Management Flashcards

Which organizational change strategy relies on persuasion and sharing information to gain employee commitment?

Answer: Rational-empirical strategy

The rational-empirical strategy assumes people will adopt change when presented with logical evidence and sound reasoning.

Frederick Taylor's scientific management focused primarily on:

Answer: Maximizing efficiency through task analysis and standardization

Taylor's scientific management sought to improve productivity by systematically analyzing and standardizing work tasks.

Which term describes the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone?

Answer: Social loafing

Social loafing occurs when people reduce individual effort because responsibility is diffused across group members.

A 'matrix organization' is characterized by:

Answer: Employees reporting to both a functional manager and a project manager simultaneously

Matrix structures create dual reporting relationships, combining functional expertise with project-focused coordination.

In Fiedler's contingency model, leader effectiveness depends on matching the leader's style to situational:

Answer: Favorableness (degree of situational control)

Fiedler's model argues that effectiveness depends on whether the situation's favorableness matches the leader's task- or relationship-oriented style.

Which inventory management approach aims to receive goods only as they are needed in the production process?

Answer: Just-in-time (JIT)

Just-in-time inventory minimizes holding costs by synchronizing material delivery with production demand.

According to Douglas McGregor, a Theory X manager assumes employees:

Answer: Must be closely supervised because they dislike work

Theory X holds that workers are inherently lazy, dislike work, and require close supervision and control.