decision maker has much greater tolerance for ambiguity than do directive types. a. conceptual b. behavioral c. empirical d. analytic (moderate) e. spatial

98. According to the text, ______are best characterized as careful decision makers with the ability to adapt or cope with unique situations. a. conceptual b. behavioral c. empirical d. analytic (moderate) e. spatial

99. Which of the following is the decision-making style that would most likely look at as many alternatives as possible and focus on the long run? a. analytical b. directive c. conceptual (moderate) d. behavioral e. spatial

100. Which of the following decision-making styles focus on the long run and are very good at finding creative solutions to problems? a. analytical b. directive c. conceptual (moderate) d. behavioral e. spatial

101. A manager who would decide what computer system to purchase for the department by holding a meeting and receiving feedback from his/her subordinates matches with which type of decision-making style? a. analytical b. behavioral (difficult) c. conceptual d. directive e. empirical

102. According to the text, ______style decision makers are concerned about the achievements of subordinates and are receptive to suggestions from others. a. analytical b. behavioral (difficult) c. conceptual d. directive e. empirical

103. ______style decision makers often use meetings to communicate, although they try to avoid conflict. a. Analytical b. Behavioral (difficult) c. Conceptual d. Directive e. Empirical

MANAGING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

104. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the featured box “Managing Workforce Diversity” as a valuable reason manager’s should use diverse employees in the decision making process? a. Diverse employees can provide fresh perspectives on issues. b. Diverse employees can offer differing interpretations on how a problem is defined. c. Diverse employees tend to make decisions faster than a homogeneous group of employees. (difficult) d. Diverse employees usually are more creative in generating alternatives. e. Diverse employees usually are more flexible in resolving issues.

105. All of the following are mentioned in the featured box “Managing Workforce Diversity” as drawbacks to using diversity in decision making EXCEPT: a. a lack of a common perspective among team members. b. language barrier among team members. c. seeking out diverse opinions can make the decision-making process overly simple. (difficult) d. difficulty to reach a single agreement or to agree on specific actions. Scenarios

THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Decisions, Decisions (Scenario)

Sondra needed help. Her insurance company's rapid growth was necessitating making some changes, but what changes? Should they add to the existing system? Buy a new system? She was given the responsibility of analyzing the company's information system and deciding what the company should do that would give them plenty of room. She was confused and needed help in making the correct decision.

106. According to the decision-making process, the first step Sondra should take would be to ______. a. analyze alternative solutions. b. identify decision criteria. c. evaluate her decision's effectiveness. d. implement the chosen alternative. e. identify the problem. (moderate)

107. According to the decision-making process, the second step Sondra should take would be to ______. a. analyze alternative solutions. b. identify decision criteria. (moderate) c. evaluate her decision's effectiveness. d. allocate weights to the criteria. e. identify the problem.

108. The very last step Sondra should take, according to the decision-making process, would be to ______. a. analyze alternative solutions. b. select alternatives. c. implement the alternative. d. identify the problem. e. evaluate the decision's effectiveness. (easy)

109. When Sondra is conveying her decision to those affected and getting their commitment to it, she is performing which step in the decision-making process? a. analyzing alternative solutions b. selecting alternatives c. implementing the alternative (moderate) d. identifying the problem e. evaluating the decision's effectiveness

110. Allocating weights to the criteria is the step in the decision-making process that occurs between identifying the decision criteria and ______. a. developing the alternatives. (difficult) b. selecting alternatives. c. implementing the alternative. d. identifying the problem. e. evaluating the decision's effectiveness. THE MANAGER AS DECISION MAKER

Is the Picture Clear? (Scenario)

Sharon was the regional manager of a large cable television company. Daily, she faced many problems and decisions such as how to price each market, who to hire, what kind of technology she should purchase and how she should handle increasing customer complaints. She needed some help sorting these issues out.

111. You could tell Sharon that issues, which are straightforward, where the problem is familiar and easily defined, such as how to handle late payment by customers or customers wanting to receive refunds, are known as ______problems. a. routine b. standard c. well-structured (moderate) d. conventional e. complex

112. Unfortunately, Sharon also faces issues that have information that is ambiguous or incomplete, such as what kind of technology to purchase. These are known as ______problems. a. poorly-structured (moderate) b. variable c. random d. hit-and-miss e. vague

113. When a customer calls up and wants a refund for a partial month's usage of cable, the fact that such situations are routine and most likely have a standard response, would make the response a ______decision. a. standard b. routine c. policy d. fundamental e. programmed (moderate)

114. Sometimes Sharon follows a ______,a series of interrelated sequential steps for responding to a structured problem. a. rule b. policy c. procedure (moderate) d. suggestion e. order

115. Sometimes Sharon instructs her local managers to follow ______when confronted with problem situations. These establish parameters for the manager making the decision rather than specifically stating what should or should not be done. a. rules b. procedures c. policies (moderate) d. orders e. suggestions Decision-Making Conditions (Scenario)

Sandy Jo is the manager for TrucksRUs, a medium-sized hauling service located in the Southeast. She is responsible for scheduling trucks, initiating new routes, and staffing both existing and new routes. She is currently struggling with existing information about the profitability of existing and future truck routes.

116. Bubba, Sandy Jo's best driver tells her that he believes that he can estimate that there is a 75% probability that they can get the business of Pork Brothers Inc. if they initiate a truck route through rural North Carolina. Bubba is operating under a condition of ______. a. certainty. b. risk. (difficult) c. uncertainty. d. maximax. e. maximin.

117. Sandy Jo can make accurate decisions if she is willing to pay $5,000 for research about the profitability of various truck routes. If she pays for the research, she believes that she is operating under a condition of ______. a. certainty. (difficult) b. risk. c. uncertainty. d. maximax. e. maximin.

118. Sandy Jo knows that she is operating in an uncertain environment. She is basically an optimist, and we would, therefore, expect her to follow a ______strategy. a. certainty b. risk c. uncertainty d. maximax (moderate) e. maximin

119. Sandy Jo knows that she is operating in an uncertain environment. She is basically a pessimist, and we would, therefore, expect her to follow a ______strategy. a. certainty b. risk c. minimax d. maximax e. maximin (moderate)

120. Sandy Jo wishes to minimize her regret and will probably opt for a ______strategy. a. certainty. b. risk. c. minimax (moderate) d. maximax. e. maximin.