Test Prep - WGU - Principles of Management - C483
Sustained competitive advantage
Dr. Ohmae indicates that customer, corporation, and competitors should be integrated in a strategic triangle. What does Dr. Ohmae indicate that an organization can obtain by doing this? Time-based competition Sustained competitive advantage Coordination of mutual adjustment Decentralization of the organization
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
During a final job interview, the hiring manager asks candidates about age and national origin. Some of the rejected candidates suspect they did not get the job because of their age. Which law covers this type of discrimination? Fair Hiring of Employees Act (FHEA) Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employment Without Boundaries (EWB)
Barrier caused by word association
During an international executive meeting, an executive used a word that did not translate into English. What type of cross-cultural communication barrier is this? Barrier caused by semantics Barrier caused by tone differences Barrier caused by word association Barrier caused by differences among perceptions
job design
Following Herzberg's model, Hackman and Oldham proposed a more complete model of _____. empowerment expectancy reinforcement job design self-actualization
Virtual organization
Four small, independent organizations, each with its own type of expertise, plan to work together for six months for the sole purpose of developing a new product that will help each of them improve their ability to compete with larger organizations. Which type of organization does their relationship characterize? Matrix organization Virtual organization Functional organization Bureaucratic organization
Vertical integration
Happy Inc. is a leading provider of family entertainment and BCD is a broadcasting company with news, cable, and entertainment networks. Happy Inc. recently acquired BCD in hopes of boosting its primary business of family entertainment. Which type of corporate strategy is represented by Happy Inc.'s purchase of their distribution network? Choose 1 answer Vertical integration Strategic alliances Networking Horizontal benchmarking
negative valence
Harry has been promoted because of his hard work. Judy, his colleague, feels that it is unfair and that he does not deserve the promotion. In this case, Judy illustrates _____. low instrumentality negative valence high expectancy low valence negative instrumentality
intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.
Herzberg's two-factor theory highlights the distinction between: positive and negative reinforcement. valence and instrumentality. intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. job enlargement and job enrichment. socialized power and personalized power.
Less than 3.4
How many defects per million are there at Six Sigma, assuming a product or process is defect-free 99.99966% of the time? Choose 1 answer Less than 3.4 Less than 4.4 Less than 5.3 Less than 6.6
weakness.
In a SWOT analysis, the absence of reliable suppliers would be considered as a(n): strength. weakness. threat. weakness and a threat. opportunity.
creating a guiding coalition
In leading change in an organization, _____ refers to putting together a group with enough power to lead a change. empowering broad-based action consolidating gains communicating the change vision anchoring new approaches creating a guiding coalition
Provide a devil's advocate
What can managers do to encourage useful conflict during a meeting to lessen inhibition about disagreeing and make the conflict less personal? Evaluate leadership style Promote affective conflict Provide a devil's advocate Involve others in collaboration
Core competencies
What denotes skills or expertise in an activity that constitutes the roots of competitiveness in an organization? Choose 1 answer Strategic values Core competencies Products and services Opportunities and threats
Cooperativeness and assertiveness
What describes dimensions of conflict-handling intentions? Comparativity and associativity Collaboration and aggressiveness Competitiveness and acquiescence Cooperativeness and assertiveness
Intrapreneur
What designates those who take hands-on responsibility for creating innovation such as new ideas, products, or methods within an organization? Franchiser Pacesetter Intrapreneur Controller
Profit margins are increased.
What happens when an effective value chain is created? Choose 1 answer Profit margins are increased. A mission statement is developed. Customized products are standardized. Total quality management is not required.
Building awareness
What is a common component of effective diversity training programs? Building awareness Revealing concerns Completing a skills inventory Identifying informal networks
To make information available as needed
What is a reason to create a boundaryless organizational structure? Choose 1 answer To differentiate position titles To allow for the delegation of tasks To limit the amount of collaboration To make information available as needed
Collaboration
What is the best way to succeed in a matrix organizational structure? Choose 1 answer Collaboration Unity of command Top-down communication Centralized decision making
Developing a strategic mission
What is the first step of organizational strategic planning? Choose 1 answer Developing operational goals Developing internal strengths Developing a strategic mission Developing external opportunities
Taking corrective action
What is the fourth step of the control process which ensures that operations are adjusted to achieve planned results? Choose 1 answer Measuring performance Taking corrective action Setting performance standards Comparing performance against standards
To take action to accomplish the transformation
What is the last step to Deming's 14 points of quality management? To cease dependence on mass inspection To break down barriers among departments To evaluate options provided by management To take action to accomplish the transformation
To measure effectiveness of an organization's quality management system
What is the main objective of an internal quality audit? To gauge the quality of human resources To assess the quality of control process failures To determine the quality of an organization's executive management To measure effectiveness of an organization's quality management system
To revolutionize key organizational systems and processes
What is the principal idea of reengineering? Choose 1 answer To analyze system failures To focus on creating two-way exchanges with customers To revolutionize key organizational systems and processes To improve total quality in all businesses for the benefit of producers and consumers
Differentiation and integration
When selecting an organizational structure, which key elements should be considered? Choose 1 answer Economics and ethics Diversity and dynamics Differentiation and integration Job specification and segmentation
Encourage employees to work on informal job assignments
Which activity should management use to encourage intrapreneurship within an organization? Allow employees to form a union Motivate employees by giving extra time off Provide employees extra training opportunities Encourage employees to work on informal job assignments
Customer relationship management
Which concept entails all aspects of interaction a company has with its customers in both sales and service-related environments? Customer connection society Customer liaison administration Customer association organization Customer relationship management
strategic control
A _____ system is a component of the strategic management process designed to support managers in evaluating the organization's progress with its strategy and, when discrepancies exist, taking corrective action. strategic support strategic control dynamic network span of control strategic integration
Six Sigma
A company is trying to systematically improve processes by eliminating nonconformity of their products to product specifications. The company believes their continuous effort to reduce variation in their process outputs is key to their business success. Which quality process is the company utilizing? ISO 9000 Six Sigma Reengineering Continuous processing
Differentiation
A company offers unique products in its industry to create a competitive advantage. Which type of strategy is the company using? Valorization Differentiation Customization Standardization
Restructuring the organization
A corporation is experiencing dysfunction in their work teams. The team leader plans to realign work groups based on employees' work locations, and also to alter rules and regulations in the groups and make additional changes to "shake things up a bit." Which conflict-stimulation technique is the team leader applying? Avoidance Communication Knowledge management Restructuring the organization
Negotiation and reward
A corporation offers concrete incentives such as higher wages for cooperation with change. Which strategy is the corporation using to overcome resistance to change? Choose 1 answer Facilitation and support Negotiation and reward Participation and involvement Education and communication
Peer pressure
A corporation recently disbanded its flex time schedule for employees and now requires that all employees work 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The employees banded together in opposition of the change. What were the employees of the corporation experiencing? Apathy Timing Peer pressure Abilene paradox
Strategic vision
A local business has provided services to its customers for 40 years. The business's mission is "To give our customers the best service in town." The owner of the business has had a long-standing dream to franchise the business and become the best provider of its service in the United States. What describes the owner's dream? Choose 1 answer Strategic vision Strategic mission Strategic planning Strategic management
equity
A person can restore _____ in a number of ways by behaviorally or perceptually changing inputs and outcomes. power autonomy valence loyalty equity
a set of perceptions of what employees owe their employers, and what their employers owe them.
A psychological contract is described as: a set of perceptions of what employees owe their employers, and what their employers owe them. an agreement implying fair treatment of employees without any discrimination in terms of race or gender. a set of conditions of non-disclosure signed by an employee on joining the organization. a set of conditions to ensure the fairness of decisions made by employers. the legal concept that an employee may be terminated for any reason.
Integrity test
A store that has had a high rate of employee theft wants to use an employee selection technique to hire new employees who are less likely to steal from them. Which type of employee selection instrument is most appropriate in this situation? Choose 1 answer Validity test Integrity test Reliability test Personality test
Expansion of resources
A supervisor assigned office space to three new employees. The employees were upset by the offices they were given. The first had a large office but wanted a window, the second had a new computer but wanted room for some plants, and the third had a window but needed high-speed computing to perform the job well. Which conflict resolution technique can the supervisor use to create a win-win solution for these employees? Problem solving Authoritative command Expansion of resources Altering the human variables
Delivery of products or services
A value chain is the sequence of activities that begins with raw materials. What result does a value chain end with? Choose 1 answer Supply and demand Operations and logistics Outsourcing or insourcing Delivery of products or services
The company will purchase a large computer screen and a Braille keyboard
A visually-impaired person has been hired to work in the human resources department of a small company. Which workplace accommodations would be reasonable in this situation? The company will provide an interpreter for all face-to-face interviews. The company will purchase a large computer screen and a Braille keyboard. The company will hire a person to read all documents for the visually-impaired person. The company will purchase a Braille reader and convert company documents to Braille.
Personal variables
A younger employee becomes irritated by the sound of an older employee's voice and finds it difficult to work on projects with the older employee. This has caused conflict in the department. What is the source of conflict between the older and younger employees? Choose 1 answer Structure Differing values Communication Personal variables
strategy map
A(n) _____ illustrates the four key drivers of a firm's long-term success, and shows how goals in each area are linked to others. strategy map objective script GANTT chart PERT chart decision tree
Physiological
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following needs would one seek to satisfy first? Self-actualization Physiological Social Safety Ego
affiliation
According to McClelland's needs theory, the need for _____ involves a strong desire to be liked by other people. socialized power achievement personalized power affiliation association
Suppliers can reduce manufacturing time and increase product quality.
According to Michael Porter's competitive environment model, how can suppliers influence strategic planning? Suppliers can reduce the threat from substitute products. Suppliers can reduce the numbers of new entrants in the market. Suppliers can reduce manufacturing time and increase product quality. Suppliers can reduce technological, demographic, and legal threats in the environment.
culture
According to a study, the four key factors that lead to sustained, superior performance of companies include strategy, execution, structure, and _____. motivation capital change culture knowledge
instrumentality
According to the expectancy theory, _____ is the link between performance and outcome. expectancy reinforcement equity instrumentality relatedness
By organizing staffing needs and looking for people with the right skills
After a major budget increase, a company finds itself in a position to hire 50 new employees. How can strategic human resource planning benefit the company in this situation? Choose 1 answer By providing annual reviews of staff performances By coordinating companywide continuing education By initiating termination interviews to release unproductive employees By organizing staffing needs and looking for people with the right skills
existence
Alderfer's ERG theory postulates that people have three basic sets of needs: _____, relatedness, and growth, which can operate simultaneously. ego effectiveness expectancy effort existence
those of another company.
Benchmarking is the process of assessing how well one company's basic functions and skills compare with: customer expectations. supplier and distributor requirements. those of another company. government standards. stockholder demands.
people are resisting because of adjustment problems.
In managing resistance to organizational changes, facilitation and support method is most likely to be used when: the initiators do not have all the information they need to design the change. people are resisting because of adjustment problems. the group has considerable power to resist. there is a lack of information or inaccurate information and analysis. speed is essential, and the change initiators possess considerable power.
Independence and discretion in making decisions
In the five dimensions of Hackman and Oldham's model of job design, what does autonomy describe? Choose 1 answer Information about job performance Independence and discretion in making decisions Important and positive impact on the lives of others Different job activities involving several skills and talents
A publicly-held company has a policy limiting financial donations to one religious group.
In which situation does religious preference inappropriately affect decision making? A publicly-held company has a policy limiting financial donations to one religious group. Management approves a religious endorsement that makes claims the company supports. A member of a particular religion starts a business that benefits members of the religion in the area. Management provides two religious holidays per year for every employee regardless of religious affiliation.
Analysis of external opportunities and threats
Industry and market analysis, competitor analysis, and social analysis are examples of which step in the strategic planning process? Analysis of mission, vision, and goals Analysis of management implementation Analysis of external opportunities and threats Analysis of internal strengths and weaknesses
high growth need strength.
Job enrichment would be more successful for people with: positive instrumentality. negative instrumentality. low valence. low growth need strength. high growth need strength.
instrumentality
Key beliefs in the expectancy theory include expectancy and _____. inputs relatedness outcomes affiliation instrumentality
Creativity, self-reliance, and ability to adapt
Most successful entrepreneurs exhibit certain characteristics. Some entrepreneurs are open-minded, able to learn quickly, and skilled at conceptualizing. Which entrepreneurial personality trait is this? Choose 1 answer Opportunity obsession Competitive intelligence Creativity, self-reliance, and ability to adapt Tolerance of risk, ambiguity, and uncertainty
intrinsic rewards.
Motivation for employees can come from an interesting project, a completed sale, or the discovery of a perfect solution, all of which are examples of: extrinsic rewards. negative reinforcers. positive reinforcers. hygiene factors. intrinsic rewards.
Divisional
One manager is responsible for all functional areas allowing the company to sell Product A, and another manager is responsible for all functional areas that allow the company to sell Product B. Which type of design does this corporation use? Choose 1 answer Virtual Network Divisional Horizontal
Quality Assurance
Process checklists and project audits are components of which management process? Choose 1 answer Quality Control Quality Assurance Quality Cooperative Quality Collaboration
unfreezing
Realizing that current practices are inappropriate and that new behavior must be enacted is a required stage for managing resistance called ____. moving unfreezing storming norming stabilizing
Strengths
Skilled management, positive cash flow, and well-known brands are examples of which component of the SWOT analysis? Threats Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities
organization development interventions.
Strategic, technostructural, human resources management, and human process are types of: total quality management systems. organization behavior modification approaches. organization development interventions. affirmative action programs. awareness building techniques.
stretch
Targets that are particularly demanding and sometime even thought to be impossible are known as _____ goals. affiliate extrinsic stretch intrinsic strategic
refreezing
The final step in managing resistance involves strengthening new behaviors that support a change and is referred to as ____. refreezing moving enforcing solidifying stabilizing
people have conscious goals that energize them and direct their thoughts and behaviors toward a particular end.
The goal-setting theory states that: people will behave based on their perceived likelihood that performance will be followed by a particular outcome. people have conscious goals that energize them and direct their thoughts and behaviors toward a particular end. behavior that is followed by positive consequences will likely be repeated. people assess how fairly they have been treated according to two key factors, outcomes, and inputs. people will behave based on their perceived likelihood that their effort will enable them to attain their performance goals.
Six Sigma
The introduction of statistical tools to analyze the causes of product defects is associated with which quality improvement approach? Six Sigma Flexible Process Customer Process Quality Customization
Negotiation and reward
The manager of the human resources department at a corporation agreed to authorize one-hour lunch breaks for all employees of the organization as long as the production manager agreed to shorten the morning and afternoon breaks of all employees to 15 minutes. Which approach were the managers using to enlist cooperation for the change? Facilitation and support Negotiation and reward Participation and involvement Education and communication
decision-making
The planning process is similar to the _____ process in that both have a series of steps that are typically repeated in a cycle. decision-making tactical alignment goal-setting environmental analysis strategy-mapping
differentiation
The strategy an organization uses to build competitive advantage by being unique in its industry or market segment along one or more dimensions is known as a(n) _____ strategy. concentration low-cost functional differentiation integrated
organizational behavior modification.
The use of reinforcement or punishment in organizational settings is an integral part of: organizational behavior modification. management by objectives. employee empowerment programs. organizational change management. quality of work life programs.
use the best and latest knowledge and ideas.
To be world class, an organization should: solely focus on beating the competition. strive for a controlled improvement. be driven by business-as-usual goals. use the best and latest knowledge and ideas. continue to use the methods, systems, and cultures of the past.
a sense of complacency.
Too much happy talk from senior management, an absence of a major crisis, many visible resources, and low overall performance standards often lead to: anchoring new approaches. generating long-term wins. a sense of urgency. a sense of complacency. consolidating gains and producing more change.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Which entities protect the rights of employees and potential employees from discrimination in the workplace? Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action National Labor Relations and Labor Management Relations Fair Labor Standards and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure and Labor Management Relations
Organic
Which formal structure allows job holders to have broad responsibilities, accommodates decentralized and informal decision making, and values expertise? Modern Flexible Organic Mechanistic
It refers to withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence.
Which of the following best describes extinction? It involves the aggressive manipulation and exploitation of others. It involves removing or withholding an undesirable consequence. It refers to administering an aversive consequence. It refers to withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence. It is the perceived outlook that performance may be followed by a negative outcome.
Forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts
Which of the following best describes motivation? Forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts A consequence of a person's performance Withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence The perceived likelihood that performance will be followed by a particular outcome A person's work efforts that lead to some level of performance
Unfreezing, moving to institute the change, and refreezing
Which of the following best indicates the three basic stages of managing resistance and motivating change within an organization? Determining the need for change, mobilizing, and locking Determining new values, evaluating, and performing Planning, implementing the change, and evaluating Unfreezing, moving to institute the change, and refreezing Mobilizing, implementing the change, and evaluating
Self-interest
Which of the following change-specific reasons for resistance is likely to occur when people think a change will cause them to lose something of value? Surprise Misunderstanding Different assessments Self-interest Management tactics
Force-field analysis
Which of the following helps managers to manage the change process by investigating specific factors that prevent people from changing and those that drive people toward change? Force-field analysis Situational analysis Six-sigma analysis Trend analysis SWOT analysis
Misunderstanding
Which of the following is a change-specific reason for resistance to change? Timing Peer pressure Inertia Surprise Misunderstanding
Reactive change involves responding to a problem, whereas proactive change involves preparing for an uncertain future.
Which of the following is a difference between reactive and proactive changes? Proactive change implies being a follower, whereas reactive change implies being a leader. Proactive change is initiated after a performance gap has occurred, whereas reactive change takes place before a performance gap has occurred. Reactive change involves responding to a problem, whereas proactive change involves preparing for an uncertain future. Reactive change is often more effective than proactive change. Reactive change focuses on long-term goals, whereas proactive change focuses on short-term goals.
SWOT analysis
Which of the following is one among the six components of the strategic management process? Skill improvement plan Stockholder reporting Technology assessment Stakeholder analysis SWOT analysis
Fair compensation
Which of the following is one of the eight categories of quality of work life programs? Profit sharing On-site wellness center Fair compensation Family medical leave of absence Sales incentives
People at all levels of their organizations, from entry-level to executives, resist change.
Which of the following is true about resistance to change? All employees of an organization often tend to show the same level of resistance to change. Change-specific reasons for resistance to change include peer pressure, surprise, and timing. People at all levels of their organizations, from entry-level to executives, resist change. General reasons for resistance to change include self-interest, misunderstanding, and management tactics. Usually managers tend to overestimate the amount of resistance they will encounter.
It occurs when people not only support a change but also help implement it.
Which of the following is true of shared leadership in change efforts? It often escalates with growth of the company and over time. It occurs when people not only support a change but also help implement it. The traditional corporate structure is ideal for creating it. It is improved when organizations maintain rigid, bureaucratic environments. It is rare in start-ups and very small organizations.
Education and communication
Which of the following methods for managing resistance to change is most likely to work best when there is a lack of information or inaccurate information and analysis about the change? Facilitation and support Negotiation and awards Education and communication Explicit and implicit coercion Manipulation and cooptation
Negotiation and rewards
Which of the following methods for managing resistance to change is relatively easy but has a drawback of being too expensive in many cases? Education and communication Negotiation and rewards Explicit and implicit coercion Participation and involvement Manipulation and cooptation
Organization development
Which of the following refers to a systemwide application of behavioral science knowledge to improve and reinforce the strategies, structures, and processes that lead to organization effectiveness? Organizational refreezing Organization positioning Organization development Organizational orientation Organizational integration
Moving
Which of the following steps of motivating people to change begins with establishing a vision of where the company is heading? Unfreezing Leading Moving Refreezing Freezing
Strategy implementation
Which of the following takes place after a firm formulates its strategy? Analysis of external opportunities and threats SWOT analysis Analysis of internal strengths and weaknesses Strategy implementation Establishment of mission, vision, and goals
Determination
Which personality characteristics are believed to contribute to an entrepreneur's success? Risk aversion Determination Status quo obsession Motivation to delegate
Market control
Which type of control system is being implemented when management uses prices, profit centers, and exchange relationships as a control? Choose 1 answer Clan control Market control Dynamic control Bureaucratic control
People respond based on their interpretation of others' intentions.
Why is consideration of intentions important in conflict situations? People tend to think before they act in some situations. People have habitual patterns of response to conflict situations. Selfish intentions of people often leads to poor decision making. People respond based on their interpretation of others' intentions.
Creates unique and different products or services
Why is innovation an important element of entrepreneurship? Allows the company to meet industry benchmarks Creates unique and different products or services Reduces marketing costs for the company Buffers the impact of changes in the legal environment
To maintain control
Why would an entrepreneurial business choose to use its own resources versus seeking outside resources in financing a business venture? To go public To spread the risk To maintain control To fuel large growth
Contingency plans
_____ include sets of actions to be taken when a company's initial plans have not worked well or if events in the external environment require a sudden change. Differentiation strategies Business incubators Functional plans Strategic maps Contingency plans
Individual
_____ performance goals can be dysfunctional when people work in a group if the goals create competition among team members. Team Fixed Socialized Individual Integrated
Planning
_____ provides individuals and work units with a clear map to follow in future activities. A BCG matrix Staffing A mission statement Planning Charting
positive
achel has been exceeding her targets for the past two months, and therefore her boss decided to give her a bonus. This is an example of _____ reinforcement. positive authoritative negative affiliative cognitive
