Question 1

Many managers have damaged their careers by implementing solutions they knew were incorrect but forged ahead even with this knowledge.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many managers have made the mistake of implementing solutions that they knew were incorrect but still went ahead with it, leading to negative consequences for their careers.

Question 2

Research shows high performance standards usually stifle the creativity of problem solvers by putting undue pressure on them.

Accepted Answer

Research often suggests that high performance standards, when set appropriately, can actually motivate problem solvers to think more creatively and deeply about solutions, as they strive to meet these challenging but achievable goals.

Question 3

Risk can present itself in terms of dread,whereby people assume consequences truly are unknown.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Risk can present itself in terms of...

Question 4

Equifinality is a condition in which different initial conditions lead to similar effects.

Accepted Answer

Equifinality is a commonly observed phenomenon in complex systems, where different starting points or inputs can converge towards similar outcomes. This concept has been studied in fields such as psychology, organizational behavior, and ecology.

Question 5

Which of the following statements,on the ladder of inference,provides objective data?
A)The invitation said "casual dress." Marx arrived in a tuxedo.
B)As Marx knew the COO would be present,he wanted to make a lasting impression.
C)Marx possibly always tries to be the center of attention.
D)Marx is arrogant.I do not want to be on a project team with him.
E)Marx is an idiot.He cannot even read.

Accepted Answer

This statement provides objective data as it is a factual observation of what happened (Marx arrived in a tuxedo) without any interpretation or inference.

Question 6

Managers can often spot bad decision making in others,but they may fail in identifying their own poor decisions.Psychologists refer to this as:
A)bounded rationality.
B)bias blind spot.
C)synthesis.
D)persuasive justice.
E)satisficing.

Accepted Answer

The bias blind spot refers to the tendency for people to recognize cognitive biases in others, but not in themselves. This can lead managers to overlook their own poor decision making and believe that they are making rational choices.

Question 7

Brainwriting is superior to brainstorming as a process for generating the highest volume of creative ideas.

Accepted Answer

Brainwriting involves individuals writing down their ideas on their own before sharing them in a group, which eliminates the social pressures and dominant voices that can occur in a traditional brainstorming session. As a result, brainwriting typically generates more ideas and allows for a wider range of perspectives to be heard.

Question 8

A disciplined protocol is counterproductive to idea generations from brainstorming sessions.

Accepted Answer

A disciplined protocol helps structure brainstorming sessions, making them more effective by ensuring ideas are heard, organized, and evaluated efficiently, rather than being counterproductive.

Question 9

Problem-solving experts agree certain patterns that appear in BOTs can help to identify a systematic problem,one not likely to respond to a quick fix.

Accepted Answer

The statement is conveying that certain pattern in BOTs can help in identifying systematic problems that cannot be fixed quickly.

Question 10

________________ is a defense against judgment biases.
A)Availability
B)Representativeness
C)Anchoring and adjustment
D)Confirmation
E)Confidence estimate

Accepted Answer

Confidence estimate is a defense against judgment biases as it involves assessing the certainty of one's own judgment and being aware of the limitations and potential errors in one's thinking. This can help to reduce the impact of biases such as overconfidence or confirmation bias. Options A, B, C, and D are all examples of common judgment biases that can lead to errors in decision making.

Question 11

Your cousin Vicky remodeled an old beach house last year.Vicky put on a new roof and shelled the driveway.This year,he needs to upgrade the electricity and replace most of the plumbing.You asked him,"Why don't you just sell?" Vicky waved a stack of invoices in your face and said,"I already put this much money into the place!" This statement is an example of the _______________ type of judgment error.
A)availability
B)escalation of commitment
C)anchoring and adjustment
D)confirmation
E)overconfidence

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your cousin Vicky remodeled an old beach...

Question 12

Problem-solving experts agree that some patterns like "boom and bust" cycles that appear in BOTs usually respond to a quick fix.

Accepted Answer

Problem-solving experts would not typically suggest that complex issues such as "boom and bust" cycles in BOTs can be solved with a quick fix. These kinds of patterns usually require more comprehensive and nuanced solutions.

Question 13

When Jill was asked,she chose cars over stomach cancer as the cause of more U.S.deaths per year.When asked why she chose the wrong answer,she said,"I hear about fatal car accidents every day.I never hear about stomach cancer." Jill's type of judgment error was:
A)availability.
B)representativeness.
C)anchoring and adjustment.
D)confirmation.
E)overconfidence.

Accepted Answer

Jill's judgment error is that she is basing her decision on the ease with which examples come to mind or the ease with which they are available to her. She consistently hears about car accidents and therefore believes they are a more common cause of death than they actually are. This is an example of the availability heuristic.

Question 14

Less than 1 percent of a group of high students ranked their ability to get along with others below average.This statement is an example of the _______________ type of judgment error.
A)availability
B)representativeness
C)anchoring and adjustment
D)confirmation
E)overconfidence

Accepted Answer

This statement exemplifies the overconfidence error, where individuals overestimate their own abilities or qualities, in this case, their ability to get along with others, leading to a disproportionately low number of students ranking their social skills as below average.

Question 15

Carl,a corporate recruiter,advises his job applicants to start negotiating salaries from a higher bracket.He suggests this,knowing that the applicant will end up with a higher salary if the hiring employer is susceptible to the judgment error of:
A)availability.
B)representativeness.
C)anchoring and adjustment.
D)confirmation.
E)overconfidence.

Accepted Answer

Carl is advising his job applicants to start negotiating salaries from a higher bracket, knowing that the hiring employer is susceptible to the judgment error of anchoring and adjustment. This error occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive (the anchor) and make insufficient adjustments from that starting point. By suggesting a high starting point, Carl is hoping that the employer will adjust upward from that higher anchor, resulting in a higher salary for the applicant.

Question 16

Research shows focused groups perform better than diverse groups on creative problem-solving tasks.

Accepted Answer

Research actually shows that diverse groups, with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives, perform better on creative problem-solving tasks. This is because they bring unique ideas and approaches to the table, leading to a higher likelihood of innovative solutions. However, focused groups may perform better on tasks that require precision and attention to detail.

Question 17

A productive failure is one that is regarded as an opportunity to learn.

Accepted Answer

A productive failure is characterized by failure to obtain a solution initially, but ultimately leads to learning and better understanding of the problem.

Question 18

Should managers rely on intuition in problem solving?
A)Yes.Most people systematically apply intuition to problem solving.
B)No.Feelings have no place in management decision making.
C)Yes.Those who track what they learn can effectively replicate the process in future.
D)No.Those who use an inference ladder are more effective decision makers.
E)Yes.Unconscious biases help people hasten their decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

Relying on intuition can be effective when problem solving, but it is important to track what you learn in the process. This allows for the ability to replicate successful decision-making in future situations.

Question 19

Zack arrived late for a meeting this morning because there was a 20 -car pile-up on the beltway.Ryan,his manager,assumed Zack overslept because he partied too much last night.Which of the following statements is most accurate?
A)Ryan committed a fundamental attribution error.
B)Zack committed a fundamental attribution error.
C)Zack used the ladder of inference.
D)Zack used the self-serving bias.
E)Ryan used the self-serving bias.

Accepted Answer

Ryan made a mistake in attributing the cause of Zack's lateness solely to his internal, dispositional factors (partying too much) and neglecting external, situational factors (the 20-car pile-up). This is known as a fundamental attribution error.

Question 20

Rational problem-solving skills are deficient in most young managers because:
A)most problems are complex,without clear definition.
B)decision making is not needed until middle or executive management ranks.
C)young managers have not yet learned to trust their first instincts.
D)young managers are hesitant to act.
E)effective problem-solving frameworks are too complex in form and concept.

Accepted Answer

Most problems are complex and lack clear definitions, making it challenging for young managers to apply rational problem-solving skills effectively.

Quiz 3: Solving Problems

Many managers have damaged their careers by implementing solutions they knew were incorrect but forged ahead even with this knowledge.

Research shows high performance standards usually stifle the creativity of problem solvers by putting undue pressure on them.

Risk can present itself in terms of dread,whereby people assume consequences truly are unknown.

Equifinality is a condition in which different initial conditions lead to similar effects.

Which of the following statements,on the ladder of inference,provides objective data?

Managers can often spot bad decision making in others,but they may fail in identifying their own poor decisions.Psychologists refer to this as:

Brainwriting is superior to brainstorming as a process for generating the highest volume of creative ideas.

A disciplined protocol is counterproductive to idea generations from brainstorming sessions.

Problem-solving experts agree certain patterns that appear in BOTs can help to identify a systematic problem,one not likely to respond to a quick fix.

________________ is a defense against judgment biases.

Problem-solving experts agree that some patterns like "boom and bust" cycles that appear in BOTs usually respond to a quick fix.

When Jill was asked,she chose cars over stomach cancer as the cause of more U.S.deaths per year.When asked why she chose the wrong answer,she said,"I hear about fatal car accidents every day.I never hear about stomach cancer." Jill's type of judgment error was:

Less than 1 percent of a group of high students ranked their ability to get along with others below average.This statement is an example of the _______________ type of judgment error.

Carl,a corporate recruiter,advises his job applicants to start negotiating salaries from a higher bracket.He suggests this,knowing that the applicant will end up with a higher salary if the hiring employer is susceptible to the judgment error of:

Research shows focused groups perform better than diverse groups on creative problem-solving tasks.

A productive failure is one that is regarded as an opportunity to learn.

Should managers rely on intuition in problem solving?

Zack arrived late for a meeting this morning because there was a 20 -car pile-up on the beltway.Ryan,his manager,assumed Zack overslept because he partied too much last night.Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Rational problem-solving skills are deficient in most young managers because: