general business data bank

26. ____ are called the action steps by which an organization intends to attain its strategic goals.

a.	Tactical goals
b.	Operational goals
c.	Tactical plans
d.	Operational plans
e.	Strategic plans

27. Goals that define the outcomes that major divisions and departments must achieve in order for the organization to reach its overall goals is called

a.	strategic goals.
b.	tactical goals.
c.	operational goals.
d.	a mission.
e.	a plan.

28. Sarah is a middle manager at Stylin' Sneakers Corporation. She is most likely responsible for the achievement of ____ goals.

a.	operational
b.	tactical
c.	strategic
d.	lower-level
e.	top-level

29. Which of the following refer to specific results expected from individuals?

a.	Operational goals
b.	Tactical goals
c.	Strategic goals
d.	Operational plans
e.	Mission statements

30. Which of the following represent plans developed at the organization's lower levels that specify action steps toward achieving operational goals and that support tactical planning activities?

a.	Tactical plans
b.	Strategic plans
c.	Operational plans
d.	Supervisory plans
e.	Organizational plans

31. The ____ is the department manager's tool for daily and weekly operations.

a.	conventional goal
b.	strategic goal
c.	strategic plan
d.	operational plan
e.	targeted plan

32. Managers use ____ to direct employees and resources toward achieving specific outcomes that enable the organization to perform efficiently and effectively.

a.	strategic goals
b.	operational goals
c.	growth goals
d.	financial results
e.	internal business process goals

33. Which of these is lacking in the goal "profits should be increased in the coming year?"

a.	Specific and measurable
b.	Challenging but realistic
c.	Covers key result areas
d.	Defined time period
e.	None of these

34. You are violating which of these goal characteristics when you attempt to create goals for every aspect of employee behavior?

a.	Specific and measurable
b.	Linked to rewards
c.	Defined time period
d.	Cover key result areas
e.	Challenging but realistic

35. Darren set goals for each of his employees. Each employee ended up with at least twenty-five goals. This process violates which of the following criteria for effective goals?

a.	Specific and measurable
b.	Challenging but realistic
c.	Covers key result areas
d.	Defined time period
e.	Linked to rewards

36. All of the following are characteristics of effective goal setting EXCEPT

a.	goals should be challenging but not unreasonably difficult.
b.	goals should be set for every aspect of employee behavior.
c.	specific and measurable.
d.	cover key results area.
e.	linked to rewards.

37. The ultimate impact of goals depended on the extent to which goal achievement is linked to

a.	rewards.
b.	salary increases.
c.	promotions.
d.	all of these.
e.	salary increases and promotions.

38. Which of these are true about contingency plans?

a.	They are developed to achieve a set of goals that are unlikely to be repeated in the future.
b.	They are used to provide guidance for tasks performed repeatedly within the organization.
c.	They define company responses to specific situations, such as emergencies or setbacks.
d.	They are most important in the organization.
e.	None of these.

39. Contingency plans are also referred to as

a.	standing plans.
b.	rules.
c.	scenarios.
d.	procedures.
e.	operationally tactical plans.

40. ____ involves looking at trends and discontinuities and imagining possible alternative future to build a framework within which unexpected future events can be managed.

a.	Scenario building
b.	Crisis planning
c.	Contingency planning
d.	Trend management
e.	Caution planning

41. ____ enables firms to cope with unexpected events that are so sudden and devastating that they have the potential to destroy the organization if managers aren't prepared with a quick and appropriate response.

a.	Incident planning
b.	Contingency planning
c.	Strategic planning
d.	Crisis planning
e.	Emergency planning

42. The crisis management plan should be a ____ that specifies the actions to be taken, and by whom, if a crisis occurs.

a.	vague, verbal plan
b.	detailed, verbal plan
c.	long, difficult to read plan
d.	vague, written plan
e.	detailed, written plan

43. Which of the following is NOT involved in the stages of crisis planning?

a.	Setting up effective communication systems
b.	Creating detailed crisis management plans
c.	Investigating all stakeholders
d.	Designating a crisis management team and spokesperson
e.	Building relationships

44. Traditionally, if Stephanie, CEO of Butterfly Pillows, needed to conduct corporate planning, it would be performed by all of the following EXCEPT

a.	central planning departments.
b.	decentralized planning groups.
c.	top executives.
d.	consulting groups.
e.	the president of the company.

45. Alabama Airlines has three planning specialists who help division managers develop their own division plans. Serving as consultants to the divisions, the planning specialists give advice about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Alabama Airlines is utilizing what approach to the planning function?

a.	Centralized planning department
b.	Decentralized planning staff
c.	Planning task force
d.	Centralized planning committee
e.	TQM

46. Of the strategic management functions, which is considered the most fundamental?

a.	Executing
b.	Analyzing
c.	Controlling
d.	Planning
e.	Leading

47. The planning process starts with:

a.	A formal mission that defines the organization’s purpose
b.	Tactical planning
c.	Strategic planning
d.	Operational planning
e.	Controlling performance

48. Silver Star Automobiles holds monthly planning and operational reviews to ensure that it is on track for meeting organizational goals. This involves which stage of the organizational planning process?

a.	Developing the plan
b.	Translating the plan
c.	Plan operations
d.	Executing the plan
e.	Monitoring and learning

49. Which type of plan helps managers implement the overall strategic plan?

a.	Operational
b.	Contingency
c.	Tactical
d.	Crisis
e.	Corporate-level

50. Which of the following is a commonly-cited limitation of planning?

a.	Plans limit employee motivation and commitment
b.	Plans make resource allocation more difficult
c.	Plans make it more difficult to measure standards of performance
d.	Plans boost intuition and creativity
e.	Plans can create a false sense of certainty