ITEC-1016-01 Final

The influential technology blog, TechCrunch, reports that Amazon offers nearly ____ e-book titles.

1,00,000

____ calendars and schedulers help large groups quickly identify suitable meeting times.

Electronic

If the group's solution might be threatening to a decision maker, do not invite that person to a team meeting as they will bring down the morale of the group.

False

If your team is suffering from groupthink, invite a team member from within the group to play the devil's advocate.

False

In the context of critical thinking, a(n) assumption is a set of one or more claims that support a particular conclusion. _________________________

False

In the early stages of solving a problem, you use convergent thinking to develop as many creative ideas and potential solutions as possible.

False

Inertia means acting on a problem, when you are very familiar with it.

False

Managers can view mashups called controls, windows that graphically summarize information about how a business is operating. _________________________

False

On a decision tree, triangles indicate that a choice must be made.

False

Open-science Problem-Solving is a form of outsourcing.

False

Researchers have discovered that we can understand how we think even without understanding how we feel.

False

Solution criteria are the variables that drive your decisions. _________________________

False

Take action and remember that in most cases, it is better to hold out for a perfect solution later, rather than to implement a good solution now.

False

The consensus approach is the most efficient way to reach closure as there is only one decision maker.

False

The mean of a set of data is the value that occurs most frequently. _________________________

False

The mode is the most common descriptive statistic and is simple to compute.

False

The purpose of a problem statement is to find the problem cause and to define the solution.

False

The two main types of mashups are consumer and business, and the two types do not overlap.

False

Typically, the necessary amount of management and control increases over time. _________________________

False

Use hardware tools such as spreadsheets, databases, and diagramming programs for flowcharts to help you see how one set of data relates to another. _________________________

False

Using a popular management approach, many managers assign tasks to staff members according to their skills, personalities, and experience. This style of leadership is called a complex style. _________________________

False

Variables are elements that are not likely to change much over time. _________________________

False

When developing a problem statement, describe subjective symptoms of the problem that others can observe. _________________________

False

When electronic spreadsheets were first developed, one of the early applications for the technology was performing what-else analyses. _________________________

False

When solving a problem, it is fine to use an impact analysis alone to make a final decision between alternatives.

False

When you solve a problem systematically, you react immediately and instinctively, without following a particular procedure. _________________________

False

You can model your decisions quantitatively, which means you represent the decision and its factors using letters. _________________________

False

A DSS is ideal for analyzing complex problems that involve sets of data and demand a systematic decision-making approach. _________________________

True

A botnet refers to a collection of software robots, or bots, that run independently on computers without revealing themselves to the owner. _________________________

True

A cause is the reason for or the origin (root) of a change, such as customers being unable to afford travel vacations.

True

A cell reference is a pointer that you include in a formula to tell the spreadsheet where to find the actual data. _________________________

True

A decision tree is a support tool that models decisions using a treelike diagram. _________________________

True

A fact is a claim that is considered to be true. _________________________

True

A problem is the difference between the current state and where you want to be.

True

A team is a group of people who organize themselves to work cooperatively on a common objective. _________________________

True

Although the word critical can mean to find fault or to criticize, critical thinking is not a negative activity.

True

An opinion is a claim that someone believes is true. _________________________

True

Any decision you make or solution you implement involves some risk, which is an exposure to a chance of loss or damage. _________________________

True

Argument values are always contained inside parentheses.

True

As a group grows larger, you might find you do not have enough air time, which is the amount of time available for someone to speak to the group. _________________________

True

Brainstorming is a powerful creativity tool you can use to generate ideas and alternatives. _________________________

True

Compare claims to your own background knowledge, which is the collection of beliefs, facts, experiences, and observations you have amassed during your life. _________________________

True

Decision variables are often used in formulas that show results.

True

Decisions are choices you make when faced with a set of options or alternatives. _________________________

True

Ethics are standards of behavior that direct how people should act. _________________________

True

Ethics involves making moral decisions and choosing between right and wrong.

True

If an argument is valid and the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. _________________________

True

If files contain confidential contents, find out how to require a user name and password before people can access the material.

True

If you cannot test an assertion, you cannot know whether it is valid.

True

In Google Calendar, you can set up a calendar for a conference room so you can reserve a meeting space.

True

Like automobile dashboards, business dashboards display current information about an organization's performance.

True

Logistics refers to how resources such as information and people are provided where they are needed. _________________________

True

Malcolm Gladwell coined the term "thin-slicing," which is the ability to sense what is important from a very narrow period of experience. _________________________

True

People who have worked for a company for some time develop an organizational memory as they learn about the various processes, personalities, and subtleties of how the organization operates. _________________________

True

Remember that because no argument is perfect, all arguments have some weaknesses.

True

Social conditioning encourages you to accept the beliefs, traditions, and values of your social group. _________________________

True

Some speakers signal their opinions by saying, "I think," or "The way I see it."

True

Stakeholders are people who are also affected or whose involvement you need to resolve the matter. _________________________

True

Standard deviation is a measure of the variability of a set of data. _________________________

True

Testing a solution involves trying it on a small or limited basis.

True

The opinions and assumptions that your problem owner, stakeholders, and other important people hold are important factors in the success of your solution.

True

Until the solution takes effect, your decision is little more than a good intention.

True

____ is a form of brainstorming where group members focus on a subject and then write about it nonstop for a short period of time.

Free writing

Use an impact analysis to broaden your view. Have the group list the consequences of each idea. Who or what would each option affect? Would the consequences be minimal or manageable? Which idea would cause the least amount of loss or harm? _________________________

True

When gathering information, focus on objective facts. Ask "what?" not "who?" _________________________

True

When outside participants are visiting your team meeting, conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat (SWOT) exercise to make sure the group's success is not blinding members to potential problems.

True

When problem solving, take advantage of the collective wisdom of your colleagues, which is the shared knowledge and experience a group of people can apply to a problem. _________________________

True

When working in a company with a strong set of cultural norms, it is easy to adopt popular opinions and follow the expectations of others, which is called the bandwagon effect. _________________________

True

When you are making a decision, a DSS helps you evaluate all parts of the decision objectively.

True

When you define a problem, you should be open-minded and flexible as you explore, research, and communicate with others.

True

To make numeric data useful, organize it in a(n) ____________________, which is one or more formulas that includes all of the relevant variables and calculates a result.

decision model

A ____________________ (DSS) is interactive software designed to help you compile useful information from raw data, documents, and business knowledge.

decision support system

In some settings, a group may examine an issue and develop ideas for it, but the final decisions are left up to a single person. This is sometimes called a "____ approach" to decision making.

dictator

Breaking down a large, complex problem into smaller, solvable problems is called ____.

divide and conquer

The way that people work and interact with each other is known as group ____________________.

dynamics

The Amazon Kindle is a platform for ____.

e-books

Being ____ means seeing the world from your own point of view, assuming you are the norm or center.

egocentric

Bar charts are oriented ____.

either a. or b.

When normalizing, you usually ____ the data by a variable so you can compare the variables fairly.

either a. or b.

Using ambiguous or vague words in an argument is known as ____, and may or may not be intentional.

equivocation

When applied to problem solving, ____ behavior leads to appropriate decisions, not necessarily the optimal ones.

ethical

If you can collect data about and analyze a claim, it is said to be a ____ matter.

factual

Survey designers recommend ____ scales as the most accurate; fewer points don't offer enough options, and more points creates confusion.

five-point

A(n) ____ typically defines a calculation that you perform on one or more variables.

formula

Helen is using graphics to show how sales have increased in her online pet supply store. Please answer the questions below. Helen has researched some software and found one that completes 3D scatter plots. It turns out that most software tools can display 3D scatter plots with up to ____ dimensions.

four

A(n) ____________________ is made up of two or more people who interact with each other, share expectations and obligations, and develop a common identity.

group

When individual creativity and independent thinking are lost to group cohesiveness, the condition is known as ____________________

groupthink

Dalton is studying how to become a critical thinker. Please answer the questions below. To be an effective critical thinker, Dalton needs to develop intellectual ____ which is defined as recognizing the limits of your knowledge and understanding of a situation.

humility

When creating a problem statement, frame the problem for your audience by starting with a brief description of the ____.

ideal situation

Decision variables are values that could change and affect the results. Statisticians refer to these as ____ variables.

independent

People usually solve problems in one of two ways: ____________________ or systematically.

intuitively

When you solve a problem ____, you react immediately and instinctively, without following a particular procedure.

intuitively

In general terms, a(n) ____________________ is any controversial subject that you discuss, dispute, or review.

issue

To show directions or trends in a linear data series over time you would use the ____ chart.

line

Helen is using graphics to show how sales have increased in her online pet supply store. Please answer the questions below. The first chart that Helen is putting together shows the sales growth of organic dog food over time. What type of chart would you recommend that Helen uses?

line chart

The term information ____ describes the ability to recognize, analyze, and judge the quality of information.

literacy

Kevin is in charge of a new association at his college. He is researching voting methods. Please answer the questions below. The first vote that Kevin plans to present to the association is between two choices and wants the choice with the most votes to rule. He would use ____.

majority rules

A(n) ____________________ is a Web application that combines features or information from more than one source.

mashup

Online tools such as Masher and Kofax Technologies let you create ____ online.

mashups

The ____ is calculated by ordering all of your data from lowest value to highest value and selecting the middle one.

median

The ____________________ value of a set of data is that point that separates the higher values from the lower values.

median

When using ____, a group member lists a main idea or problem at the center of a page, white board, or flip chart. Each participant is invited to share reactions and ideas. These are drawn as radial lines or spokes.

mind maps

Although means are affected by extremely large or small values in the data set, ____ are not.

modes

Past experiences with other people, places, and situations that are extremely good or bad are ____. They can bias your expectations in the future.

outliers

The ____________________ are values in the results that could change if the decision variables change.

output variables

Helen is using graphics to show how sales have increased in her online pet supply store. Please answer the questions below. The second chart Helen is preparing is one that shows organic dog food as a percentage of total dog food sold in January. What type of chart should Helen use?

pie

If you wanted to compare the percentage of an element to the whole, you would use the ____ chart.

pie

Kevin is in charge of a new association at his college. He is researching voting methods. Please answer the questions below. Strengthen a(n) ____ vote by using several rounds. Eliminate options with the least support and vote again.

plurality

With Doodle, each person responds to the best time for the event by using a(n) ____.

poll

When thinking critically, at least one statement that supports your idea is your ____ what you claim or contend.

premise

Words such as because, since, assuming that, for, as, and similar expressions suggest that the speaker is stating a(n) ____________________.

premise

Darcy, an outside consultant, has agreed to solve the problem of low student test scores for a neighborhood school. Please answer the questions below. When presenting a final solution, Darcy should ____.

present many solutions, indicating which one she recommends

In an organization, a(n) ____________________ is an obstacle that stands in the way of achieving a desired goal.

problem

When you solve a problem for someone else, you assume the responsibility for developing a satisfactory solution for them, the ____________________.

problem owners

Variations on ____ include dilemmas, paradoxes, and difficulties, such as trouble performing tasks.

problems

When modeling a decision using ____ data, you can use mathematics to help you analyze and compare the data.

quantitative

Kevin is in charge of a new association at his college. He is researching voting methods. Please answer the questions below. To start, Kevin finds out about ____ which is a method where members assign scores to multiple options rather than voting for a single choice.

range voting

To link a problem to its cause, you must perform a ____________________ analysis, a study that determines the real basis for the problem.

root-cause

Instead of trying to find the one best solution, your goal should be to develop a good solution by doing all of these EXCEPT ____.

ruminating on your ideas

A(n) ____approach tests ideas and arguments to verify their correctness.

scientific

The statement, "Even our most popular European tours show no increase in enrollment, despite heavy promotion" is an example of the ____ part of a problem statement.

size and scope

On a decision tree, ____ represent decisions.

squares

A problem ____ is a clear, concise description of the problem and the effect you expect from the solution.

statement

When you are ____, you solve a problem in a methodical and organized manner.

systematic

Consensus decision making seeks a solution that most of the group can agree to while trying to resolve any concerns or objections of ____.

the minority

Malcolm Gladwell claims that spontaneous decisions can be better than those explored with scientific analysis and precision. He attributes this ability to an unconscious technique he calls "____": the ability to sense what is important from a very narrow period of experience.

thin-slicing

Experts are usually right, so you don't need to evaluate their arguments as you do arguments from others.

False

If a group develops a collective sense of invulnerability, it has a Dictator complex. _________________________

False

Please define the term "claim?" Can you measure the amount of truth in a claim? What is an example of a claim?

A claim is a statement that someone says or writes about a topic. The claim can be true or false. You can measure the amount of truth in a claim. An example of a claim would be that a co-worker claims the ice cream is on sale, you can refer to the sales sheet to determine if that claim is true.

A bar chart uses rectangular bars to display data values. The statement below that is true is: ____.

A longer bar means a greater value

What are adaptive techniques and when are they used?

Adaptive techniques consist of logic, intuition, and common sense. They are used instead of gathering data, analyzing it, and exploring alternatives systematically.

____ are popular alternatives to face-to-face communication.

All of the above

The level of monitoring, follow-up, and control varies by problem. Please briefly describe the three levels of monitoring covered in the chapter: close monitoring, regular monitoring, and occasional monitoring.

Close monitoring - Monitor your solution frequently, such as hourly or daily. Regular monitoring - Regularly check the status of your solution according to to a schedule. Occasional monitoring - Occasionally measure the status of your solution to look for unexpected problems.

Even if a claim is not relevant to the conclusion, you must consider the value of the argument.

False

____________________ is a powerful creativity tool you can use to generate ideas and alternatives.

Brainstorming

Briefly describe these two forms of divergent thinking: brainstorming and group mind mapping.

Brainstorming - When you consider a question, then generate as many ideas as possible usually in a short amount of time which you then record. Mind mapping - Uses simple graphics to generate, visualize, and organize creative ideas. A group member lists a main idea or problem at the center of a page, white board, or flip chart. Each member is invited to share reactions and ideas.

When reaching a final decision, what is the difference between a command style and a consultative approach?

Command style is whenever the final decisions are left up to a single person. It's the most efficient way to reach closure as there is only one decision maker. It is often unpopular with the other participants and leads to them being less committed to the outcome and may harbor negative feelings about the process. Consultative approach is similar to command style in that a leader still makes the final decisions. However, the process is more democratic because the leader actively seeks input and advice from the group before making the decision.

____ decision making seeks a solution that most of the group can agree to while trying to resolve any concerns or objections that the minority has.

Consensus

____ thinking techniques narrow the options to a manageable sets. The decisions and solutions that the group eventually makes will be based on these organized ideas.

Convergent

____________________ thinking techniques narrow the options to a manageable sets.

Convergent

Thought and thinking include reasoning, remembering, imagining, and reflecting, for example. ____________________ thinking generally requires more analysis, evaluation, discipline, and rigor.

Critical

Sometimes called a sensitivity analysis, a what-if analysis allows you to study how changing one or more values affects the results. Please briefly describe the following terms related to performing a what-if analysis: decision variables, constants, and output variables.

Decision variables - values that could change and affect the results. Constants - elements that are not likely to change much over time. Output variables - values in the results that could change if the decision variables change.

____________________ are choices you make when faced with a set of options or alternatives.

Decisions

____________________ reasoning typically takes an argument from general observations or premises to a specific conclusion.

Deductive

____________________ criteria are the variables that drive your decisions.

Evaluation

A cause is evidence of a change, such as a decrease in revenue. _________________________

False

A crowd-serving bias is anything that leads you to see the data as you most want it to appear. _________________________

False

A death flaw is some aspect of an idea that would make it unacceptable. _________________________

False

A decision cost sheet is a formal way of organizing an idea's costs and benefits. _________________________

False

A fishbone diagram is good for brainstorming, but does not show cause-and-effect.

False

A popular approach used to uncover and define problems is called 5 Whats. _________________________

False

A survey that uses a three-point or four-point scale is as equally effective as a survey that uses a five-point scale.

False

A(n) argument is a proposition or claim that you take for granted as though it were known to be valid. _________________________

False

A(n) premise is an invalid argument that is presented so that it appears valid. _________________________

False

After you identify a problem and explore its causes and related issues, it is time to develop a mashup. _________________________

False

An argument is valid if it logically follows the premises, even if one of the premises is false. It is considered a sound argument if its premises are also false. _________________________

False

Assumptions are the values or cell references that the function uses in its calculations. _________________________

False

Attacking the root cause of a problem is always the best approach.

False

Bar charts with vertical bars are called line charts.

False

Being flexible, adaptable, and open minded when working with others helps you avoid critical thinking.

False

Clientsourcing is a term coined by Jeff Howe in Wired magazine to characterize a way of using groups to solve problems. _________________________

False

Complicated problems are often solved by making a simple decision.

False

Convergent thinking describes thought processes or methods used to generate ideas. _________________________

False

Data sets cannot have more than one mode.

False

Deductive reasoning attempts to draw a broad conclusion from specific examples or premises. _________________________

False

Define a successful solution using subjective measures, if possible.

False

Early DSSs were small, proprietary, and inexpensive.

False

Like OpenOffice Calc, ____ is a free, open-source spreadsheet program that is part of the GNOME desktop for computers running the Linux operating system.

Gnumeric

____ is your knowledge of something without having to discover or learn it, and it is typically your first reaction to a problem or question.

Intuition

Briefly describe these three common problem-solving traps: positive outcome bias, the bandwagon effect, and a self-serving bias.

Positive outcome bias - Being overly optimistic about your decisions and answers to questions. The bandwagon effect - When working in a company with a strong set of cultural norms, it is easy to adopt popular opinions and follow the expectations of others, which is called the bandwagon effect. Self-serving bias - Anything that leads you to see the data as you most want it to appear.

News mashups use sources such as the New York Times or the BBC and syndication technologies such as ____ to provide personalized news summaries on your desktop.

RSS

Please describe the following two ways to overcome obstacles to critical thinking: 1) Be aware of your social conditioning and 2) Identify outliers.

Social conditioning encourages you to accept the beliefs, traditions, and values of your social group. To overcome this, challenge yourself to move beyond your social conditioning and consider other ways of thinking and interpreting. Outliers are past experiences with other people, places, and situations that are extremely good or bad. You should not let outliers motivate your decisions when it comes to critical thinking.

____ are people who, like problem owners, are also affected by the problem or whose involvement you need to resolve the matter.

Stakeholders

____________________ is achieved when two or more people work together to produce something greater than the sum of their individual efforts.

Synergy

Please describe the difference of solving a problem using a systematic approach versus an intuitive approach. In what type of situation is each method the most appropriate?

Systematic approach - Solving a problem in a methodical and organized manner. This method takes a reasoned and rational approach and is most appropriate for complicated problems, which most likely involve a lot of risk. Intuitive approach - Solving a problem by reacting immediately and instinctively. This method uses an common sense approach and is most appropriate for quick decisions.

A source can be a ____.

any of the above

Decision trees are made up of three primary elements: Uncertainties, Decisions, and Results. For each decision tree elements please indicate the shape that represents that element and a description of how that element is used in creating values for each option.

Uncertainties - Circle - 1. Multiply each outcome by it's probability. 2. Insert this value in the decision tree. 3. Repeat this for each uncertainty. Decisions - Square - 1. Estimate the costs associated with each option. 2. Subtract cost of the outcome value you calculated to find the benefit of that decision. 3. Repeat this for each decision. Results - Line - When you have calculated all of the decision benefits (value-cost), choose the option that has the largest benefit. This is the optimal decision.

Dalton is studying how to become a critical thinker. Please answer the questions below. Dalton also learns that being generally negative, scornful, and distrusting of other people is a sign of being ____.

cynical

Solutions to problems are ____ ideas.

abstract

In the final step of problem-solving group develops an implementation plan, also called a(n) ____ plan, to guide changes, product or service introductions, and complex projects.

action

Instead of gathering data, analyzing it, and exploring alternatives systematically, most ____________________ techniques involve a combination of intuition, logic, and common sense.

adaptive

The Latin expression post hoc, ergo propter hoc literally means "____, therefore because of this."

after this

A decision tree is a support tool that models decisions using a treelike diagram. Each branch of the tree represents an option and its ____.

all of the above

Before you solve a business problem, gather relevant data and then analyze it to find ____.

all of the above

Complex problems are those that ____.

all of the above

Darcy, an outside consultant, has agreed to solve the problem of low student test scores for a neighborhood school. Please answer the questions below. As she works on the solution, Darcy should communicate regularly with problem owners and stakeholders. It is suggested that she use ____ to create a log of your conversations, ideas, alternatives, and solutions.

all of the above

Instead of gathering data, analyzing it, and exploring alternatives systematically, most adaptive techniques involve ____.

all of the above

Kyle is evaluating solutions to fixing the leaky roof at the hockey rink he manages. Please answer the questions below. In order to evaluate the solutions, Kyle considered the ____.

all of the above

Mapping your ideas visually helps you ____.

all of the above

Topics to discuss with stakeholders include ____.

all of the above

Use critical thinking whenever you ____.

all of the above

To organize your ideas when thinking critically, you identify, construct, and evaluate ____, which are statements or explanations that support your ideas.

arguments

The ____________________ value of a set of data is usually referred to as the average.

arithmetic mean

Kyle is evaluating solutions to fixing the leaky roof at the hockey rink he manages. Please answer the questions below. Before narrowing the solutions down to three, Kyle generated ____.

as many ideas as he could

Darcy, an outside consultant, has agreed to solve the problem of low student test scores for a neighborhood school. Please answer the questions below. Since she is solving a problem for someone else, the first step Darcy should take is to ____.

ask for advice

If the potential risk is significant enough, you might need to take a different approach altogether, which is called risk ____.

avoidance

Decisions that cause change can upset or threaten others in the organization. To avoid this, build support for your solution ____.

before you put it into practice

An electronic book (e-book for short) is usually ____.

both a. and b.

Dalton is studying how to become a critical thinker. Please answer the questions below. Dalton learns that your ____ abilities can improve with practice.

both a. and b.

When working in a company with a strong set of cultural norms, it is easy to adopt popular opinions and follow the expectations of others, which is called the ____.

both a. and b.

With ____, the group considers a question, task, or project, and then generates as many ideas as possible, usually in a short period of time. Every idea is recorded, and no idea is disregarded, criticized, or analyzed.

brainstorming

A popular way to visualize a complex problem is by creating a ____ diagram.

cause-and-effect

A(n) ____________________ is a statement that someone says or writes about a topic.

claim

During the ____ phase of building a team, group members can complete tasks efficiently, work together on complex problems, and make shared decisions.

collaboration

If you are responsible for solving a problem, you do not have to work alone. Instead, take advantage of the ____________________ wisdom of your colleagues, which is the shared knowledge and experience a group of people can apply to a problem.

collective

____ approaches require more time for closure, but tend to have a higher level of commitment from the participants.

consensus-based

The ____ approach is similar to a command style in that a leader still makes the final decisions. However, the process is more democratic because the leader actively seeks input and advice from the group before making the decision.

consultative

Successful Web sites such as StumbleUpon (www.stumbleupon.com) and Digg (www.digg.com) use ____ by inviting their visitors to vote on recommended Web sites, articles, restaurants, photos, or videos, for example, by submitting links or reviews.

crowdsourcing

Kyle is evaluating solutions to fixing the leaky roof at the hockey rink he manages. Please answer the questions below. When criteria has differing importance levels, take the differences into account by assigning ____ to each option.

weights

Test your solution to make sure it is successful. Determine a ____ scenario and try to simulate it. However, avoid introducing hazards or additional problems.

worst-case