Chapter 4 Managers&Decisions

Question 1

What is technological competency?

Answer 1

the ability to understand new tech. and to use them to their best advantage

Question 2

What is information competency?

Answer 2

To locate, gather, organize and display info. for decision making and problem solving

Question 3

What is analytical competency?

Answer 3

to evaluate and analyze info. to make actual decisions and solve real problems

Question 4

What is problem solving?

Answer 4

to identify and take action to solve problems

Question 5

What is a decision?

Answer 5

A choice among possible alternative course of action

Question 6

What is a performance threat?

Answer 6

a situation where something is wrong or likely to be wrong

Question 7

what is performance opportunity?

Answer 7

a situation that offers the possibility of a better future

Question 8

What are 2 types of decisions?

Answer 8

programmed and structured / non-programmed and unstructured

Question 9

What is programmed/structured?

Answer 9

a solution from past experiences and fairly repetitive problem

Question 10

what is non-programmed and unstructured?

Answer 10

a solution designed specifically for a significant problem

Question 11

What are the 3 problem solving styles?

Answer 11

problem avoiders, problem solvers, problem seekers

Question 12

What is systematic thinking?

Answer 12

Step-by-step - rational and analytical approach

Question 13

what is intuitive thinking?

Answer 13

flexible and spontaneous approach

Question 14

What is the difference between sensation feelers and intuitive feelers?

Answer 14

sensation = like facts and feelings 
intuitive = thoughtful and flexible

Question 15

What are the 3 problem solving environments?

Answer 15

certain, risk, and uncertain

Question 16

What is a certain environment?

Answer 16

low risk failure and outcomes are known

Question 17

what is a risk environment?

Answer 17

views outcomes in terms of probabilities and middle risk of failure

Question 18

What is an uncertain environment ?

Answer 18

doesn’t know outcomes and high risk of failure

Question 19

What is step 1 of the decision making process?

Answer 19

Identify and define problem

Question 20

What is step 2 of the decision making process?

Answer 20

Generate and evaluate alternatives - who are the stake holders and how will it affect them?

Question 21

What is step 3 of the decision making process?

Answer 21

Decide on a preferred course of action

Question 22

What does the classical model focus on?

Answer 22

a structured problem

Question 23

What does the behavioral model focus on?

Answer 23

a unstructured problem

Question 24

What is rationality?

Answer 24

acts in a perfect world

Question 25

What is bounded rationality?

Answer 25

acts with cognitive limitations

Question 26

what is a satisficing decision?

Answer 26

Choose first satisfactory alternative

Question 27

What is step 4 of the decision making process?

Answer 27

implement the decision

Question 28

What is step 5 of the decision making process?

Answer 28

evaluate results

Question 29

How do we check the ethics of a decision?

Answer 29

utility, rights, justice, caring

does it satisfy all stakeholders? Are rights respected? is it fair? Does it show consideration for others?

Question 30

What is creative decision making?

Answer 30

generation of a novel idea that solves a problem

Question 31

what is big C?

Answer 31

extraordinary things are done by exceptional people

Question 32

What is little C?

Answer 32

average people come up with unique ways to deal with situations

Question 33

Why is decision making in groups important?

Answer 33

Results in greater job satisfaction and involvement within the organization

Question 34

What are the 2 common group decision techniques?

Answer 34

brainstorming and nominal group technique

Question 35

What is the nominal group technique?

Answer 35

highly structured agenda to restrict interpersonal communication during decision-making process

Question 36

What are decision making errors?

Answer 36

intuition, emotion, framing, availability bias, confirmation error, anchoring error

Question 37

What is heuristic?

Answer 37

Simplify decision making when time or information are scarce - trail and error or rule of thumb

Question 38

What are the 6 rules for crisis decision making?

Answer 38

1. what is going on?
2. speed matters
3. slow counts too
4. danger of unfamiliar
5. value the skeptic
6. be ready to “fight fire w fire”

Question 39

What is conformation error?

Answer 39

ignore bad side of things

Question 40

what is an escalation of commitment?

Answer 40

at some point you have to quit if you are failing

Question 41

What errors do we see in decision making?

Answer 41

don’t always analyze whole situation when time is scarce or there is pressure