AICP Administration and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A planning director is evaluating staff performance. Which management approach emphasizes setting measurable goals collaboratively with employees?
- Management by Objectives (MBO) (Correct answer)
- Total Quality Management (TQM)
- Scientific Management
- Laissez-faire Leadership
Correct answer: Management by Objectives (MBO)
Management by Objectives (MBO) involves managers and employees jointly setting specific, measurable goals and reviewing performance against them.
Question 2: Which budget format allows a planning department to justify every expenditure from zero each fiscal year rather than building on the prior year's budget?
- Incremental budgeting
- Zero-based budgeting (Correct answer)
- Capital improvement programming
- Performance budgeting
Correct answer: Zero-based budgeting
Zero-based budgeting requires each budget unit to justify all expenditures anew each year rather than starting from the previous year's baseline.
Question 3: A city planning department wants to improve service delivery by measuring outputs against predetermined benchmarks. This best describes:
- Strategic planning
- Performance management (Correct answer)
- Organizational development
- Program evaluation
Correct answer: Performance management
Performance management is the ongoing process of setting benchmarks, measuring outputs, and using data to improve service delivery.
Question 4: Under the AICP Code of Ethics, a planner who is also an elected official faces what type of conflict?
- A procedural conflict
- A conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- An administrative conflict
- A policy conflict
Correct answer: A conflict of interest
Holding dual roles as planner and elected official creates a conflict of interest that must be disclosed and managed according to the AICP Code of Ethics.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the role of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in planning administration?
- A document specifying how staff should be promoted
- A procurement tool to solicit competitive bids from consultants (Correct answer)
- A public notice for zoning hearings
- A grant application submitted to federal agencies
Correct answer: A procurement tool to solicit competitive bids from consultants
An RFP is a procurement document that invites qualified consultants or firms to submit proposals to complete a defined scope of work.
Question 6: A planning manager notices persistent low morale among staff. According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, which action is most likely to improve true job satisfaction?
- Increasing salaries
- Improving office lighting
- Providing more parking spaces
- Assigning challenging and meaningful projects (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Assigning challenging and meaningful projects
Herzberg identified 'motivators' like achievement and meaningful work as true job satisfiers, while salary and working conditions are 'hygiene factors' that only prevent dissatisfaction.
Question 7: When a planning department prepares a Capital Improvement Program (CIP), what is the typical planning horizon?
- 1 year
- 3–6 years (Correct answer)
- 10–20 years
- 25–50 years
Correct answer: 3–6 years
Capital Improvement Programs typically cover a 3–6 year planning horizon, scheduling and prioritizing major public investments.
AICP Administration and Management 2
A planning director is evaluating staff performance.
Which management approach emphasizes setting measurable goals collaboratively with employees?