Prelims - LabMan Flashcards
What is the definition of management?
The attainment of organizational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling organizational resources.
What are the key components of organizational resources?
- Man (human beings)
- Money
- Machines
- Materials
What is the nature of management?
- Universal
- Science & Art
- Separate from ownership
- Group effort
- Social process
- Goal oriented
- Intangible
- Purposeful activity
What are the main functions of management?
- Planning
- Leading
- Organizing
- Controlling
- Staffing
Fill in the blank: The process of determining the organization’s objectives and deciding how to accomplish them is called _______.
[Planning]
What does leading involve in a management context?
Motivating and leading employees to achieve organizational objectives.
What is the role of organizing in management?
Structuring of resources and activities to accomplish objectives efficiently and effectively.
What is the purpose of controlling in management?
Evaluating and correcting activities to keep the organization on course.
What is staffing in management?
Hiring people to carry out the work of the organization.
What are the characteristics of a manager?
- Allocate resources according to priorities
- Possess well-defined goals
- Make decisions and act upon them
- Self-motivated and self-controlled
- Delegate and depend on subordinates
- Willing to compromise
What interpersonal roles does a manager have?
- Liaison
- Leader
- Figurehead
What are the informational roles of a manager?
- Monitor
- Disseminator
- Spokesperson
What decisional roles are associated with a manager?
- Entrepreneur
- Disturbance handler
- Resource allocator
- Negotiator
What are the three levels of management?
- Top Management
- Middle Management
- First Line Management
What skills are essential for effective management?
- Technical skills
- Human skills
- Conceptual skills
Define technical skills in the context of management.
Competence in a specialized area, including analytical ability and the ability to use appropriate tools and techniques.
What are human skills in management?
An individual’s ability to cooperate with other members of the organization and work effectively in teams.
What do conceptual skills entail?
The ability to analyze complex situations and rationally process and interpret available information.
What are common signs of lack of management skills?
- Not listening while people are talking
- Micromanaging
- Focusing on tasks instead of individuals
- Not enforcing standards
- Lack of effective communication of expectations
What is micro managing?
Focusing on the task and not the individuals.
What is a common issue in management related to communication?
Lack of effective communication of expectations.
What does ISO 9001:2015 stand for?
Certified Quality Management System.
Name one key virtue emphasized in the context of service excellence.
Service.
What is ineffective feedback?
Positive and negative feedback that is not communicated effectively.
True or False: Good management is only about enforcing standards.
False.
Fill in the blank: ‘Management is doing things right; ______ is doing the right things.’
Leadership.
What is the primary goal of planning in clinical laboratories?
Assessing an organization’s goals and creating a realistic plan of action.
List the basic steps in the management planning process.
- Creating a roadmap
- Outlining each task
- Meeting overall objectives.
What are the three major processes in clinical laboratory management planning?
- Pre-examination
- Examination
- Post-examination.
What does ISO 9001:2015 require organizations to plan for?
- Internal and external issues
- Interested parties
- External issues impacting business strategy.
What is one importance of planning in clinical laboratories?
Planning reduces risks of uncertainties.
What are critical areas of clinical laboratory management?
- Organization
- Personnel
- Equipment
- Purchasing & Inventory
- Process Control
- Information Management
- Document & Record
- Occurrence Management
- Assessment.
What does effective personnel planning ensure in a laboratory?
Competent and motivated teams.
What is the purpose of process control planning?
Ensures quality control for testing.
What is an ‘occurrence’ in laboratory management?
An error or an event that should not have happened.
What is the goal of process improvement in clinical laboratories?
Continuous improvement of processes.
List some qualities of a good planner.
- Proficiency in determining objectives
- Good judgment
- Imagination
- Foresight
- Experience.
What are indicators of poor planning?
- Delivery dates not met
- Idle machines
- Materials wasted.
What benefits come from good planning?
- Jobs turn out on time
- Good relationships with other departments
- Workers using their highest skills.
What is the process of Management by Objectives?
- Set goals for employees
- Make action plans
- Evaluate performance periodically.
What is the hierarchy of plans in an organization?
- Purpose and mission
- Objectives
- Strategies
- Policies
- Rules
- Procedures
- Programs or Projects
- Budget.
What does ‘Rules’ prescribe?
A course of action and explicitly states what is to be done
Define ‘Procedures’.
A series of related steps or tasks to be performed in a sequential way
What is a ‘Program’ or ‘Project’?
A comprehensive plan that includes future use of different resources
What is a ‘Budget’?
Statement of expected results expressed in numerical terms
What is ISO 9001:2015?
Certified Quality Management System
What is a ‘Strategic Plan’?
Identification of the mission and objectives for long-term goals for the next 5 years
Who is responsible for a ‘Strategic Plan’?
Top managers with final authority and responsibility
Define ‘Tactical Plan’.
Action plan that deals with the method(s) for strategy implementation (6 months – 2 years)
What is an ‘Operational Plan’?
Detailed plan used to provide direction for team, section, or department (next 1 week to 1 year)
Who is responsible for an ‘Operational Plan’?
First-line managers
What should be ensured in laboratory design regarding patients?
Patients and patient samples do not have common pathways
Where should the reception area for incoming patients be located?
As close as possible to the entry door
Who should have restricted access to analysis rooms?
Only authorized personnel
What is essential for the location of laboratory sections?
Different circulation paths between public and biological materials
What is the role of a laboratory leader?
To guide, inspire, and motivate a group or individual to achieve a common goal
What are the key skills required for true leadership?
Communication, empathy, integrity, and adaptability
What does leadership emphasize?
The process of social influence to enlist aid and support in accomplishing a common ethical task
What are the layers of leadership in a clinical laboratory?
Scientist, Visionary Manager, Competent Practitioner, Champion for Quality, Promoter of the Clinical Laboratory
What is a ‘Charismatic Leadership Style’?
Leadership that uses charm to gain admiration and create a friendly atmosphere
What is a ‘Democratic Leadership Style’?
Leadership that facilitates idea development and decision-making from the collective group
Define ‘Autocratic Leadership Style’.
Authoritarian leadership characterized by individual control over decisions with little input from group members
What is ‘Situational Leadership Style’?
Leadership that adjusts based on the situation, capability of followers, and capability of the leader
What is ‘Laissez-Faire Leadership Style’?
Delegative leadership that allows group members to make decisions with a hands-off approach
What is ‘Translational Leadership Style’?
Leadership that motivates subordinates by presenting rewards and punishments
What is the primary focus of transactional leadership?
Motivates subordinates by presenting rewards and punishments.
Give an example of transactional leadership.
Coaches of athletic teams.
Who is a historical example of transactional leadership?
Joseph McCarthy.
In what situations is transactional leadership most effective?
Crisis situations.
What type of leadership involves motivating followers through ideals and morals?
Transformational leadership.
Name a famous transformational leader.
Martin Luther King Jr.
What differentiates transformational leadership from transactional leadership?
Transformational leadership solves root problems, while transactional leadership handles day-to-day changes.
What is a key characteristic of quiet leadership?
Leading by example without forcing others.
Provide an example of a quiet leader.
Rosa Parks.
What is the main focus of servant leadership?
Taking care of the needs of followers first.
Who is a famous example of a servant leader?
Gandhi.
What is a necessary skill for a laboratory manager?
Understanding the root causes of problems.
Fill in the blank: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s ______, give him power.
character.
What is the concept of organization that embodies ‘obey now, question later’?
Herd concept.
What does the chain of command represent in an organization?
An unbroken line of authority linking all individuals.
Define authority in an organizational context.
The formal and legitimate right of a manager to make decisions.
What is accountability in the context of authority?
The duty to perform the task as assigned.
How does authority flow in an organization?
Down the vertical hierarchy.
True or False: The acceptance theory of authority states that a manager has authority only if subordinates accept their commands.
True.
What is the mechanism by which authority and responsibility are aligned?
Delegation.
What is the primary goal of organizing in clinical laboratories?
To divide total operations into units for efficient service.
List three characteristics of organization.
- Division of labor
- Well-defined authority-responsibility relationships
- Coordination
What does work specialization refer to?
The degree to which organizational tasks are subdivided into separate jobs.
What is the role of organizational charts?
To visually represent an organization’s structure.
What are the two main types of organizational structures?
- Vertical structure
- Horizontal structure
What is the purpose of departmentalization in structural design?
To achieve the goals of an organization.
What is the definition of decentralization?
The distribution of authority away from a central location.
What does centralization refer to in an organizational context?
Concentration of decision-making authority at the top levels.
What is the process managers use to transfer authority and responsibility?
The process managers use to transfer authority and responsibility is the delegation process.
What does alignment of authority and responsibility mean?
It means that the people with authority and responsibility are subject to reporting and justifying task outcomes to those above them in the chain of command.
Define line authority.
Line authority is a form of authority in which individuals in management positions have the formal power to direct and control immediate subordinates.
What is staff authority?
Staff authority is a form of authority granted to staff specialists in their area of expertise.
What is the span of management?
The span of management is the number of employees reporting to a supervisor, also called span of control.
What characterizes a tall structure in management?
A tall structure is characterized by an overall narrow span of management and a relatively large number of hierarchical levels.
What characterizes a flat structure in management?
A flat structure is characterized by an overall broad span of control and relatively few hierarchical levels.
List factors contributing to large spans of control.
- Work performed by subordinates is stable and routine
- Subordinates perform similar work tasks
- Subordinates are concentrated in a single location
- Subordinates are highly trained and need little direction in performing tasks
What is an organizational chart?
An organizational chart is a diagram that identifies the major operational units of an organization and their attending job positions.
What is the purpose of an organizational chart?
It provides a concise representation of the organization and helps manage and monitor all its activities.
What is planning in the context of management?
Planning is the process of plotting the activities needed to perform by a certain group or individual to achieve a common goal.
What is involved in the organizing function of management?
Organizing involves establishing an organizational structure, assigning responsibilities to various departments, and setting up procedures for smooth functioning.
What does staffing involve?
Staffing involves enlisting and recruiting employees for positions within the various teams and departments in an organized manner.
What are the key components of staffing?
- Manpower Planning
- Recruitment, selection, and placement
- Training and Development
- Remuneration/compensation
- Performance appraisal/evaluation
- Promotion and transfer
What challenges does staffing face?
- Training and retraining
- Retaining employees
- Career development
- Competitive salaries
- Comprehensive benefits
What is the primary function of employment in staffing?
The primary function of employment is the selection of the best possible candidate.
What does training and development in staffing aim to achieve?
Training and development aim to help personnel understand their functions and roles in the organization.
What factors are considered in compensation?
- Basic needs of employees
- Statutory provisions
- Minimum wages given by competitors
- Job requirements
- Law of supply and demand
What does integration in staffing involve?
Integration involves resolving possible disputes, especially with unionized employees, and communicating goals and targets to get employees on the team.
What are good working conditions in the context of staffing?
Good working conditions refer to healthy environmental working conditions that are vital for retaining employees.
What services are included in employee welfare?
Employee welfare services include social and physical health programs for employees and their dependents.
What is the purpose of maintaining employee records?
Maintaining employee records involves tracking past and present employees, including trainings, promotions, and behavioral history.
What does industrial relations in HRD involve?
Industrial relations involve maintaining good relations, settling disputes, collective bargaining, and ensuring compliance with labor codes.
