Exam 2 ( Quiz 5,6,7)
Which management skill would enable a manager to effectively identify a problem or opportunity, evaluate alternative courses of action, and select the most appropriate one?
A. Decision-making skills
What is the relationship between organizational structure and organization charts?
An organization chart clarifies organizational structure.
Due to a slump in the economy, a manufacturer of microwave ovens, gas and electric ranges, and outdoor grills has seen sales steadily decline. During the planning phase, which major operational category should be addressed first?
Capacity
In Stan's role as marketing manager, he is constantly considering new ways to promote his company's image and products. Which management skills is Stan using MOST for this purpose?
Conceptual skills
Which of the following tries to identify how the company will respond to unexpected change?
Contingency planning
Which of the management functions can serve as a basis for establishing financial rewards for employees?
Controlling
Which of the following has become increasingly important for companies because of the increase of violent acts in the workplace?
Crisis management
Which of the following would be an example of an informal group?
Employees at Hawkeye Products get together during the lunch break each Friday for a book club.
Top managers in an organization would likely be involved in which of the following functions?
Establishment of general policies and formulation of strategies
In his role with the company, Jason is often required to entertain diplomats and to attend ceremonies. Jason serves what management role in his company?
Figurehead
Jessica, the director of the local humane shelter, gives the keynote speech at a national conference on animal welfare. Which managerial role does this BEST describe?
Figurehead
Dielectric Communications builds antennas for TV stations. These antennae are often as large as several football fields laid back-to-back. Which type of layout would this company likely use?
Fixed position
DetroitLocal is a small jewelry making business. One of the goals of DetroitLocal is to teach skills to women in the local community, helping them to achieve independence. Most pieces are designed and made using local graffiti, by the woman creating the piece, allowing her to gain confidence and expression as a designer. The line is now carried in several small boutiques in the area, in addition to some larger chain stores. Galleries, boutiques, and chain stores often order less than 10 pieces at a time, and occasionally order a custom piece at the request of a customer. This small enterprise uses a production model that achieves the firm's larger business strategy in the most efficient way possible. What strategy for attracting customers is being used by DetroitLocal?
Flexibility
Magnetic Microprocessors, Inc. uses raw materials and the skill and effort of its employees, to produce goods and services for its customers. What is Magnetic Microprocessors creating?
Form utility
In a custom-product layout, people are grouped according to which of the following?
Function
Mary's department has had a great deal of turnover in the last few months, and her employees seem to be unhappy in their work. Mary needs to develop which of her management skills?
Human relations skills
Contingency plans accomplish which of the following?
Identify an organization's strategies for responding to change
Sizeable Solutions, Inc has become so large that management fears it will lose its ability to develop unique products. They have created a team that is encouraged to pursue products and markets that the many company policies and procedures have made impossible until now. Sizeable Solutions, Inc. is encouraging which of the following?
Intrapreneuring
Which of the following planning tools affects the costs of production, ease of transportation, and access to skilled workers?
Location planning
At a discount grocery store, customers may not find the best selection of goods, and the store may not always have adequate stock of items or have the most attractive displays, but its prices are the best in town. Based on this description, which business strategy does the company use for attracting customers?
Low price
At the Disney Store Personalization Shop, you choose the item you wish to buy, such as a t-shirt or tote bag, then personalize it with a Disney character, color, and name so that your product is truly one-of-a-kind. This BEST describes which production process?
Make-to-order operations
In her role as Director of Human Resources, Leslie reports to both the Vice President of Human Resources and the Vice President of the business unit that she supports. Which of the following form of organizational structure does Leslie's company follow?
Matrix
Sal Khan is the founder of Khan Academy, an international adaptive learning system that provides free education to anyone with Web access. If Sal Khan were to attach a label to the role of management, what would that label be?
Mentors
Ted is the production supervisor, and he is being challenged to have his group increase their output by 10% each month. This is an example of which of the following?
Operational plans
What is the special ability that a company does well to outperform the competition?
Operations capability
Which type of manager is responsible for production, inventory, and quality control?
Operations manager
Which of the following defines the way a company specifies the jobs that need to be done within the organization and the way those jobs relate to one another?
Organizational structure
Morgan is developing charts that show how the different jobs in her company relate to one another. Which function of management is Morgan addressing?
Organizing
Which of the following scheduling tools is a graphical illustration of a project's schedule, showing the sequence of tasks to be performed in completing the project?
PERT chart
Golfer's Paradise is the ultimate one-stop shop for golfers. The store has everything a person wants or needs to play golf dash such as golf clubs, shoes, bags, balls, and apparel dash under one roof. Which form of utility does this represent?
Place
Management of Superior Sales is developing their strategy for achieving the company's goals. Which managerial function is Superior Sales addressing?
Planning
You can go online now and order a MINI Cooper customized to your particular specifications based on a menu of options. It is then assembled and shipped to you from Europe. If you were part of the MINI layout planning team, which is the MOST LIKELY layout alternative?
Process
Your consulting client produces one product, the French calisson, a cookie made from a paste of ground almonds, candied melon, and orange peel on a thin layer of wafer, all covered with bright icing. The ten employees float as needed among a mixing department, a baking and icing department, and a packing and shipping department. The company has hired you to help formalize the organizational structure. Which would be the MOST LOGICAL way to departmentalize this company?
Process departmentalization
Which intrapreneurial role may have only limited technical understanding of the innovation, but is helpful in promoting the idea throughout the organization and gaining support?
Product champion
What is another term for operations?
Production
Julie is deciding how to best use the limited amount of chemicals currently available to get the most production for the short term. In which management role is Julie serving?
Resource allocator
The layout of a PERT chart uses arrows to show which of the following?
Sequence of activities
Julian works in the service sector as a manager for a local steakhouse. Julian's primary concern should be for which element of operations?
The human element
As you establish your new business, you want to capture, in a few short, clear sentences, the essence of your business's goals and the philosophies to provide high-level guidance to your entire organization. Your BEST choice would be to craft ____________.
a mission statement
As an entry-level employee in a large financial services firm, you notice that some of the other new employees are arriving to work late and leaving early. The BEST course of action would be to _____________.
discuss the issue with your first-line manager
A company that produces only textbooks is involved in ________.
goods operations
An assembly line is an example of _______.
goods operations
A movie theatre is considered a ________ operation.
high-contact
Karl, Lucas, and Stephanie always go out for happy hour after work. They are members of a(n) ________.
informal group
The management function that encompasses development of an organization's goals along with a strategy and tactics for achieving those goals is _______.
planning
In successful companies, operations must be designed to support the company's ________.
business strategy
Johanna is responsible for ensuring that she has adequate nursing coverage on all shifts in a large rehabilitation and healthcare center. This task would require that Johanna complete a _______.
staffing schedule
Fred often works side-by-side with the employees he supervises, in addition to creating reports and providing analysis for his manager. Which level of management is Fred's position?
First-line management
Julia owns a shop that makes wedding dresses for brides-to-be. Julia knows that each bride has a specific style and needs the dress to be exactly what she imagines, so Julia designs and produces every wedding gown individually. Which of the following BEST describes Julia's operations process?
Make-to-order
Contingency planning seeks to identify the important aspects of a business or its market that ________.
might change
As a consultant for the federal government tasked with coming up with education and business incentives to decrease unemployment, the BEST place to focus your efforts would be the ____________ sector.
service
In the United States, _______ generate more of the private-sector national income than any other sector.
services
The informal communication network within an organization is known as _______.
the grapevine
Magnum, Inc. has put together a "game plan" outlining which products need to be produced, and when, over the next several months. What has Magnum developed?
A master schedule
New construction requires the coordination of timing among numerous activities. Which type of schedule is BEST suited for this activity?
A project schedule
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is often used for which of the following?
A project schedule
Mayte has recently opened a small, highly specialized bakery, offering high-end desserts for small, private parties. Every item is made fresh the day of the event. She accepts commissions on a referral basis only. Mayte knows she must keep her business small to maintain exclusivity and high levels of customer satisfaction. Which of the following is the key reason why items must be made the day of the event?
Unstorability
Melissa works in the computer support industry. She is one of only 3 regular employees, so the company often hires temporary workers or outsources projects when the workload increases. Melissa is often seeking consultants with particular IT skills, and sometimes rents offices for the temporary employees and consultants to work in. Which form of organizational structure does this describe?
Virtual
Mallow Counseling provides counseling for adolescents and deals specifically with anxiety issues and eating disorders. This is an example of _______.
a service operation
On an average day, Elena's Ice Cream Delights can produce products for, and serve 300 customers. This is known as the store's ________.
capacity
Solid lines on an organizational chart denote _______________.
chain of command
In April 2017, passengers on United Express flight 3411 recorded security officials dragging a paying passenger from his seat. The video accounts went viral and the resulting global public relations disaster caused United Airlines stock to lose $1 billion in value. This loss in value may have been more limited if the company had done a better job at ____________.
crisis management
Randy's Carpet Company has been in the local community for more than 20 years. One of the things that makes Randy's so successful is the clear and consistent use of the science of management principles. Randy also recognizes that the art of management is equally as important in the service industry, and feels that the art of management is what keeps customers satisfied. How can Randy practice the art of management when at a customer site installing carpet?
A. Making decisions based on intuition, experience, instinct, and personal insights
As CEO of a major manufacturing company, you are tasked with designing a tactical plan with your operations manager. Your mission, and therefore your strategic plan, are based on providing high quality merchandise to boutique resellers. Which of the following strategies would be the BEST focus for the tactical plan?
A. Making sure operations personnel are experts on continuous improvement of product, work methods, and materials
The chief operating officer (COO) of a firm would be categorized as a _______ manager in the organization.
B. top
Which of the following terms refers to the reporting relationships within the company; i.e., who reports to whom?
Chain of command
_______ planning identifies alternative courses of action that an organization can utilize if its original plans do not achieve intended objectives.
Contingency
What is an important factor that differentiates services from physical goods?
Customers are often satisfied through the intangible value they receive with a service.
Don is leading a new venture for his company. He is being asked to determine in advance what to do if the anticipated goals are not reached in the first year. He must determine now at what point the company will wait and see what happens, invest more in marketing, or abandon the venture altogether. Don is developing which of the following?
D. Contingency plan
As you look to be promoted in your firm, you find that although you enjoy monitoring developments in your industry and sending out informational memos about new initiatives, you are uncomfortable negotiating agreements and resolving internal and external conflicts. In deciding upon a professional development plan, which category of management roles should you focus on?
Decisional
Tower Accounting has just moved their offices from the city center to the suburbs. The manager has noticed a sharp increase in the amount of information that is being spread among employees, and not all of the information is true. For example, there was much speculation among employees about the potential for lay-offs, when in fact, the firm was preparing to hire even more employees. The firm is also considering improving the benefits package offered to employees as well as other human resource policy changes. How can the human resource manager use the grapevine to his advantage before presenting these policy and benefit changes?
Determine who the key people in the grapevine are and use them to sound out employee reactions to the new ideas.
Companies such as 3M, that emphasize new product development in a constantly changing line of products, often use which strategy for attracting customers in their industries?
Flexibility
As part of the operations planning team, your boss has asked you to help find ways to reduce waste and inefficiency in the manufacturing process, so you observe the production floor carefully, identifying each step in the process and the specific methods for performing it. Which would be the BEST choice to communicate your findings?
Flowchart
A small real estate development firm has a sales manager with three employees, a two-person finance department that manages financial transactions, and five project managers, including the owner of the company, who hire subcontractors and oversee the actual building of the homes. What is the MOST LIKELY form of organizational structure?
Functional
As a project manager responsible for bringing a time-sensitive new product to market, your BEST choice for staying on track would be a _______.
Gantt chart
Which form of departmentalization divides organizations according to the areas of the country they serve?
Geographic
BassBoats, Inc. has grown from a small, innovative manufacturer to a multi-million-dollar firm in the last 20 years, but suffered a steady decline in sales over the past five years due to increased competition in the bass boat industry. Now, as the economy recovers, sales remain stagnant. Which critical organizational concept would you recommend that the leadership of the company focus on?
Intrapreneuring
What does an organizational structure reflect?
Jobs to be performed in the organization and the relationships among them
Decentralizing decision making is part of which managerial function?
Leading
Leading Technologies knows how important it is to provide superior quality and continuously improve its product. Company management believes the best way to do this is to upgrade the talent, skills, and knowledge of its employees. Leading Technologies employs which form of organizational structure?
Learning
Which type of manager implements the strategy for reaching corporate goals?
Middle management
___________ is a major factor in determining the BEST structure for an organization.
Mission
Your small soap manufacturing company with ten employees just produced a video that has gone viral, boosting orders by 1000 percent. Your current manufacturing process can't handle the volume. Which of the following possible management positions would be BEST to add immediately to your organization?
Operations manager
As a new member of the management team of a growing business, your boss, the CEO of the company, has asked you to help her clarify the current organizational structure. Which of the following tools would BEST suit this task?
Organization chart
Which of the following are the four basic functions of management?
Planning, organizing, leading, and controlling
A manufacturing company prides itself on the fact that all assembly is to specification, that its products have the highest reliability in the industry, and that its products are defect- and blemish-free when they leave the manufacturing floor. Based on this description, which business strategy does the company use for attracting customers?
Quality
An organizational analysis is a critical part of which of the following?
SWOT analysis
The leadership of an engineering firm is considering expanding its scope by developing a specialization in sink hole repairs. They have carefully considered the environmental opportunities and the skills of current engineers. They have also identified areas where they will need to provide additional training to the current workforce and studied other firms working in this area. What type of strategy formulation is the firm working on?
SWOT analysis
_______ plans are typically established by a firm's top management team and reflect long-term goals or initiatives of the organization in terms of resource allocation and company priorities.
Strategic
Pete heard from his coworker that the company might have to eliminate some jobs. Pete shared that information with his buddies in another department. Pete is participating in which of the following?
The grapevine
Companies such as UPS and FedEx that deliver packages to households and businesses often follow a(n) ________ strategy.
dependability
To monitor a firm's performance toward goal achievement, a manager should first __________.
establish performance standards
Employees at Hoosier Products are organized into departments according to their specialized skills and the tasks that they perform, such as production, marketing, human resources, IT, and accounting. This approach BEST describes a _______ structure.
functional
In an organization that uses _______ departmentalization, groups of employees are segregated based upon the tasks or activities they perform.
functional
"Decrease the time it takes to move product from the production line to the shipping area" is an example of a ______________
functional strategy
Accomplishments that a business intends and plans to achieve are referred to as _______.
goals
Strategic goals are derived from the _____________.
mission statement
After managing through a difficult recession, Elle has found that the organization is now more dynamic and rapidly growing. She is now hiring and taking on larger accounts and wants to give employees more control in day to day activities. What should Elle build in to her new organizational structure to prepare for these changes?
A structure that allows the company to respond quickly to changes in the environment
Julian works for Enormous Enterprises, a company that produces and sells many different products. In Julian's role as Vice President, he is responsible for all parts of the business associated with the company's computer-related products. Which of the following forms of organizational structure does Julian's company follow?
Divisional
An appliance manager has separate business units for microwave ovens, gas and electric ranges, and outdoor grills. Each of these business units markets and produces its own products. Which organizational structure would this reflect?
Divisional structure
Incredible Industries, Inc. has separated its manufacturing into three different departments based on the type of manufacturing required to produce the product. Which type of departmentalization is Incredible Industries using?
Process departmentalization
Setting general corporate policies is a function of which level of management?
Top management
