BUAD 309 Chapter 1 | Questions, Answers and Rationales

BUAD 309 Chapter 1 | Questions, Answers and Rationales ________ are defined as people who oversee the activities of others and who are responsible for attaining goals in organizations A) Assistants B) Managers C) Secretaries D) Interns E) Apprentices Managers are defined as people who oversee the activities of others and who are responsible for attaining goals in organizations. They make decisions, allocate resources, and get work done by other people. Sally Mitchell works as a manager at an environmental organization. She is currently working on a global warming project and decides what tasks related to creating awareness about the issue need to be done. In addition, she is also deciding which members of her team will work on engaging with the public and which will work on lobbying with the government. She is also assigning people as team members to ensure that tasks are undertaken on time. Which of the following categories of functions is Mitchell undertaking? A) planning B) organizing C) scrutinizing D) controlling E) envisioning Managers are responsible for designing an organization's structure. This function is called organizing. It includes determining what tasks are to be done, who is to do them, how the tasks are to be grouped, who reports to whom, and where decisions are to be made. Johanna Reid, a campaign manager at a child rights organization, recently started working on an illiteracy project. During the project, she needs to motivate team members to attain their project milestones and direct them through different phases of the project. Which of the following kinds of functions will these tasks be covered under? A) planning B) organizing C) scrutinizing D) evaluating E) leading The leading function of managers involves motivating employees, directing their activities, selecting the most effective communication channels, or resolving conflicts among members. Lesley Torres is a project manager for the campaign "Action against Deforestation in Indonesia". She recently faced a glitch when the campaign could not be launched publicly according to schedule. Torres monitored the schedule to find the cause of the delay, before speeding up the implementation process by allocating more members for the implementation phase. By doing this, which of the following functions is she performing? A) controlling B) planning C) formulating D) leading E) organizing To ensure things are going as they should, management must monitor the organization's performance and compare it with previously set goals. If there are any significant deviations, it is management's job to get the organization back on track. Tasks which involve monitoring, comparing, and potential correcting are part of the controlling function. Which of the following functions do managers undertake as part of planning functions? A) defining and organization's goals B) implementing strategies for achieving goals C) executing plans to integrate activities D) accomplishing goals of a project E) employing strategies to coordinate tasks The planning function encompasses defining an organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans to integrate and coordinate activities. According to Henry Mintzberg, a factory supervisor giving a group of high school students a tour of the plant may be termed as a ________. A) leader B) figurehead C) resource allocator D) negotiator E) disturbance handler According to Henry Mintzberg, a figurehead is a symbolic head who is required to perform a number of routine duties of a legal or social nature. Ellen Ortiz works as a sales manager at a telecom firm. The company has recently launched a new product in the market. Her work in the next few weeks involves sharing knowledge about the product with her team members. She will also need to inspire them to reach their sales targets, and clarify any doubts about the new product. Which of the following roles is Ortiz playing? A) leader A leadership role comprises hiring, training, motivating, and disciplining employees. Regina George works as a campaign manager in a not-for-profit organization in Hampshire. For the upcoming campaign against genetic engineering, she is networking with managers who are working on the issue of food safety. Through her network of contacts, she strives to gain information about the stakeholders in the food industry and other lobby groups. Which of the following roles is George most likely to be playing according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles? A) figurehead B) leader C) liaison D) entrepreneur E) resource allocator The liaison role involves maintaining a network of contacts who provide favors and information. Annette Simpson works for a fashion house in Paris and is preparing for the company's upcoming line of winter clothing. She is currently researching online to know what is in vogue this season. In addition, she is also networking with contacts from the press and fashion magazine editors to understand the changing tastes of consumers. Which of the following roles is Simpson playing according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles? A) figurehead B) leader C) symbol head D) monitor E) spokesperson According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the monitor role comprises collecting information from external organizations and institutions, typically by scanning the news media, talking with other people to learn about changes in the public's tastes, what competitors may be planning, and so forth. According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a(n) ________ is to transmit information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization. A) entrepreneur B) resource allocator C) spokesperson D) leader E) disseminator According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a disseminator is to transmit information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization. The role of a(n) ________, according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, is to transmit information to outsiders about an organization's plans, policies, actions, and results and one which serves as an expert in the organization's industry. A) spokesperson B) disturbance handler C) entrepreneur D) leader E) liaison According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a spokesperson is to transmit information to outsiders about an organization's plans, policies, actions, and results and one which serves as an expert in the organization's industry. According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, a(n) ________ searches the organization and its environment for opportunities and initiates projects to bring about change. A) spokesperson B) disturbance handler C) entrepreneur D) resource allocator E) negotiator According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, an entrepreneur searches the organization and its environment for opportunities and initiates projects to bring about change. According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a(n) ________ is to make or approve significant organizational decisions and assign human, physical, and monetary assets. A) disseminator B) liaison C) entrepreneur D) resource allocator E) entrepreneur According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a resource allocator is to make or approve significant organizational decisions and assign human, physical, and monetary assets. According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, which of the following is a kind of interpersonal role? A) monitor B) disseminator C) spokesperson D) entrepreneur E) liaison According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a liaison is a kind of interpersonal role which involves maintaining a network of outside contacts who provide favors and information. According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, which of the following is a kind of decisional role? A) negotiator B) disseminator C) liaison D) spokesperson E) monitor According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a negotiator is a kind of decisional role which involves representing the organization at major negotiations. The role of a ________ is a type of informational role according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles. A) figurehead B) disseminator C) liaison D) entrepreneur E) negotiator According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a disseminator is a type of informational role which involves transmitting information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization. Which of the following is true of technical skills? A) They can be learned only through formal education. B) They encompass the ability to apply specialized knowledge. C) They are not required at all kinds of jobs. D) They are monopolized by professionals. E) They comprise the ability to understand and motivate people. Technical skills encompass the ability to apply specialized knowledge or expertise. All jobs require some specialized expertise, and many people develop their technical skills on the job. The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, may be defined as ________ . A) human skills B) technical skills C) conceptual skills D) cognitive skills E) analytical skills The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, may be defined as human skills. Managers get things done through other people, and it is crucial for them to have good human skills. Melissa Woods was recently hired as the campaign manager at an environmental organization. She has a degree in environmental sustainability and possesses substantial knowledge about the issue of global warming. She has the knowledge to lead the public relations team of the organization. However, a few months later, the board of directors of the organization expressed dissatisfaction with Melissa's performance and asked her to resign. Which of the following, if true, best explains this situation? A) Melissa had no prior experience in research and development. B) Melissa had weak interpersonal and networking skills to run the project. C) Melissa focused on the results her team achieved rather than how they achieved those results. D) Melissa is not up-to-date about the feasibility of using different modes of renewable energy. E) Melissa had a diverse network of contacts established from her previous job. The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, defines human skills. Many people are technically proficient but poor listeners, unable to understand the needs of others, or weak at managing conflicts. Since managers get things done through other people, they must have good human skills. Though Melissa had substantial knowledge about the issue of global warming, her weak interpersonal and networking skills explain why she was unable to lead the public relations team efficiently. Melissa having no prior experience in research and development plays no role in explaining why she was unable to lead the public relations team. Melissa focusing on the results her team achieved rather than how they achieved them does not indicate her underperformance in any way. In addition, Melissa not being up-to-date about the feasibility of using different modes of renewable energy indicates a lack of theoretical knowledge and not the inability to lead a public relations team. Melissa having a diverse network of contacts established from her previous job works against the situation because it would actually help Melissa in her job. Joann Hayes is currently working on a project to tackle climate change. During the project, she needs to find different options to replace the use of non-renewable energy and check the feasibility of different renewable energy options before choosing the most practical one. Which of the following skills does Hayes primarily need to use for these tasks? A) human skills B) interpersonal skills C) conceptual skills D) communication skills E) interactive skills Managers must have the mental ability to analyze and diagnose complex situations. These tasks require conceptual skills. The ability to integrate new ideas with existing processes and innovate on the job are also crucial conceptual skills for today's managers. , an organization working toward curbing climate change, recently conducted an interview with Jessica for the position of a public relations officer. However, the interviewers Brenda and Laura are divided over whether Jessica should be given the job. Brenda believes that Jessica does not have in-depth knowledge about the issue of global warming and its impact. On the other hand, Laura feels that Jessica would be perfect for the job because she has strong networking and interpersonal skills. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen Laura's argument? A) Gaining the support of corporate giants would comprise a large part of the job. B) Jessica will need to prepare extensive reports about the issue of climate change. C) The role will require Jessica to give presentations to environmental experts on renewable modes of energy. D) Jessica had negligible experience in research and development. E) Jessica has weak analytical skills to solve problems associated with implementing options of renewable energy. The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, defines human skills. Many people are technically proficient but poor listeners, unable to understand the needs of others, or weak at managing conflicts. Gaining the support of corporate giants being a large part of the public relations job would require strong networking and interpersonal skills, which according to Laura, Jessica has. This would strengthen Laura's argument. The task of preparing extensive reports does not involve any networking skills and thus would not in any way strengthen Laura's argument. Giving presentations to environmental experts would require Laura to have in-depth knowledge of global warming and does not involve networking skills. Jessica having negligible experience in research and development and weak analytical skills to solve problems associated with implementing options of renewable energy does not require networking skills, and thus, does not strengthen Laura's argument. , an organization working toward curbing climate change, recently conducted an interview with Jessica for the position of a public relations officer. However, the interviewers Brenda and Laura are divided over whether Jessica should be given the job. Brenda believes that Jessica does not have in-depth knowledge about the issue of global warming and its impact. On the other hand, Laura feels that Jessica would be perfect for the job because she has strong interpersonal skills. Which of the following, if true, would weaken Laura's argument? A) Jessica was unable to fare well in the written test which analyzed her conceptual skills. B) Jessica listened intently to the interviewers' questions before answering them. C) Jessica was unable to communicate clearly why she was right for the job. D) Jessica was very friendly and courteous with the receptionist while greeting her. E) Jessica was high on confidence about getting the job because of her strong networking skills The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, defines human skills. Many people are technically proficient but poor listeners, unable to understand the needs of others, or weak at managing conflicts. If Jessica was unable to communicate clearly why she was right for the job, it weakens Laura's argument that Jessica has strong interpersonal skills. Jessica being unable to fare well in the written test which analyzed her conceptual skills does not indicate Jessica's networking skills, and thus does not weaken Laura's argument. Jessica listening intently to the interviewers' questions before answering them and greeting the receptionist indicates that she had good interpersonal skills. This strengthens Laura's argument. Jessica being high on confidence about getting the job because of her strong networking skills is irrelevant to the argument. According to Fred Luthans and his associates, managers involved in traditional management activities undertook which of the following tasks? A) motivating B) socializing C) decision making D) training E) politicking Fred Luthans and his associates studied more than 450 managers who were all engaged in four managerial activities of traditional management, communication, human resource management, and networking. Activities in traditional management involved decision making, planning, and controlling. According to Fred Luthans and his associates' study of 450 managers, ________ made the largest contribution to the success of managers in terms of speed of promotion within their organization. A) networking B) decision making C) planning D) controlling E) staffing According to Fred Luthans and his associates' study of 450 managers, networking made the largest contribution to the success of managers in terms of speed of promotion within their organization. Human resource management activities made the least relative contribution According to Fred Luthans and his associates, managers which are involved in networking activities are most likely to undertake which of the following? A) planning B) decision making C) controlling D) politicking E) staffing Fred Luthans and his associates studied more than 450 managers who were all engaged in four managerial activities of traditional management, communication, human resource management, and networking. Networking activities are comprised of socializing, politicking, and interacting with outsiders. Which of the following best defines organizational behavior? A) It involves the study of groups of people coming together for collective bargaining. B) It involves the study of what people do in a company and how it affects the company's output. C) It involves analyzing different people in an industry with independent profit-centered motives. D) It involves developing exclusively the knowledge of managers and senior -level employees. E) It is a field which is not influenced by factors in the external world. Organizational behavior refers to the study of what people do in an organization and how their behavior affects the organization's performance. Which of the following determinants of behavior does organizational behavior study? A) profits B) job satisfaction C) perks D) individuals E) collective bargaining Organizational behavior studies the three determinants of behavior in organizations. These are comprised of individuals, groups, and structure. In addition, OB applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups, and the effect of structure on behavior in order to make organizations work more effectively. Which of the following does systematic study use to look at relationships to attribute causes and effects? A) intuitive data B) feelings C) scientific data D) instinct E) premonition Systematic study looks at relationships to attribute causes and effects, and bases the conclusions on scientific evidence, that is, on data gathered under controlled conditions and measured and interpreted in a reasonably rigorous manner. Which of the following is true of systematic study? A) It attributes causes and effects based on intuition. B) It involves supporting decisions based on gut feelings. C) It analyzes relationships based on previous experiences. D) It involves analyzing relationships based on scientific data. E) It involves taking action based on instinct. Systematic study looks at relationships to attribute causes and effects, and bases the conclusions on scientific evidence, that is, on data gathered under controlled conditions and measured and interpreted in a reasonably rigorous manner. In order to predict human behavior, it is best to supplement intuitive opinions with information derived from ________.