1. Managers who optimize their decisions will attempt to choose
among those alternatives with variable results.
the first minimally acceptable alternative.
that alternative that produces the least conflict.
an alternative that achieves the best possible balance among several goals.
the least expensive alternative.
2. A phenomenon that occurs in decision-making when group members avoid disagreement as they strive for consensus is
intuition or judgment.
domination.
groupthink.
esprit de corps.
goal displacement.
3. Contessa as the manager of a medium-sized research team of engineers found herself in the midst of a battle between coalitions, each with its own solution to the problem the team faced. Based on this information, Contessa would be best served to follow which of the following courses of action?
Contessa should ask representatives from both sides to solve the problem in whatever way they can.
Contessa should find a mediator to solve the problem.
Contessa should encourage both teams to engage in affective conflict to solve the problem.
Contessa should use a collaborative method in which she establishes a goal around which the entire group can rally.
Contessa should begin with the information both sides have and decide herself which is the best approach.
4. Implementing a decision must be planned carefully. Adequate planning most often requires which of the following steps?
Determining how things will look before the decision is made.
Be sure the CEO agrees with the implementation decision.
Order the steps necessary to achieve a fully operational decision.
Allow employees to take on responsibility once the implementation has begun.
Encourage vigilance.
5. Groups that operate under a condition known as groupthink are most likely
unclear about the decision at hand.
creative.
concerned with maintaining a positive team spirit.
overcritical.
unconfident.
6. The CEO of OfficeMax begins each morning by logging onto a computer-based conference with all of the chain store managers. The previous day's experiences and challenges are discussed so that problems can be quickly and effectively resolved or even avoided. OfficeMax is utilizing __________ to retain a competitive edge.
quality initiatives
real-time information
framing effects
psychological biases
social realities
7. Shady Acres, a very large tree farm in the western United States, is looking for ways to reduce waste and improve its profit margins. One of the first things the managers did was to interview the front-line staff to get their opinions and ideas on how to solve this problem. In the end all of the staff was invited to participate in the process to decide which ideas to move forward. This enabled the staff members to be aware of the various options that were available and why the options to be implemented were chosen. In this scenario involving the staff most likely helped them to
use groupthink.
displace the goals in favor of new ones.
please everyone completely.
dominate the discussions.
understand the decisions.
8. In an attempt to make a conflict between two employees less personal and emotional, their manager assigns each of them to approach a problem from a different viewpoint than their original one. This is an example of using the ____________ approach.
groupthink
cognitive conflict
affective conflict
devil's advocate
dialctic approach