Mixed Deck — All MEM Topics Flashcards

What is a 'risk register' in engineering project management?

Answer: A document that identifies, analyzes, and records responses to project risks

A risk register is a centralized document that captures identified risks, their probability, impact, ownership, and planned response strategies throughout the project.

Which of the following is a key characteristic of 'architectural innovation' as defined by Henderson and Clark?

Answer: Reconfigures an established system's linkages while the core components may remain unchanged

Architectural innovation changes how components are integrated and linked, often undermining incumbents who have optimized around the old architecture.

Which leadership theory focuses on the exchange relationship between leader and follower, where compliance is motivated by rewards and punishments?

Answer: Transactional Leadership Theory

Transactional leadership is based on a quid pro quo — followers receive rewards for performance and consequences for failure to meet expectations.

Which framework helps managers assess whether to 'make, buy, or ally' for a given technology by evaluating strategic importance and competitive position?

Answer: The technology sourcing framework (Pisano)

Pisano's technology sourcing framework evaluates the strategic importance of a technology and the firm's relative competence to guide make-buy-ally decisions.

What is 'risk-adjusted return' in engineering investment decisions?

Answer: The expected return of an investment modified to account for the level of risk undertaken

Risk-adjusted return accounts for the uncertainty of achieving projected returns, allowing fair comparison between investments with different risk profiles.

In equity theory, an employee who perceives they are underrewarded relative to peers will MOST likely:

Answer: Reduce their effort or seek to restore equity through other means

Adams' Equity Theory predicts that perceived inequity creates tension, motivating individuals to reduce inputs or change their comparison referent to restore balance.

What does 'configuration management' ensure in systems engineering?

Answer: That system documentation and design remain consistent and controlled throughout the lifecycle

Configuration management establishes and maintains the integrity and consistency of a system's design, documentation, and physical configuration throughout its lifecycle.

What is 'Total Quality Management' (TQM)?

Answer: An organization-wide approach to continuously improving quality in all processes and products

TQM is a comprehensive management philosophy that seeks to improve quality across all organizational functions through continual improvement, employee involvement, and customer focus.

Marketing, operations, and finance are business functions.

Answer: TRUE

Marketing, operations, and finance are universally recognized as the three core functional areas of any business. Marketing focuses on understanding and satisfying customer needs, operations manages the production and delivery of goods/services, and finance handles the management of money and assets. These functions are interdependent and crucial for an organization's success and strategic alignment.

Which supply chain concept describes the phenomenon where small demand fluctuations at retail amplify into large order swings at the manufacturer level?

Answer: Bullwhip effect

The bullwhip effect describes how demand signal distortion increases upstream in the supply chain, causing unnecessary inventory and capacity swings.

What is the 'cost of quality' (COQ) framework in engineering management?

Answer: A framework categorizing all costs associated with preventing, appraising, and failing to meet quality standards

COQ categorizes quality costs into prevention costs (avoiding defects), appraisal costs (detecting defects), and failure costs (internal/external), helping justify quality investments.

A transformational leader primarily motivates followers by:

Answer: Appealing to higher ideals and inspiring a shared vision

Transformational leadership elevates followers' motivations by connecting work to a compelling vision and appealing to intrinsic values.

In the context of MEM, 'technology roadmapping' serves as a strategic tool by:

Answer: Aligning technology development timelines with market needs and business strategy

Technology roadmaps visually connect market drivers, product requirements, and technology development milestones to coordinate R&D investment with strategic objectives.

Without a formal title, a person can become a leader in business if they have the aptitude to ____ and ____ followers.

Answer: Motivate; inspire

Informal leadership often emerges from an individual's ability to influence others through their personal qualities and actions, rather than formal authority. The capacity to motivate and inspire others is crucial for this. By motivating, they encourage action, and by inspiring, they instill enthusiasm and commitment, drawing people to follow their lead even without a designated leadership title.

What are the eight principles of quality management in ISO 9001?

Answer: Customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, relationship management, and systems approach

ISO 9001's eight quality management principles provide the foundation for an effective QMS, centering on customers, leadership, people, processes, and continual improvement.

Supply chain visibility is most directly enhanced by implementing which technology?

Answer: Internet of Things (IoT) with real-time tracking

IoT sensors and real-time tracking devices enable end-to-end visibility into product location, condition, and movement across the supply chain.

What is the purpose of a 'concept of operations' (CONOPS) document?

Answer: To describe how stakeholders will use and operate the system in its intended environment

A CONOPS describes the system's intended operational environment, user roles, and high-level operational scenarios before detailed technical design begins.

Which scheduling technique identifies the longest path through a project network to determine the minimum project duration?

Answer: Critical Path Method (CPM)

CPM calculates the longest path of dependent activities, revealing the minimum time needed to complete the project.

A company uses a '70-20-10' innovation budget allocation. What does the '10' typically represent?

Answer: Transformational or breakthrough innovations

The 10% allocation targets transformational, high-risk bets on entirely new markets or business models with long time horizons.

A supply chain risk mitigation strategy that uses multiple suppliers for the same component is called:

Answer: Dual or multiple sourcing

Dual or multiple sourcing spreads procurement across several suppliers, reducing dependency on any single source and protecting against supply disruptions.