Management 301 Practice Exam 2
6. Which of the following selection techniques is the least useful predictor of how a candidate will do in a particular job?
Written tests
33. Katherine Connor started her day with a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. However, something about the day makes her feel low. When she reaches the office, she feels upset and distracted from work although she cannot pinpoint a reason for feeling this way. She continues to feel upset and distracted through the rest of the day. Which of the following is she most likely to be experiencing?
a mood
24. Which of the following defines a cross-functional team?
a work group composed of employees from different departments to work together on problem solving
Which of the following defines a cross-functional team?
a work group composed of employees from different departments to work together on problem solving
10. A hiring and training program intended to correct past inequalities for certain categories of people based on gender, race and ethnicity, age, or religion is known as a(n) ________.
affirmative action program
37. Which of the following is a potential cognitive consequence of diversity within groups?
amount and quality of new ideas
Accountability
as manager delegates responsibility, subs are held accountable for achieving results--> manager has right to expect them to perform job and right to take corrective action if they fail to do so
Delegation
assignment of authority and responsibility to a subordinate at lower level -most fundamental feature of management and can occur between any 2 individuals in any type of structure -when delegating --> authority, responsibility, accountability
A group of employees who work for an office supply company meets with their supervisor on the first Friday of every month to review their advertising programs and promotional activities. This group is an example of a(n) ________.
command group-
29. ABC Enterprises plans to assign the duty of reviewing its quarterly budget to six of its employees. These employees will be members of a ________.
committee
ABC Enterprises plans to assign the duty of reviewing its quarterly budget to six of its employees. These employees will be members of a ________.
committee
The ______ leadership theory proposes that universally important traits and behaviors do not exist, and that effective leadership behavior varies from circumstance to circumstance.
contingency
Organization Chart
depicts the positions in the firm and the way they are arranged -shows reporting structure and various activities carried out by different individuals
Integration
differentiated units are put back together so that works is coordinated into an overall product
According to equity theory, if the ratio of an employee's outcomes to his/her inputs is equal to the ratio of another employee's outcomes to inputs then the employee is motivated to ________.
do nothing
Whether a candidate has high emotional intelligence would be a significant factor when considering a candidate for the job of a(n) ________.
event planner who needs to coordinate with several people
Trend in US recently is to reduce number of hierarchical layers because..
fewer layers create a more efficient, fast-acting, and cost-effective org -same w subunits of major corps
19. One of the major weaknesses of the ________ structure is that it often inhibits coordination and communication among different regions.
geographic
One of the major weaknesses of the ________ structure is that it often inhibits coordination and communication among different regions.
geographic
According to Frederick Herzberg's 2-Factor Theory of Motivation, when an employee has no dissatisfaction then ______
hygiene factors are present
7. N&S. Though she has the requisite qualifications in terms of experience and process knowledge, her team told her supervisors that Alison's management style is abrasive and authoritarian. Which of the following sets of skills does Alison need to improve?
interpersonal skills
8. The practice of moving individuals to various types of jobs within the organization at the same level or next-immediate-higher level for periods of time from an hour or two to as long as a year is known as ________.
job rotation
The practice of moving individuals to various types of jobs within the organization at the same level or next-immediate-higher level for periods of time from an hour or two to as long as a year is known as ________.
job rotation
21. A(n) ________ is a statement that describes the skills, experience, and education that a candidate should have to perform the job.
job specification
34. Rachel Hartley is a former top management graduate student who now works as a project manager at a retail firm. However, in spite of her strong educational background, she often finds it difficult to manage her team efficiently. She is not able to understand her team's emotions when they feel frustrated with a work challenge or when they need appreciation for a job well done. Which of the following does Hartley suffer from?
low emotional intelligence
Fred Schulten is a hardworking employee at Brownsville Savings Bank who has never been complimented or rewarded by his boss for doing his work well. As a result, Fred never expects his good work to be recognized. According to the expectancy theory, Fred's lack of expectation of being rewarded reveals ______:
low instrumentality
40. Companies that advocate unity of command would be least likely to adopt which organizational structure?
matrix
Decentralized Org
more decisions made at lower levels, made at level of ppl who are most directly affected and have most intimate knowledge about the problem -important when business environment is fast-changing and require quick decisions
18. Japanese companies accomplish much success in their employees being committed to organizational decisions and strategies through a process of informal consultation, communication, and persuasion to convince them about the merits of the strategies long before the actual implementation begins. This process is referred to as ________.
nemawasi
CEO
occupies top of organization board
Lowest level management
office managers, sales managers, supervisors, first-line managers and employees --> operational level
Differentiation
organization is composed of many units that work on different kinds of tasks, using diff skills and work methods -is HIGH when org has many subunits and many kinds of specialists who think differently, usually in complex, dynamic environments
Following the completion of a difficult assignment, Pamela's supervisor told her that he was very pleased with her performance and her help in completing the project. The praise Pamela received is an example of _______ reinforcement.
positive
Coordination
procedures that link various parts of org to achieve the orgs overall mission -related to integration
A manager in the promotion department of a record company would find it most difficult to use ________ for coordination and integration to implement concert cancellations due to weather, travel problems for the band, or any number of other unpredictable factors.
rules
15. The ________ specifies the number of employees reporting to a given supervisor.
span of control
Differences between staff and line managers
staff: experts in particular functional area, focus on requirements and procedures, protect org from risk line: know orgs industry, eager to pursue new products and customers which staff managers might stifle, more willing to take risks for sake of growth
16. A ________ is one that has multiple layers with significant vertical differentiation.
tall organization structure
Enrique is a manager who is known in his company for following the rules and demanding accurate, quality work from his employees. Enrique is a(n) ____ leader.
task-oriented
A small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable is referred to as a ____.
team
Forming
the first stage of team development, in which team members meet each other, form initial impressions, and begin to establish team norms
Performing
the fourth and final stage of team development, in which performance improves because the team has matured into an effective, fully functioning team
Storming
the second stage of development, characterized by conflict and disagreement, in which team members disagree over what the team should do and how it should do it
Norming
the third stage of team development, in which team members begin to settle into their roles, group cohesion grows, and positive team norms develop
adams equity
theory proposes that people always compare their performance output with the outputs of their co-workers doing the same job. All else being equal, they expect to receive the same amount of compensation as their co-worker. Otherwise they will be dissatisfied and either complain or quit.
Parts of differentiation
-Division of labor: work in org is subdivided into smaller tasks, various individuals and units thru out org perform dif tasks -Specialization: diff ppl perform specific parts of larger tasks --> w/o differentiation, complexity of overall work of org = too much for any individual
Pros of Functional Departmentalization
-Economies of scale can be realized because ppl w similar skills are grouped--> ,more efficient equipment purchased, discounts for large purchases can be used -people have greater opp for specialized training and in-depth skill development -performance standard = better maintained as ppl w similar training and interests may develop a shared concern for performance -tech specialists = relatively free of administrative work -Monitoring of environment is more effective as each functional group more closely attuned to developments in own field -decision making and lines of communication are simple and clearly understood
Advantages of Delegation
-Managers can accomplish much more than had they done it on their own (effectiveness) -Saves time--> can devote enrgy to important, higher-level activities -develops effective subordinates -boosts morale -org receives payoffs,
Cons of Functional Departmentalization
-PPl may care more about their own function than about company as whole--> lose focus on actual product quality and customer satisfaction -managers do not acquire knowledge of other areas of business, specialists but not generalists --> OVERALL can lead to lack of total quality, customer service, innovation and speed as they are highly differentiated and create barriers to coordination across functions --> THEREFORE, functional dep. = most appropriate in simple, stable environments--> not for growing businesses and changing business environments
Functional Departmentalization
-common in both big and small orgs -ex: CEO and then 6 branches off of it of dff departments
Pros of Hierarchy
-provides management career paths that help organizations retain and develop ambitious ppl -w little hierarchy, employees so no chance of promotion, may leave to find better opportunities
Steps in effective delegation
1. Define goal succinctly: clear understanding of outcome manager wants 2. select person for task 3. solicit subordinates views about suggest approaches 4. give subordinate authority, time, and resources (ppl, $, equipment) to perform assignment 5. schedule checkpoints for progress 6. follow through by discussing progress at appropriate intervals
Wide managerial span of control is preferable depending on 6 factors
1. Nature of the work: use wide span of control when work = clearly defined, unambiguous 2. subordinates position: subs=highly trained, have access to info 3. managers capabilities: managers = capable, supportive of subordinates 4. subordinates supervisory preferences: subs prefer autonomy and independence 5. comparability of subordinates jobs: subs have sim jobs 6. organizational size: org is small
Responsibility
A person is assigned a task that they are supposed to carry out -very common for ppl to have more responsibility than authority--> must perform best as possible thru informal influence tactics than relying purely on authority
4. Which of the following is a method of generating job candidates from outside an organization?
Advertising
Departmentalization
As tasks of organizations become increasingly complex, org must be subdivided (departmentalized) into smaller units or departments -line departments: responsibility for principal activities of firm, deal directly w org's primary goods and services: make things, sell things, or provide customer service. Line managers = make major operating decisions, accountable for bottom-line results -staff departments: provide specialized/professional skills that SUPPORT line departments, include research, legal, accounting, PR, HR departments
Board of Advisers
Board of directors who owners/managers of small businesses in need of expertise -hold owners accountable for goals and performance
9. ________ may use selection criteria regarded as discriminatory, but do not constitute employment discrimination because they have a direct and material impact on job performance and outcomes
Bona fide occupational qualifications
Top Management Team
CEOs often share their authority w other key members of top management team or C-suite --> CEO, prez, COO, CFO--> make decisions as a unit
39. Carrie recently received the Employee of the Year award at the call center where she works as a customer service representative. She was chosen for the award because she is known to be highly courteous toward even the most difficult of callers and is efficient at handling their queries. A month after receiving the award, Carrie submits her resignation. According to her exit interview, she felt burnt out. Which of the following best explains this situation?
Carrie felt the strain of having to constantly fake positive emotions towards her customers
31. ________ is defined as the process of transferring information, meaning, and understanding from sender to receiver.
Communication
Top Level Management
Corporate governance =Key responsibility prez, VPs--> oversight of firm by its executive staff and board of directors
17. In which of the following organizations is decision-making authority pushed down to its lowest possible level?
Decentralized organizations
22. The ________ never allows decision-making participants to meet face-to-face.
Delphi technique
Board of Directors
Elected by stockholders to oversee organization and make major decisions affecting the organization 1.selecting, assessing, rewarding, and replacing CEO 2. determining firms' strategic direction and reviewing financial performance 3. ensuring ethical, socially responsible, and legal conduct
28. Which of the following is an observable attribute of diversity?
Ethnicity
If this practice exam had lots of questions that were not covered in your text and lectures, and all your studying of these materials did not result in a good score, your motivation to study hard for the actual exam on Tuesday would be low. Which process theory would best explain your decrease in motivation?
Expectancy Theory
27. A manager has to resolve a serious disagreement between two of her sales staff, one of whom accuses the other of "stealing" his clients. ________ would be the best way for the manager to expedite the resolution of this dispute.
Face to face meetings
30. Amy has put together a team of eight employees to conduct a review of the company's safety practices. This function is new to most group members and nearly all of them have come up to Amy personally to clarify their doubts about how the group will function and what their responsibilities will be. What stage of group development is Amy's team in?
Forming
Amy has put together a team of eight employees to conduct a review of the company's safety practices. This function is new to most group members and nearly all of them have come up to Amy personally to clarify their doubts about how the group will function and what their responsibilities will be. What stage of group development is Amy's team in?
Forming
Departmentalization Approaches
Functional, divisional, matrix
Centralized Org
Important decisions are made at the top -delegation of responsibility and authority decentralizes decision making
13. ________ is the extent to which various parts of organizations cooperate and interact.
Integration
________ is the extent to which various parts of organizations cooperate and interact.
Integration
23. Which of the following statements is true about brainstorming?
It is a frequently used mechanism to provide a maximum number of ideas in a short period of time.
5. Which of the following is the best definition of a valid selection technique?
It is a screening process that differentiates those who would be successful in a job from those who would not.
36. Robert Springer woke up in the morning and felt a sense of joy and peace as he got ready for work. At work, though challenges came his way, he tackled them without getting stressed about them. This feeling lasted for several days that week. What is one of the reasons that Springer's feeling can be categorized as a mood and not as an emotion?
It is prolonged in nature.
25. Which of the following is a feature of active listening?
Listeners should focus on the message rather than style of delivery.
Middle Management
Managers in charge of plants/departments
To begin motivating an apathetic associate, a manager informally questions her about her satisfaction with her job's ability to provide safety, social interaction, self-respect, and opportunities for growth and self-actualization. What theory of motivation is this manager most likely trying to apply in working with the associate?
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Span of Control
Number of subordinates who report directly to an executive or supervisor -narrow span = tall org w many reporting levels -wide spans = flat org with fewer reporting levels
Optimal span of control
Optimal span of control maximizes effectiveness because its narrow enough to permit managers to maintain control over subordinates BUT not so narrow that it leads to over-control and excessive # of managers who oversee small # of subordinates -Optimal # of subordinates = 5
12. ________ is the sum of the ways an organization divides its labor into distinct tasks and then coordinates them.
Organizational structure
20. ________ is the practice of taking a significant activity within the organization and contracting that activity out to an independent party.
Outsourcing
1. The ________ principle or effect suggests an enhanced performance by the subordinates of whom supervisors expect more, and diminished performance from subordinated of whom supervisors expect less.
Pygmalion
2. Which of the following is an example of personal power?
Referent Power
14. A manager in the promotion department of a record company would find it most difficult to use ________ for coordination and integration to implement concert cancellations due to weather, travel problems for the band, or any number of other unpredictable factors.
Rules
The ________ principle or effect suggests that there is a clear and unbroken chain that links employees in the corporate hierarchy from the lowest level employee all the way to the CEO, and that communication must go through the each and every link in the chain otherwise problems may arise.
Scalar
32. Which of the following is a potential cause of task and process conflicts?
Scarcity of resources to accomplish the group's goals.
35. Which of the statements is true of cultural barriers to communication?
The intended meaning of a message is more likely to be transferred if the sender and receiver share the same culture.
Authority
The legitimate right to make decisions and tell other ppl what to do -traditionally resides in positions rather than ppl -Informal authority: ppl with particular expertise, experience, or personal qualities
38. Which of the following characteristics is typically associated with a low-context culture?
The medium may be as important as the message itself.
Integration
The more highly differentiated the firm, the greater need for integration among diff units -CON: focusing on integration may slow innovation for a while
11. According to Situational Leadership Theory, the Developmental Level of the follower is defined as a combination of their:
Their Competence to perform a particular task and their Commitment to perform that task.
Board Membership
Top executives: inside directors Outside members = executives at other companies -> most are outside members as boards made up of strong, independent outsiders more likely to provide diff info and perspectives, prevent mistakes
The following question is from the article, "Humans are Under-rated." Since 1980, the percentage of men in their prime working years, 25-54 who are not working has significantly decreased because of changes in technology that have made their jobs obsolete.
True
Which of the following is the best way to motivate a team?
Tying reward to team performance.
3. Auto parts manufacturer JEG Inc. has a number of vacancies at lower management levels and wants to fill the positions from within the company itself rather than recruit externally. The company plans to e-mail the job specifications to all employees and post the jobs on the company Web site. Which of the following is a disadvantage of job posting?
Unqualified applicants will need explanations about why they did not get the job.
26. Which of the following statements is true of networking?
When managers are members of established networks, it is easier for them to influence the other people or groups involved in the networks.
Which of the following statements is true of networking?
When managers are members of established networks, it is easier for them to influence the other people or groups involved in the networks.
