QUESTION Which of the following, if true, most strongly suggests that the failures attributed to leadership were also caused by failures in organizing? A) Most of the conflicts between team members concerned questions of roles and determining who had the authority to make decisions. B) The market research was delayed because the firms hired to […]
QUESTION A strategic manager at Disney believes that the video-on-demand unit should be sold because the return it has made on Disney’s investment has been below Disney’s standards. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the strategic manager’s conclusion? A) Other units at Disney have earned even lower returns on investment than the video-on-demand […]
QUESTION Contingency plans are by their nature often ambiguous. Why? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Contingency plans prepare for unexpected circumstances or emergencies. As the circumstances, situation, timing, and events are unknown, it would be difficult to specify the organization’s actions in response to them. Explanation: Contingency plans are necessary for […]
QUESTION “All companies must find ways to respond to rapidly changing markets, and sticking with one business strategy may be a sure path to failure.” Which of the following scenarios is most relevant to this argument? A) A sports outfitter has just signed a contract with a local professional athlete. The outfitter wants to save […]
QUESTION Participative leaders often say they have an “open-door policy,” emphasizing their open communication style. Such managers often seek employee input on decisions, listen to employee concerns, and delegate tasks. How does this approach affect the effectiveness of these leaders? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: It might not. Participative, or democratic, […]
QUESTION Suppose that one of Disney’s business units is a chain of sound studios. The studios have low profit potential, and the chain commands a relatively small share of the market. On these grounds, Disney is considering whether to sell the chain. Which of the following, if true, most strongly suggests that Disney should keep […]
QUESTION The late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, and Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer present two different pictures of leaders. Jobs was a visionary and a “techie,” a micromanager and a big-picture person. Ballmer is a good manager, although not a techie, and observers contend that he has been distracted lately from the company vision by litigation. […]
QUESTION If Kohler became known as a provider of products and services that embrace the “essence of gracious living,” which of the following would be the most likely result? A) Kohler would feel pressure to expand its business to include a wider range of products and services. B) Customers who had a positive experience with […]
QUESTION What is the difference between managing and leading? What will be an ideal response? ANSWER Answer: Leading is defined as motivating, directing, and otherwise influencing people to work hard to achieve the organization’s goals. Leaders cope with change, whereas managers cope with complexity. Leading is only one part of managing, which also includes […]
QUESTION Suppose that Kohler is deciding whether to create a line of self-installed kitchen and bathroom fixtures. In what way would Kohler’s definition of its mission lead it to make a different decision than it would make if it had no defined mission and merely attempted to follow widely accepted business practices? A) Kohler would […]
