general business data bank

1. Managers are often referred to as

a.	decision makers.
b.	peace makers.
c.	conflict creators.
d.	unnecessary layer of employees.
e.	profit suppressor.

2. ____ is a vital part of good management because decisions determine how the organization solves its problems, allocates resources, and accomplishes its goals.

a.	Organizing
b.	Competitive visioning
c.	Proper alignment
d.	Good decision making
e.	Leadership

3. Which of the following is a choice made from available alternatives?

a.	Decision
b.	Plan
c.	Goal
d.	Tactic
e.	Strategy

4. Choosing between a differentiation strategy and an overall cost leadership strategy is an example of

a.	a plan.
b.	an objective.
c.	an alternative.
d.	a decision.
e.	a strategy.

5. Mark, a production manager at Kaylie's Kookware, recently chose to schedule his workers to work overtime. His alternative was to hire more workers. He is now monitoring the consequences of his choice. This is an example of

a.	planning.
b.	decision-making.
c.	organizing.
d.	controlling.
e.	leading.

6. ____ refers to the process of identifying problems and then resolving them.

a.	Organizing
b.	Controlling
c.	Decision-making
d.	Planning
e.	Leading

7. ____ decisions are associated with decision rules.

a.	Nonprogrammed
b.	Unique
c.	Programmed
d.	Ill-structured
e.	Novel

8. Programmed decisions are made in response to ____ organizational problems.

a.	unusual
b.	recurring
c.	significant
d.	minor
e.	unique

9. Bierderlack has a policy that states that more than three absences in a six-month period shall result in a suspension. Colleen, the manager, has just decided to suspend one of her shift employees for violating this policy. This is an example of

a.	a programmed decision.
b.	a nonprogrammed decision.
c.	an insignificant decision.
d.	poor management.
e.	personal grudge.

10. Nordstrom Department Store's "No questions asked - Return's Policy" is an example of a(n)

a.	programmed decision.
b.	nonprogrammed decision.
c.	novel decision.
d.	poor management.
e.	unstructured decision.

11. If your instructor has an attendance policy, she/he is using a(n)

a.	programmed decision.
b.	unique approach.
c.	condition of ambiguity.
d.	nonprogrammed decision.
e.	none of these.

12. Nonprogrammed decisions are made in response to situations that are

a.	unique.
b.	unstructured.
c.	important to the organization.
d.	all of these
e.	unique and important to the organization.

13. Examples of nonprogrammed decisions would include the decision to

a.	reorder supplies.
b.	develop a new product or service.
c.	perform routine maintenance on one of the machines in manufacturing.
d.	terminate an employee for violation of company rules.
e.	fill a position.

14. Good examples of ____ decisions are strategic decisions.

a.	nonprogrammed
b.	programmed
c.	insignificant
d.	recurring
e.	structured

15. When a small community hospital decides to add a radiation therapy unit, it is considered a

a.	programmed decision.
b.	structured decision.
c.	nonprogrammed decision.
d.	poor management decision.
e.	certainty decision.

16. Two area banks, Bank A and Bank B, decided to merge their operations. This is an example of a

a.	programmed decision.
b.	nonprogrammed decision.
c.	decision rule.
d.	structured decision.
e.	bad community decision.

17. Associated with the condition of ____ is the lowest possibility of failure.

a.	ambiguity
b.	uncertainty
c.	certainty
d.	risk
e.	all of these

18. Which of the following means that all the information the decision-maker needs is fully available?

a.	Certainty
b.	Risk
c.	Uncertainty
d.	Ambiguity
e.	None of these

19. Under conditions of ____, statistical analyses are useful.

a.	certainty
b.	ambiguity
c.	risk
d.	uncertainty
e.	conflict

20. Which of the following means that a decision has clear-cut goals and that good information is available, but the future outcomes associated with each alternative are subject to chance?

a.	Certainty
b.	Risk
c.	Uncertainty
d.	Ambiguity
e.	Brainstorming

21. ____ means that managers know which goals they wish to achieve, but information about alternatives and future events is incomplete.

a.	Certainty
b.	Risk
c.	Uncertainty
d.	Ambiguity
e.	Advocacy

22. Bobby, a product manager, wants to increase the market share of his product. He is unsure about how to go about it, not knowing for sure how costs, price, the competition, and the quality of his product will interact to influence market share. Bobby is operating under a condition of

a.	risk.
b.	ambiguity.
c.	certainty.
d.	uncertainty.
e.	brainstorming.

23. When managers know which goals they wish to achieve, but information about alternatives and future events is incomplete, the condition of ____ exists.

a.	risk
b.	uncertainty
c.	ambiguity
d.	certainty
e.	problem

24. ____ has the highest possibility of failure.

a.	The condition of certainty
b.	The condition of ambiguity
c.	The condition of uncertainty
d.	The condition of risk
e.	All of these

25. ____ is by far the most difficult situation for a decision-maker.

a.	Certainty
b.	Risk
c.	Uncertainty
d.	Ambiguity
e.	Brainstorming