Chapter 6-The Nature of Management

Question 1

Management

Answer 1

a process designed to achieve an organization’s objectives by using its resources effectively and efficiently in a changing environment

Question 2

Managers

Answer 2

those individuals in organizations who make decisions about the use of resources and who are concerned with planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling the organization’s activities to reach its objectives

Question 3

Planning

Answer 3

the process of determining the organization’s objectives and deciding how to accomplish them; the first function of management

Question 4

Mission

Answer 4

the statement of an organization’s fundamental purpose and basic philosophy

Question 5

Strategic Plans

Answer 5

those plans that establish the long-range objectives and overall strategy or course of action by which a firm fulfills its mission

Question 6

Tactical Plans

Answer 6

short-range plans designed to implement the activities and objectives specified in the strategic plan

Question 7

Operational Plans

Answer 7

very short-term plans that specify what actions individuals, work groups, or departments need to accomplish in order to achieve the tactical plan and ultimately the strategic plan

Question 8

Crisis Management (Contingency Planning)

Answer 8

an element in planning that deals with potential disasters such as product tampering, oil spills, fire, earthquake, computer virus, or airplane crash

Question 9

Organizing

Answer 9

the structuring of resources and activities to accomplish objectives in an efficient and effective manner

Question 10

Staffing

Answer 10

the hiring of people to carry out the work of the organization

Question 11

Downsizing

Answer 11

the elimination of a significant number of employees from an organization

Question 12

Directing

Answer 12

motivating and leading employees to achieve organizational objectives

Question 13

Controlling

Answer 13

the process of evaluating and correcting activities to keep the organization on course

Question 14

Top Managers

Answer 14

the president and other top executives of a business, such as the chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer officer (CFO), and chief operations officer (COO), who have overall responsibility for the organization

Question 15

Middle Managers

Answer 15

those members of an organization responsible for the tactical planning that implements the general guidelines established by top management

Question 16

First-Line Managers

Answer 16

those who supervise both workers and the daily operations of an organization

Question 17

Production and Operations Managers

Answer 17

those who develop and administer the activities involved in transforming resources into goods, services, and ideas ready for the marketplace

Question 18

Human Resource Managers

Answer 18

those who handle the staffing function and deal with employees in a formalized manner

Question 19

Marketing Managers

Answer 19

those who are responsible for planning, pricing, and promoting products and making them available to customers through distribution

Question 20

Information Technology (IT) Managers

Answer 20

those who are responsible for implementing, maintaining, and controlling technology applications in business, such as computer networks

Question 21

Administrative Managers

Answer 21

those who manage an entire business or a major segment of a business; they are not specialists but coordinate the activities of specialized managers

Question 22

Technical Expertise

Answer 22

the specialized knowledge and training needed to perform jobs that are related to particular areas of management

Question 23

Conceptual Skills

Answer 23

the ability to think in abstract terms and to see how parts fit together to form the whole

Question 24

Analytical skills

Answer 24

the ability to identify relevant issues, recognize their importance, understand the relationships between them, and perceive the underlying causes of a situation

Question 25

Human Relation Skills

Answer 25

the ability to deal with people, both inside and outside the organization

Question 26

Leadership

Answer 26

the ability to influence employees to work toward organizational goals

Question 27

Employee Empowerment

Answer 27

when employees are provided with the ability to take on responsibilities and make decisions about their jobs

Question 28

Agenda

Answer 28

a calendar, containing both specific and vague items, that cover short-term goals and long-term objectives

Question 29

Networking

Answer 29

the building of relationships and sharing of information with colleagues who can help managers achieve the items on their agendas