Engineering Management Flashcards
"Engineering management is a specialized form of management required to successfully lead engineering or technical personnel and projects and applies to either functional management or project management." (The University of Kansas, 2024)
Management is:
An art
Engineering is:
A science
Engineers can become good managers only
through __________.
Effective career planning
If you are an engineer wanting to become a manager, what will you do?
* A. Develop new talents
* B. Acquire new values
* C. Broaden your point of view
* D. All of the above
All of the above
When engineer enters management, what is the most likely problem he finds difficult to acquire?
* A. Learning to trust others
* B. Learning how to work through others
* C. Learning how to take satisfaction in the work of others
* D. All of the above
All of the above
What management functions refers to the process of anticipating problems, analyzing them, estimating their likely impact and determining actions that will lead to the desired outcomes and goals?
Planning
What refers to the establishing interrelationships between people and things in such a way that human and materials resources are effectively focused toward achieving the goal of the company?
Organizing
What management function involves selecting candidates and training personnel?
Staffing
What management function involves orienting personnel in the most effective way and channeling resources?
Directing
Actual performance normally is the same as the original plan and therefore it is necessary to check for deviation and to take corrective action. This action refers to what management function?
Controlling
What refers to management function which is to encourage others to follow the example set for them, with great commitment and conviction?
Leading
What refers to a principal function of lower management which is to instill in the workforce a commitment and enthusiasm for pursuing the goals of the organization?
Motivating
What refers to the collection of the tools and techniques that are used on a predefined set of inputs to produce a predefined set of outputs?
Project Management
Which is NOT an element of project management process?
* A. Data and information
* B. Research and development
* C. Decision making
* D. Implementation and action
Research and development
What is the most essential attribute of a project manager?
Leadership
In project management, what provides a simple yet effective means of monitoring and controlling a project at each stage of its development?
Life cycle model
What project life cycle model is the most relevant for information technology project?
Waterfall model
In project management, “R & D” stands for:
Research and Development
In project management O & M stands for:
Operation and Maintenance
A project management must be very good in which of the following skills?
* A. Communication skills
* B. Human relationship skills
* C. Leadership skills
* D. All of the above
All of the above
Project integration management involves which of the following processes?
* A. Project plan development
* B. Project plan execution
* C. Integrated change control
* D. Quality planning
Quality planning
Project quality management involves all of the following processes except:
* A. Quality planning
* B. Quality assurance
* C. Quality Control
* D. Quality feature
Quality feature
What is defined as an organized method of providing past, present, and projected information on internal operations and external intelligence for use in decision making?
Management Information System
Middle management level undertakes what planning activity?
Intermediate planning
Strategic planning is undertaken in which management level?
Top management level
What is the advantage of free-rein style of leadership?
Little managerial control and high degree of risk
If you are appointed as a division manager, your first task is most likely to
Set goals
What is defined as the process of planning, organizing, and controlling operations to reach objective efficiently and effectively?
Operations Management
For a project manager to achieve his given set of goals through other people, he must have a good
Interpersonal skills
What type of conflict do managers encounter when there is disagreement on issues of territorial power or hidden agenda?
Politics
The process of partitioning an organization into subunits to improve efficiency is known as __________.
Departmentalization
By departmentalization of an organization, it decentralizes ?
* A. Authority
* B. Responsibility
* C. Accountability
* D. All of the above
All of the above
What type of committee companies or corporations created for a short-term purpose only?
Ad hoc committee
What refers to a description of whether the objectives are accomplished?
Effectiveness
An engineering is required to finish a certain engineering job in 20 days. He is said to be ____ if he finished the job within the required period of 20 days.
Effective
If an engineer provides less input (labor and materials) to his project and still come out with the same output, he is said to be more ____.
Efficient
To determine a qualified applicant, the engineer manager will subject the applicant to a test that is used to measure a person’s current knowledge of a subject?
Performance test
What type of training is a combination of on-the job training and experience with classroom instruction in particular subject?
Apprenticeship program
What type of authority refers to a specialist’s right to oversee lower-level personnel involved in the project regardless of the personnel’s assignment in the organization?
Functional authority
When a consultant or specialist gives advice to his superior, he is using what type of authority?
Staff authority
When structuring an organization, the engineer manager must be concerned with the determining the scope of words and how it is combined in a job. This refers to ____.
Division of labor
When structuring an organization, the engineer must be concerned with the grouping of related jobs, activities, or processes into major organizational subunits. This refers to:
Departmentation
Which technique will the manager use when evaluating alternative using qualitative evaluation?
Intuition and subjective judgment
Which technique will the manager use when evaluating alternative using quantitative evaluation?
Rational and analytical techniques
What refers to the strategic statement that identifies why an organization exists, its philosophy of management, and its purpose as distinguished from other similar organizations in terms of products, services and markets?
Corporate mission
What refers to a process of influencing and supporting others to work enthusiastically toward achieving objectives?
Power
What describes how to determine the number of service units that will minimize both customer’s waiting time and cost of service?
Queuing theory
What refers to the rational way to conceptualize, analyze and solve problems in situations involving limited or partial information about the decision environment?
Decision theory
What is quantitative technique where samples of populations are statistically determined to be used for a number of processes, such as quality control and marketing research?
Sampling theory
The engineer manager must be concern with the needs of his human resources. What refers to the need of the employees for food, drinks, and rest?
Physiological need
What refers to the learning that is provided in order to improve performance on the present job?
Training
What technique is best suited for projects that contain many repetitions of some standard activities?
Benchmark job technique
What organizational structure is based on the assumption that each unit should specialize in a specific functional area and perform all of the tasks that require its expertise?
Functional organization
What type of organization structure in which each project is assigned to a single organizational unit and the various functions are performed by personnel within the unit?
Product organization
What organizational structure provides a sound basis for balancing the use of human resources and skills?
Matrix organization
In which type of organization where the structure can lead to a “dual boss” phenomenon?
Matrix organization
Which one is an advantage of a matrix organization?
Rapid reaction organization
Which one is a disadvantage of a matrix organization?
Inefficient use of specialist
Which one is an advantage projectized organization?
Efficient use of technical personnel
Which one is a disadvantage of a projectized organization?
Slower work flow
Which one is an advantage of a functional organization?
Rapid reaction time possible
Which one is disadvantage of a functional organization?
Inefficient use of specialist
In what type of organization where a project manager is held responsible for completion of the project and is often assigned a budget?
Matrix organization
In selecting an organizational structure, which of the following is not a criterion?
Location
What is NOT a factor to be taken into consideration when selecting an organizational structure for managing projects?
Location of the project
If a project have multidimensional goals, the project manager often use his ____ to reach a compromise solution.
Tradeoff analysis skill
Who is responsible for ensuring that the project is completed successfully as measured by time, cost, performance and stakeholder satisfaction?
Project manager
Who is responsible for running a department so that all his customers are served efficiently and effectively?
Functional manager
What is the major activity of the project support office?
Administrative support for projects
What is the major activity of the project office?
Overall project management support
What is an important tool for the design and implementation of the project’s work content?
Linear responsibility chart
What chart summarizes the relationships between project stakeholders and their responsibilities in each project element?
All of the above
What network model enables engineer managers to schedule, monitor, and control large and complex projects by using only one time factor per activity?
Critical path method
What network model enables engineer managers to schedule, monitor, and control large and complex projects by employing three time estimate for each activity?
Program evaluation review technique
For a project manager to have an effective means of identifying and communicating the planned activities and their interrelationships, he must use a network technique. One of the network techniques is commonly known as CPM. What does CPM stands for?
Critical path method
For a project manager to have an efficient means of identifying and communicating the planned activities and their interrelationships, he must use a network technique. One of the network techniques is commonly known as PERT. What does Pert stands for?
Program evaluation review technique
What is the benefit of using PERT/CPM network as integral component of project management?
All of the above
The CPM was developed by Rand and Walker in what year?
1957
In what year was PERT developed?
1958
In Morris life cycle model, a project is divided into how many stages to be performed in sequence?
4
What is the first stage in the life cycle of a project using Morris model?
Feasibility
Risk management is:
Controlling risk
What technique a manager must use if he decides to absorb the risk in the project?
Create buffer in the form of management reserve or extra time in schedule
Buying insurance is a form of:
Risk sharing
What refers to any technique used either to minimize the probability of an accident or to mitigate its consequences?
Risk management
What refers to the techniques that encompass risk assignment and the inclusive evaluation of risk, costs and benefits of alternative projects or policies?
Risk-benefit analysis
What is measured by the amount of resources that a manager can allocate without the need to get an approval from his or her manager?
Authority
What is defined as a course of action aimed at ensuring that the organization will achieve its objectives?
Strategy
When there is a degradation of service provided by the company to clients, it is a sign that the engineer manager in-charge:
Has inadequate control
What principal element of uncertainty refers to a measure of the relevance of available information to the problem at hand?
Tolerance
One of the mnemonic management tool used is the SMEAC. What does the acronym SMEAC stands for?
Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, Communication
In the management tools, SMEAC, where A stands for administration, which is the appropriate question will the manager ask?
What do we need to get it done?
In project management, what is usually the first step underlying in the process of performing a project?
Identify a need for a product or service
In the process of performing a project, after the need for a product or service is identified, what is usually the next step?
Define the goals of the project and their relative importance
What is usually the last step in the process of performing a project?
Monitor and control the project
To consider the consequence of uncertainly on project management, laws on project management are developed. One of which is “A careless planned project will take ____ times longer to complete than expected”.
Three
In the typical functional organization hierarchy, the chief engineer is under the ____.
General manager
What is a diagram of the organization’s official positions and formal lines of authority called?
Organization chart
What is defined as the process of identifying and choosing alternative courses of action in a manner appropriate to the demands of the situations?
Decision-making
What refers to the activity of incorporating the technical know how with the ability to organize and coordinate workforce, materials, equipment and all other resources including money?
Engineering management
Defined as the creative problem solving process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling an organization’s resources to achieve its mission and objectives.
Management
Refers to the activity combining “technical knowledge with the ability to organize and coordinate worker power, materials, machinery, and money.”
Engineering Management
The following are considered as functions of an engineer except
Physical Education
A function of an engineer where the engineer is engaged in the process of learning about nature and codifying this knowledge into usable theories.
Research
A function of an engineer where the engineer undertakes the activity of turning a product concept to a finished physical term.
Design and Development
A function of an engineer where the engineer works in a unit where new products or parts are tested for workability.
Testing
A function of an engineer where the engineer is directly in charge of production personnel or assumes responsibility for the product.
Manufacturing
A function of an engineer where the engineer is either directly in charge of the construction personnel or may have responsibility for the quality of the construction process.
Construction
A function of an engineer where the engineer assists the company’s customers to meet their needs, especially those that require technical expertise.
Sales
A function of an engineer where the engineer works as consultant of any individual or organization requiring his services.
Consulting
A function of an engineer where the engineer may find employment in the government performing any of the various tasks in regulating, monitoring, and controlling the activities of various institutions, public or private.
Government
A function of an engineer where the engineer gets employment in a school and is assigned as a teacher of engineering courses.
Teaching
A function of an engineer where the engineer is assigned to manage groups of people performing specific tasks.
Management
Defined as the process of identifying and choosing alternative courses of action in a manner appropriate to the demands of the situation.
Decision Making
The first step-in decision-making process is to
Diagnose problem
The last step-in decision-making process is to
Evaluate and adapt decision results
Refers to evaluation of alternatives using intuition and subjective judgment.
Qualitative evaluation
Refers to evaluation of alternatives using any technique in a group classified as rational and analytical.
Quantitative evaluation
Refers to the management function that involves anticipating future trends and determining the best strategies and tactics to achieve organizational objectives.
Planning
Refers to the process of determining the major goals of the organization and the policies and strategies for obtaining and using resources to achieve those goals.
Strategic planning
The top management of any firm is involved in
this type of planning.
Strategic planning
Refers to the process of determining the contributions that subunits can make with allocated resources.
Intermediate Planning
This type of planning is undertaken by middle management.
Intermediate Planning
Refers to the process of determining how specific tasks can best be accomplished on time with available resources.
Operational Planning
This type of planning is a responsibility of lower
management.
Operational Planning
This is the written document or blueprint for implementing and controlling an organization’s marketing activities related to particular marketing strategy.
Marketing Plan
This is a written document that states the quantity of output a company must produce in broad terms and by product family.
Production Plan
It is a document that summarizes the current financial situation of the firm, analyzes financial needs, and recommends a direction for financial activities.
Financial Plan
It is a document that indicates the human resource needs of a company detailed in terms of quantity and quality and based on the requirements of the company’s strategic plan.
Human Resource Management Plan
These are plans intended to cover a period of less than one year. First-line supervisors are mostly concerned with these planes.
Short-range plans
These are plans covering a time span of more than one year. These are mostly undertaken by middle and top management.
Long-range plans
Plans that are used again and again and they focus on managerial situations that recur repeatedly.
Standing Plans
These are broad guidelines to aid managers at every level in making decisions about recurring situations or function.
Policies
These are plans that describe the exact series of actions to be taken in a given situation.
Procedures
These are statements that either require or forbid a certain action.
Rules
Specifically developed to implement courses of action that are relatively unique and are unlikely to be repeated.
Single-Use Plans
A plan which sets forth the projected expenditure for a certain activity and explains where the required funds will come from.
Budget
A plan designed to coordinate a large set of
activities.
Program
A plan that is usually more limited in scope than a program and is sometimes prepared to support a program.
Project
A management function which refers to thestructuring of resources and activities to accomplish objectives in an efficient and effective manner.
Organizing
The arrangement or relationship of positions
within an organization.
Structure
This is a form of departmentalization in which everyone engaged in one functional activity, such as engineering or marketing, is grouped into one unit.
Functional Organization
This type of organization is very effective in similar firms especially “single business firms where key activities revolve around well-defined skills and areas of specialization”.
Functional Organization
This refers to the organization of a company by a division that brings together all those involved with a certain type of product or customer.
Product or Market Organization
This is appropriate for a large corporation with many product lines in several related industries.
Product or Market Organization
An organizational structure in which each employee reports both a functional or division manager and to a project or group manager.
Matrix Organization
Refers to a manager’s right to tell subordinates what to do and then see that they do it.
Line authority
A staff specialist’s right to give advice to a superior.
Staff authority
A specialist’s right to oversee lower-level personnel involved in that specialty, regardless of where the personnel are in the organization.
Functional authority
A committee created for a short-term purpose
and have a limited life.
Ad hoc committee
A permanent committee that deals with issues on an ongoing basis.
Standing committee
Defined as the management function that determines human resource needs, recruits, selects, trains, and develops human resources for jobs created by an organization.
Staffing
An assessment of future human resource needs in relation to the current capabilities of the organization.
Forecasting
Refers to translation of the forecasted human resource needs to personnel objectives and goals.
Programming
This refers to monitoring human resource action plans and evaluating their success.
Evaluation and Control
Refers to attracting qualified persons to apply for vacant positions in the company so that those who are best suited to serve the company may be selected.
Recruitment
Refers to the act of choosing from those that are available than individuals most likely to succeed on the job.
Selection
In this staffing procedure, the new employee is provided with the necessary information about the company and will be introduced to the immediate working environment and co-workers.
Induction and Orientation
Refers to the learning that is provided in order to improve performance on the present job.
Training and Development
Refers to a movement by a person into a position of higher pay and greater responsibilities and which is given as a reward for competence and ambition.
Promotion
The movement of a person to a different job at the same or similar level of responsibility in the organization.
Transfer
The movement from one position to another which has less pay or responsibility attached to it. It is used as a form of punishment or as a temporary measure to keep an employee until he is offered a higher position.
Demotion
Either a voluntary or involuntary termination of an employee.
Separation
A process of sharing information through symbols, including words and message.
Communication
Function of communication that can be used for decision-making at various work levels in the organization.
Information Function
A function of communication used as a means to motivate employees to commit themselves to the organizations objectives.
Motivation Function
Function of communication that deals when feelings are repressed in the organization, employees are affected by anxiety, which, in turn, affects performance.
Emotive Function
A form of communication transmitted through
hearing or sight.
Verbal
A means of conveying message through body language, as well as the use of time, space, touch, clothing, appearance and aesthetic elements.
Nonverbal
Refers to the process of activating behavior, sustaining it, and directing it toward a particular goal.
Motivation
The following are considered as factors contributing to motivation except:
A. Willingness to do a job
B. Self-confidence in carrying out a task
C. Needs satisfaction
D. Inferiority complex
Inferiority complex
The following are considered theories of Motivation except:
A. Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy Theory
B. Expectancy Theory
C. Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory
D. Gagarin’s Theory
Gagarin’s Theory
It is a management function which involves influencing others to engage in the work behaviors necessary to reach organizational goals.
Leading
A person who occupies a higher position has power over persons in lower positions within the organization. This describes:
Legitimate power
When a person has the ability to give rewards to anybody who follows orders or requests, it termed as:
Reward power
When a person compels with orders through treats or punishment.
Coercive power
When a person can get compliance from another because the latter would want to be identified with the former.
Referent power
Which of the following is not a trait of an effective leader:
Greedy
Refers to the process of ascertaining whether organizational objectives have been achieved and determining what activities should then be taken to achieve objectives better in the future.
Inspection
A type of controlling when the management anticipates problems and prevents their occurrence.
Feed forward control
A type of controlling when the operations are already ongoing and activities to detect variances are made.
Concurrent control
A type of controlling when information is gathered about a completed activity, and in order that evaluation and steps for improvement are derived.
Feedback control
Refers to any process that accepts inputs and uses resources to change those inputs in useful ways.
Operation
The process of planning, organizing, andcontrolling operations to reach objectives efficiently and effectively.
Operations management
A process of creating a set of product specifications appropriate to the demands of the situation.
Product Design
Refers to forecasting the future sales of a given product, translating this forecast into the demand it generates for various production facilities, and arranging for the procurement of these facilities.
Product planning
The phase of production control involved in developing timetables that specify how long each operation in the production process takes.
Scheduling
Refers to the approach that seeks efficiency of operation through integration of all material acquisition, movement, and storage activities in the firm.
Purchasing and Materials Management
The process of establishing and maintaining appropriate levels of reserve stocks of goods.
Inventory Control
The process of determining the physical arrangement of the production system.
Work-Flow Layout
Refers to the measurement of products or services against standards set by the company
Quality Control
A group of activities designed to facilitate and expedite the selling of goods and services.
Marketing
The four P’s of marketing are the following
except:
A. Product
B. Price
C. Promotion
D. Publicity
Publicity
It includes the tangible (or intangible) item and its capacity to satisfy a specified need.
Product
Refers to the money or other considerations exchanged for the purchase or use of the product, idea, or service.
Price
An important factor for a company to locate in places where they can be easily reached by their customers.
Place
Defined as communicating information between seller and potential buyer to influence attitudes and behavior.
Promotion
A type of promotion where a paid message appears in mass media for the purpose of informing or persuading people about particular products, services, beliefs, or action.
Advertising
The promotional tool that publishes news or information about a product, service, or idea on behalf of a sponsor but is not paid for by the sponsor.
Publicity
A more aggressive means of promoting the sales of a product or service.
Personal selling
System reliability in parallel
R_sp = 1 - product (1 - Ri)
System reliability in series
R_ss = product (Ri)
