Deck 13: Fundamentals of Controlling

Question 1

Everyone uses feedforward controls at one time or another.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Feedback controls are the most widely used category of controls at the supervisory level.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Standards may be defined as specific criteria against which to evaluate results.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

For control mechanisms to work effectively, they need to be understandable, timely, suitable, economical, indicational, and flexible.

Question 5

The control process involves four sequential steps: setting standards, measuring performance, corrective action, and providing instruction.

Question 6

Examples of feedback control include measurement of the quality and quantity of units produced.

Question 7

Most supervisors utilize feedforward controls so they don't have to bother with concurrent controls.

Question 8

When allowing an employee to work on an assignment without close supervision, the supervisor should leave the employee completely alone until it is time to view the final results.

Question 9

Since controls are inflexible, supervisors and employees need to be able to adapt as needed.

Question 10

Some firms have loosened certain controls only to find they need to tighten them up or return to the original controls that had been abandoned.

Question 11

The word control often elicits negative reactions.

Question 12

At Thomaston Sporting Goods Emporium, the controls applied over firearms should be more stringent than the controls it applies over fishing equipment.

Question 13

Feedback controls are essentially useless because they're providing feedback too late, when the acts have already taken place.

Question 14

In a behavioral sense, controls and on-the-job freedom compliment each other.

Question 15

If effective feedforward controls have been implemented, there is no need for concurrent controls.

Question 16

Employees always view controls positively because they know it will enhance the planning process.

Question 17

Alarm clocks, thermostats, gauges, and police officers directing traffic are all examples of controls.

Question 18

The cost of a control system may be more than it is worth, even when the control system is effective.

Question 19

If controls are confusing, the supervisor should devise new controls that meet the departmental needs and are understandable to everyone who uses them.

Question 20

Control mechanisms should indicate who or what is responsible for a deviation and where the deviation occurred.

Question 21

Historical data does not provide much value when budgeting for the future.

Question 22

One method by which performance can be measured is by direct observation and personal contact.

Question 23

Without spot checking, supervisors have no control mechanisms to monitor performance.

Question 24

Workers are more apt to accept standards as reasonable and fair when they help to formulate those standards.

Question 25

Once the budget is approved by higher-level management, supervisors have no more contact with it or interest in it until the next budget cycle.

Question 26

Large organizations employ consultants trained in work efficiency and cost control so that supervisors don't have be cost conscious.

Question 27

When an employee's job routine does not lend itself to reports, the supervisor may have to rely on periodic spot checks.

Question 28

When a supervisor discovers a deviation from the standard, he/she should next find out who is at fault.

Question 29

The extent of involvement that a supervisor has with a budget is to simply ensure performance expectations are met within the contraints of a budget.

Question 30

Most annual budgets are projections for the following year based on the previous year's budget.

Question 31

Time standards are absolute and beyond dispute since they are bound by an objective, fixed measurement: the hands of the clock.

Question 32

Customer satisfaction, profitability, and employee suggestions are all strategic control points.

Question 33

Tangible standards are standards of performance that are difficult to measure.

Question 34

Intangible standards are targets for results that have physical form.

Question 35

Some worker productivity standards are expressed relative to factors over which a supervisor has no control.

Question 36

In a motion study, engineers analyze how a job is performed to identify ways to improve, eliminate, change, or combine steps to make the job easier and faster.

Question 37

Cost and revenue data are usually reported to the supervisor by his or her subordinate employees in the department.

Question 38

A firm should never be willing to share financial information with employees.

Question 39

The exception principle is the concept that supervisors should concentrate their investigations on activities that deviate substantially from standards.

Question 40

Oral and written reports are probably the best way for supervisors to monitor employee performance.

Question 41

The managerial function of controlling consists of which of the following?

A) Taking actions to ensure that things happen the way they were planned.
B) Checking to determine if employees are adhering to established plans.
C) Taking appropriate actions where necessary to correct any deviations from standards.
D) All of the above.

Question 42

The managerial function of controlling is typically performend separately from the other managerial functions.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for an effective control system?

A) It should be flexible enough to cope with unanticipated changing patterns and problems.
B) It should not be changed in any way after it is adopted until it is abandoned.
C) It should expose deviations as they occur and indicate who is responsible for the deviation.
D) It should be suitable for the activity to be observed.

Question 44

When controls are confusing or too sophisticated for employees, the supervisor should:

A) Create charts, graphs, and reports to make the control easier to understand.
B) Stop using controls altogether.
C) Consult with upper management about the problem.
D) Devise new controls that meet departmental needs and are understandable to everyone who uses them.

Question 45

The first step in the control process is:

A) Take corrective action.
B) Measure performance.
C) Re-evaluate the existing plan.
D) None of the above.

Question 46

When no damage or mistakes occur, feedback is:

A) Unnecessary.
B) Solicited to fulfill job responsibilities.
C) Used to improve the process or product.
D) None of the above.

Question 47

The closeness of supervisory follow-up is based on all of the following factors EXCEPT:

A) The employee's experience.
B) The supervisor's convenience.
C) The dependability of the worker.
D) The employee's initiative.

Question 48

Which of the following type of control mechanism is useful for controlling a problem prior to its happening?

A) Concurrent
B) Feedback
C) Indicative
D) Feedforward

Question 49

Feedback control provides valuable information for:

A) Making adjustments while a problem is happening.
B) Providing information for preventing the same problem from happening again.
C) Recording the number of customer complaints.
D) None of the above.

Question 50

In order for an organization to thrive, all of the following is necessary EXCEPT:

A) Goals.
B) Training.
C) Autocratic leadership.
D) Accountability.

Question 51

Inventory control means maintaining quality standards for products and services.

Question 52

Companies often give cost-cutting orders as a result of competition from other businesses.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of a concurrent control system?

A) Instituting a preventive maintenance plan.
B) Sampling complete products to ensure quality.
C) Measuring how many units a certain employee completed on his or her shift.
D) Observing employees during the work shift to ensure that they are complying with standards.

Question 54

Since it is impossible for supervisors to check every item in production, they must:

A) Trust employee performance.
B) Implement controls to identify every mistake.
C) Use good judgement.
D) All of the above.

Question 55

Supervisors who play a key role in cost reduction usually do so with the help of their employees.

Question 56

When top management issues an order to cut costs across the board, supervisors should stop buying supplies and eliminate preventive maintenance programs.

Question 57

Production control involves routing operations, scheduling, and expediting work flow.

Question 58

_____ are performance critieria chosen for assessment because they are key indicators of overall performance.

A) Strategic control points
B) Motion studies
C) Time studies
D) Budget studies

Question 59

_____ uses feedforward controls at one time or another.

A) Some people
B) Most people
C) All people
D) None of the above

Question 60

The controlling function is most closely related to which other primary managerial function?

A) Leading
B) Planning
C) Staffing
D) Coordinating

Question 61

Kenneth is comparing market share data for his company's oral care products along with data for top competitors. He is surprised to learn that the company has slipped in market share for some oral care products. Market share data is an example of what type of standard?

A) Tangible standard
B) Intangible standard
C) Objective standard
D) Subjective standard

Question 62

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that a supervisor looks for when choosing one standard over another as a strategic control point?

A) It should be timely.
B) It should permit economical observation.
C) It should not require written reports and data collection.
D) It should provide for comprehensive control.

Question 63

While operating a backhoe, Stephen notices that a low-fuel light has just come on. This is an example of which time factor control mechanism?

A) Feedforward
B) Concurrent
C) Feedback
D) Retroactive

Question 64

Riya performs data analysis on performance reports submitted by institutions of higher education, primarily looking for data entry errors. This is an example of which time factor control mechanism?

A) Feedforward
B) Concurrent
C) Feedback
D) Retroactive

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement regarding the supervisor's role in controlling through budgets?

A) The budget that most concerns supervisors is usually the departmental expense budget.
B) Supervisors must refer to their budgets to monitor their expenditures during the operation period.
C) If a supervisor notes that actual expenditures for a specific item greatly exceed the budget, the supervisor should wait until the next budget cycle before taking any action.
D) Supervisors should demonstrate the actual need for each amount they request and document their requests with historical data whenever possible.

Question 66

Albert's manufacturing company produces over 1,000 units daily. When reviewing products for defects, he randomly inspects about 10 percent of the items actually produced. This example demonstrates which of the following?

A) Personal observation
B) The exception principle
C) Spot checking
D) Sampling

Question 67

Supervisors should be careful to choose strategic control points that do NOT significantly:

A) Improve performance.
B) Impede performance.
C) Impede other standards.
D) All of the above.

Question 68

A written plan expressed in numerical terms that projects anticipated resources and expenditures for a certain period of time is known as a/n:

A) Budget
B) Projection
C) Time and motion study
D) Utility

Question 69

Time studies are supposed to be:

A) Subjective.
B) Scientific.
C) Objective.
D) The best method of assessment.

Question 70

Tangible standards can measure all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Quantity of output.
B) Quality of output.
C) Time spent on providing a service.
D) An organization's reputation.

Question 71

Ron is establishing a preventative maintenance program at his work where machines are serviced on a regular schedule to prevent breakdowns in the future. This is an example of which time factor control mechanism?

A) Feedforward
B) Concurrent
C) Feedback
D) Retroactive

Question 72

At Best Facilities Inc., industrial engineers were brought to the assembly line to observe production and to identify ways to improve, eliminate, change, or combine steps to make the job easier and faster. This is an example of what type of study?

A) Concurrent study
B) Control study
C) Motion study
D) Time study

Question 73

As an accountant for a large marketing company, Conrad uses last year's budget to develop projections for the upcoming annual budget. This is an exmaple of what type of budgeting?

A) Incremental budgeting
B) Operational budgeting
C) Zero-base budgeting
D) Laissez-faire budgeting

Question 74

Oral and written reports are necessary when:

A) Departments are small.
B) Team members operate in one location.
C) Quick decisions need to be made.
D) Employees work around the clock.

Question 75

Care 1 Hospital is renowned for it's impeccable reputation and strong employee morale. These types of qualities can best be described as __________ standards.

A) tangible
B) intangible
C) objective
D) subjective

Question 76

Cost consciousness should primarily:

A) Consist of crash programs and economy drives.
B) Be considered as an ongoing part of the supervisors' and employees' jobs.
C) Involve no flexibility in establishing budgets.
D) Be a retraining program for all supervisors.

Question 77

If a cost-cutting order comes down from top management, the supervisor's best response is to:

A) Look for places to reduce expenses with the help of the employees.
B) Hold "pep rallies" with employees.
C) Stop buying any supplies.
D) Follow the directive halfheartedly.

Question 78

Which type of control involves keeping watch over raw materials, supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods?

A) Inventory control
B) Quality control
C) Production control
D) Budgetary control

Question 79

For Carla, a supply chain manager for a consumer goods manufacturer, her primary function is to monitor the flow of raw materials, supplies, work-in-process, and finished goods. This function is otherwise known as:

A) Quality control
B) Production control
C) Inventory control
D) Feedforward control

Question 80

While reviewing quality control reports, Jasper looks most closely at performance areas that are significantly higher or lower than what is normally reported. This example demonstrates use of

A) Personal observation
B) Sampling
C) Spot checking
D) The exception principle