CHAP 08 REVIEW Q&A

Question 1

Three perspectives on management are presented in Chapter 9; The classical school, the neoclassical school (behavioural and management science) and the systems approach.

1. How does the systems approach incorporate aspects of both the classical and neoclassical schools?
2. In what way is the systems approach different from either of these earlier schools?
3. Which perspective on management do you feel would be most appropriate in an assessment office and why?

Answer 1

A. The systems school emphasizes four major subsystems in an organization:

• The psychosocial subsystem
• The technical subsystem
• The structural subsystem
• The planning subsystem

The classical school focussed on structural and planning subsystems.

The neoclassical behavioural oriented researchers focussed on the psychosocial subsystem.

The neoclassical management science researchers focussed on the technical subsystem.

B. The systems approach considers each of these subsystems as well as their interactions. Classical and neoclassical schools measured success in term of efficiency.

With the systems school, factors for success are broader: there should be harmony, growth, stability, and adaptability in addition to efficiency. Flexibility is also important in the systems approach.

Question 2

For an assessment office or other business, provide an example of a mission statement and two supporting goals (operational objectives).

Answer 2

Mission statement:

To provide an accurate assessment roll as efficiently as possible while providing a stimulating work environment for employees and maintaining positive relationships with all outside individuals and organizations.

Supporting Goals.

Maintain an assessment sale ratio of at least 95 percent and a coefficient of dispersion of less than 10 percent.

Initiate a program of job rotation for clerical staff designed to broaden their skills and increase the level of interest of their work environment.

Question 3

What is the difference between a strategic plan and an operational plan?

Answer 3

A strategic plan is a long-range plan that creates the future for an organization rather than responds to it.

An operational plan supports the strategic plan by specifying several objectives to be accomplished within the budget cycle.

The operational plan has more detail and deals with workloads, measures of performance and necessary resources.

Question 4

Do you believe a budget should focus on costs, benefits, or both? why?

Answer 4

A budget should focus on both costs and benefits. A budget that focuses only on costs encourages operations to exaggerate needs and provides no feedback on how efficient the operation is.

There is also no opportunity to allocate funds on the basis of benefits to the taxpayer.

A budget that focuses only on benefits allows no opportunity to determine the cost of the benefits received.

A budget that focuses on both costs and benefits assists in determining the greatest net benefit to the public.

It also assists in rationing funding among organizations.

Question 5

Assume an assessment office is experiencing difficulty in improving production of property information input by the clerical staff.

How would a Theory X and a Theory Y manager approach the challenge of improving clerical productivity? Provide examples of how each type of manager might resolve the problem.

Which do you think would be more effective?

Answer 5

Theory X

A Theory X manager would not be surprice