Question 1 [5] MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1.1 How would you use the notion that management is a science and an art to assist you in managing an organisation?

a. It provides a body of knowledge using scientific methods of observation and verification.

b. It provides practical applications of theoretical scientific principles and the use of techniques.

c. It provides an interdisciplinary field of knowledge combining professional disciplines and social sciences.

d. It provides a framework for systematically analysing and understanding, and giving meaning to behaviour at work.

1.2 An organisation describes in its mission statement that it strives to conduct its service ethically by focusing on a value-driven organisation. How would you explain the core issues of the mission by using an appropriate management viewpoint?

a. Dealing with the human aspects of organisations.

b. Providing to customers quality products and services.

c. Ensuring that an organisation is sustainable, and serves the needs of people.

d. Ensuring that the organisation operates as an interrelated system.

1.3 Managers are involved in a meeting where important decisions have to be made regarding problems and challenges they are experiencing. These decisions could have a negative effect on achieving organisational goals. It is clear from the discussions that the meeting is not only about finding solutions as a way forward, but mainly about a power struggle whereby a powerful group wants to capture the decision-making process for own advantage. How would you describe the situation where power is used for own advantage?

a. It is a divergence in solutions.

b. It is capturing of the problem definition.

c. It is information-processing bias.

d It is a deviation from goals.

1.4 Managers are involved in a strategic planning session to determine the future strategies and objectives of the organisation. They consider the external environment by using several forecasting methods. How will you use a simulation to forecast effects of environmental changes?

a. Describing three or more possible futures to assist in the prediction of a possible future.

b It is capturing of the problem definition.

c. It is information-processing bias.

d It is a deviation from goals.

1.5 As a manager you experience that employees are demotivated to perform according to their best abilities. They are slow in doing their work and miss deadlines on a regular basis. By using reinforcement theory, you focus on a strategy that will change the consequences of employee behaviour. How will you use reinforcement theory to motivate staff that is demotivated and go slow?

a. Create fear so that employees do their work to avoid a reprimand

b. Using questions leading to equations and computations to forecast effects of environmental changes.

c. Using a computerised surrogate environment to forecast the future.

d. Using a panel of experts to reach consensus about the future.