Question 1

What feature of Weberian bureaucracy is particularly prized by many who nevertheless criticize Weber's model?
A)Efficiency
B)Hierarchy
C)Predictability
D)Secrecy

Accepted Answer

Predictability is often prized because it allows for consistent and reliable outcomes, even though critics may argue that Weber's model can be overly rigid and impersonal.

Question 2

Considerable ambiguity exists in the goals of politics, administration, and performance.

Accepted Answer

The goals of politics, administration, and performance can often be ambiguous and open to interpretation.

Question 3

Which of the following was not an outcome of the National Partnership for Reinventing Government?
A)Reductions in program expenditures
B)Reductions in the number of federal employees
C)A reduction in dependence on regulation
D)The elimination of entitlement programs

Accepted Answer

The National Partnership for Reinventing Government did not result in the elimination of entitlement programs. Instead, the focus was on reducing program expenditures, streamlining government operations, and reducing the number of federal employees while improving service delivery to citizens.

Question 4

While Weberian hierarchies are used for recordkeeping and auditing, agencies increasingly organize work around projects or problems.Weberian command- and control-oriented hierarchies and bureaucratic secrecy have also diminished.

Accepted Answer

The statement is correct in stating that agencies are shifting towards organizing work around projects or problems, and that traditional aspects of Weberian hierarchies such as command and control and bureaucratic secrecy have diminished.

Question 5

The conflict between those advocating a higher standard of living and those seeking to enhance the quality of life is symbolized by confrontation over
A)developing new means of exploiting the resources of outer space versus pure space exploration versus no space research.
B)foreign policy.
C)construction of nuclear power plants.
D)guns versus butter.

Accepted Answer

The conflict between advocating for a higher standard of living and enhancing the quality of life often manifests in debates over environmental and health concerns versus economic and energy benefits, symbolized by the construction of nuclear power plants.

Question 6

Greater public participation makes decision making less secret and improves accountability.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Greater public participation makes decision making less...

Question 7

All of the following represent a "twilight zone" between the public and private sectors and are not clearly public-sector, nonprivate agencies: Medicare, health systems agencies, community action agencies, Amtrak, and the Legal Services Corporation.

Accepted Answer

All of these entities represent a blending of public and private sectors and cannot be clearly defined as solely public-sector agencies.

Question 8

Which of the following is most conducive to administrative rationality?
A)Incrementalism
B)Organizational development
C)Participation
D)Strong, centralized leadership

Accepted Answer

Strong, centralized leadership provides clear guidance and direction, allowing for efficient and rational decision-making processes within the organization. It also ensures that decisions are made quickly and effectively, without the need for extensive consultation or participation, which can slow down the decision-making process. Incrementalism, organizational development, and participation may all have benefits in certain contexts, but they are not necessarily conducive to administrative rationality in the way that strong, centralized leadership is.

Question 9

The knowledge explosion has created more precision and certainty in government decision making and public administration.

Accepted Answer

The knowledge explosion has indeed provided more information, but it has also introduced complexity and uncertainty in decision-making due to information overload, rapidly changing data, and the challenge of integrating diverse knowledge into coherent policies.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a consequence or example of postnationalism?
A)The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
B)The Quebec separatist movement
C)Tribalism in Africa
D)Import/export conflicts between the United States and Japan

Accepted Answer

Import/export conflicts between the United States and Japan are related to national economic interests and trade policies, which are not examples of postnationalism. Postnationalism involves diminishing national boundaries and identities, often seen in agreements like NAFTA or movements like Quebec separatism, which challenge traditional national sovereignty.

Question 11

Which of the following changes in public personnel management was not affected by the Bush administration's actions during Bush's first term as president?
A)Collective bargaining
B)Performance appraisal
C)Attempted restructuring of the basic pay system
D)Senior Executive Service staffing

Accepted Answer

The Bush administration focused on changes like performance appraisal and restructuring the pay system, but there was no significant change in the staffing of the Senior Executive Service during his first term.

Question 12

Overhead bureaucracy refers to the added costs imposed on government from public employees' inability to control costs and manage programs.

Accepted Answer

Overhead bureaucracy refers to the administrative costs and processes associated with managing and operating an organization, not specifically to public employees' inability to control costs and manage programs.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a factor contributing to tendencies toward centralization in government and society?
A)Citizen growth
B)Population growth
C)Population mobility
D)Technology

Accepted Answer

Citizen growth would not necessarily contribute to tendencies toward centralization; in fact, it could potentially lead to decentralization as more individuals become involved in local politics and advocacy. Population growth, population mobility, and technology have all been identified as possible factors contributing to centralization.

Question 14

Which of the following dimensions of public personnel management was not affected by the Reagan administration's actions during his first term as president?
A)Budget reductions for personnel functions
B)Performance appraisal
C)Restructuring of the basic pay system
D)Senior Executive Service staffing

Accepted Answer

The Reagan administration affected various aspects of public personnel management, but restructuring of the basic pay system was not a focus during his first term. The administration was more focused on budget reductions, performance appraisal improvements, and changes in the Senior Executive Service staffing.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an argument in favor of Weberian bureaucracy as an organizational form?
A)The need for broad, complex organizations to address broad, complex tasks
B)The attractiveness of stimulative and collaborative leadership rather than leadership through channels
C)A system in which legal guarantees against agency arbitrariness can be safeguarded by incorporating them into standard operating procedures
D)Bureaucracy's orderliness

Accepted Answer

Weberian bureaucracy emphasizes the importance of hierarchical channels of leadership rather than stimulative and collaborative leadership, which is not considered a positive feature of this organizational form. The need for broad, complex organizations, legal safeguards against agency arbitrariness, and orderliness are all arguments in favor of Weberian bureaucracy.

Question 16

Among the new assumptions about government are all of the following except
A)taxpayers are less willing to approve tax increases.
B)programs are better administered at the state and local levels.
C)public managers are overpaid.
D)government cannot do anything right.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Among the new assumptions about government are...

Question 17

"Overhead democracy" means
A)democratic, gregarious leadership styles.
B)majority control through political representatives.
C)participatory management in superior-subordinate relations.
D)presidential influence over congressional actions.
E)the view of democracy given by apathetic voters who believe that voting does not change the way government operates.

Accepted Answer

"Overhead democracy" refers to the idea that the government operates above the citizens, rather than being controlled by them. In this context, it specifically refers to the concept of majority control through political representatives, which is the best fit for the definition of the term.

Question 18

The production of goods and services is a central feature of postindustrial society.

Accepted Answer

Postindustrial society is characterized by an economy based on services and information, rather than the production of goods.

Question 19

The primary advantage of social media is its use in restricting the expansion free speech and open communication.

Accepted Answer

The primary advantage of social media is not to restrict free speech and open communication, but rather to facilitate and enhance it.

Question 20

Modern public administration is expected to simultaneously optimize all of the following except
A)accountability.
B)efficiency.
C)public participation and representativeness.
D)weak leadership.

Accepted Answer

Weak leadership is not expected in modern public administration. All of the other options are expected to be optimized.

Quiz 12: Conclusion: Public Administration in a Time of Conflict and Change

What feature of Weberian bureaucracy is particularly prized by many who nevertheless criticize Weber's model?

Considerable ambiguity exists in the goals of politics, administration, and performance.

Which of the following was not an outcome of the National Partnership for Reinventing Government?

While Weberian hierarchies are used for recordkeeping and auditing, agencies increasingly organize work around projects or problems.Weberian command- and control-oriented hierarchies and bureaucratic secrecy have also diminished.

The conflict between those advocating a higher standard of living and those seeking to enhance the quality of life is symbolized by confrontation over

Greater public participation makes decision making less secret and improves accountability.

All of the following represent a "twilight zone" between the public and private sectors and are not clearly public-sector, nonprivate agencies: Medicare, health systems agencies, community action agencies, Amtrak, and the Legal Services Corporation.

Which of the following is most conducive to administrative rationality?

The knowledge explosion has created more precision and certainty in government decision making and public administration.

Which of the following is NOT a consequence or example of postnationalism?

Which of the following changes in public personnel management was not affected by the Bush administration's actions during Bush's first term as president?

Overhead bureaucracy refers to the added costs imposed on government from public employees' inability to control costs and manage programs.

Which of the following is not a factor contributing to tendencies toward centralization in government and society?

Which of the following dimensions of public personnel management was not affected by the Reagan administration's actions during his first term as president?

Which of the following is NOT an argument in favor of Weberian bureaucracy as an organizational form?

Among the new assumptions about government are all of the following except

"Overhead democracy" means

The production of goods and services is a central feature of postindustrial society.

The primary advantage of social media is its use in restricting the expansion free speech and open communication.

Modern public administration is expected to simultaneously optimize all of the following except