MGMT 1115 Chapter 11 Homework

Pet-peeve technique

The marketing team of a company engages in brainstorming sessions to identify the complaints that the production team might experience.

Innovation

Blush Inc., a cosmetic manufacturing company, is often engaged in developing and commercializing new eyeliner formulations.

Margaret works in a chemical laboratory. She finds that there is no proper inventory management system for monitoring the use of chemicals and decides to come up with an effective method for inventory management. According to the steps of the creative process, what is Margaret's next step?

Immersion

Gabriel is a creative ballet dancer because of her interest and the satisfaction she derives from it. She is completely involved in the activity and gives it her best. Which of the following characteristics of creative individuals is shown in the given example?

Passion for the task and non-conformity

One of the criticisms of The Rapid Cash Store is that it exploits the poor. As a responsible and creative CEO, you have to ensure that the business is carried out in an ethical manner. What would you do to ensure that your business incorporates creative ideas and at the same time remains ethical?

Place creative work within a moral context.

Daniel runs a supermarket. He often puts items on sale to increase revenue, which is done by most retail stores. In this case, Daniel is engaged in _____.

traditional thinking

Read the following case and use your knowledge of this chapter's concepts to answer the questions that follow. The Rapid Cash Store Needs Ideas Sam is the CEO of The Rapid Cash Store, a chain of twenty stores whose primary business is to provide payday loans and cash checks for people who typically do not have a bank account. A payday loan is essentially a loan against an upcoming paycheck, such as a person borrowing $100 to be repaid when he or she receives a paycheck within ten days. The paycheck has been signed over to Rapid Cash, and a company representative gives the check to the lender minus the fee charged by Rapid Cash. The checks cashed are often payroll checks for workers whose checks are not directly deposited because they do not have bank accounts. A criticism of The Rapid Cash Store, as well as other payday lenders, is that their interest rate on loans, if projected on an annual basis, would be about 350 percent. Sam says, "This is an irrelevant criticism. Almost no customer takes out a loan for a year. We provide a useful service at a reasonable fee for people who are strapped for cash. Why look at the annual rate? If you rent a hotel room for one night, it might cost $150. Does anybody complain that the hotel is charging $54,750 per year for the room?" Despite Sam's defense of his company's practices, as well as those of his industry, he is worried that the mounting criticism of his company might result in lost revenue. Among the criticisms of The Rapid Cash Store is that it exploits the poor. Furthermore, many large discount retailers are getting into the business of payday loans and check cashing. For example, the Money Centers at Walmart stores cash checks for customers at fees much lower than those charged by payday lenders. "Sam is so worried about the forces against his business that he decides to work on the problem with his top management team. Sam says that he has been casually talking about the problem with his team, but he hasn't really put the problem on his agenda. Sam sends his team an e-mail about the necessity of finding new sources of revenue for the firm, and he alerts them to a meeting to work on the problem. At the meeting, Sam says to the group, "The Rapid Cash Store is in trouble. Our revenues only declined 15 percent last year, and the handwriting is on the wall. The criticism of our business model is getting more vocal, with even local politicians turning against us. The big box stores are breathing down our neck. "I want you as the executive team to come up with a way of finding new sources of revenue for the Rapid Cash." "No disrespect," said Kim, the director of marketing. "But you are our leader. You are supposed to provide the breakthrough idea that will create a solid future for Rapid Cash. We've often talked about broadening our services, but we usually hit the same brick wall. The most notable idea was the one about installing tattoo parlors in our stores because so many of our customers wear tattoos. "I think the best idea we had was the one about selling lottery tickets in all the stores. But I think we ran into some potential legal problems." Sam then said, "I don't disagree that as CEO maybe I should have the next great idea for The Rapid Cash Store. But I don't right now, so that's why I'm asking you for your creative suggestions." Greg, the CFO, said, "I think that we need to ask an even deeper question than where we can find new sources of revenue. We need to ask where to look and whom to ask about new lines of business." The Rapid Cash Store has come in for a lot of criticism because of the manner in which it operates. If you were in Sam's position as the CEO, you would think that it is your responsibility to generate creative business ideas for the store because _____. Select all that apply.

a leader needs to develop creative ideas to improve productivity and achieve satisfaction, as well as bring ideas that did not exist previously

During her drive to work, Megan suddenly realizes that she has found the right gift to give her father for his birthday. This step of the creative process in which the solution to a problem suddenly flashes into a person's mind at an unexpected time is known as _____________.

insight

Lydia is a computer engineer in a small company. She notices that the company does not have its own website and realizes that the company needs one. In this example, Lydia is in the __________________ stage of the creative process

problem recognition

Which of the following examples shows a strategy for enhancing creative thinking?

Arial Inc., a large leather product manufacturing company, encourages its employees to post their ideas on new products in the company's database.

Empowerment

Arnold, a production engineer in an automobile company, is allowed to choose the best method for achieving production-related targets by his manager.

Creativity

Christopher, a software programmer, develops several new programs that are useful for his routine programming needs.

Experience of flow

Claire is completely involved in her work during painting lessons and feels it is worth being involved in painting for its own sake

Design of Work Groups

Herbert, a senior manager often heading teams for special projects, ensures a blend of gender, race, and ethnicity to enhance the creativity of the team.

Jonathan takes over as the manager of the product design team of a company producing machine parts. Jonathan is a very creative leader. As a creative leader, which of the following personality traits might Jonathan possess? Check all that apply.

Nonconformist and thrill-seeking

Intellectual Challenge

Sidney manages a team of highly creative individuals and assigns tasks to each of them based on their capabilities.

The executive team at The Rapid Cash Store is unable to find creative solutions for the problem of finding new business avenues. If you are a member of the executive team, what steps would you take to find creative sources of revenue for the store? Select all that apply.

Think divergently to find a number of possible alternative ways to solve the problem, and play the role of explorer by talking to people in different fields for possible business ideas.

James is chosen to head the new product development project launched by his company. The project requires people from different divisions of the company. James should try to get the best ideas for innovation by _____.

attaining collaboration through the formation of a team that shares ideas

Maurice has decided the theme for his university's photography contest. He concentrates and comes up with several ideas for its implementation without finalizing or evaluating them. In this scenario, Maurice is in the _____________ stage of the creative process.

immersion

Lucy, a doctoral fellow, does not appear to be working on the preliminary research presentation to be delivered next week. However, she has collected all the required data and her subconscious mind is engaged. This example shows an individual in the ________________ stage of the creative process.

incubation

Robert is one of the most creative research scientists in his company that produces high performance plastics for various applications. He comes up with a research proposal to develop a material to be used in aircrafts that can result in increased fuel efficiency. The company's top management refuses to accept Robert's proposal. However, Robert persists with his idea and convinces his superiors after several discussions and presentations. In the context of creative thinking, the role played by Robert in convincing his superiors to proceed with his proposal is that of a(n) _____.

lawyer