REVISION QUESTIONS
A general point to address, where necessary, in your response to every question: How are
these different approaches to organizational decision making likely to influence stakeholder
involvement in the decision making process?
Also, where appropriate, illustrate your answers with illustrative examples.
1. Why is the possession of interpersonal skills an important aspect of management?
What level of management should be responsible for interpersonal relationships in a business
organisation?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
2. What are the problems commonly associated with Scientific Management?
3. Is the Weberian theory of bureaucracy of any use to the modern understanding of
organisational management?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
4. Outline the main steps in the rational decision making process.
Define the concepts as appropriate and illustrate your answer with an example.
5. What are the main differences between the administrative and political models of decision
making?
6. Can you describe a case when it might be correct for a manager to act on a ‘hunch’ or an
intuitive feeling?
7. Why is decision making through consensus not universally accepted by managers?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
8. Outline how a systems approach could be applied to describe organisational structure and
activity.
9. Identify some key factors in the external environment of an organisation that are likely to affect
its conduct and performance.
Provide an illustrative example.
10. Is it realistic to expect commercial firms to incur significant costs to prepare for potentially
disastrous but rare events? Why?
11. Define business planning and outline the key elements of a generic business plan.
12. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of long term planning in a commercial firm?
13. What do you understand by succession planning? What are the risks of succession planning in a
family-owned, small manufacturing company?
14. Do modern businesses need a strong central authority? Why?
15. In what way may organisational history or past performance influence the way in which
resources are deployed in business organisations?
16. What environmental factors influence the decision to centralize or decentralize decision making
in a global corporation, which operates branches/subsidiaries in several countries?
17. Why have flexible working patters become so prevalent in modern organisations?
18. What makes an effective leader?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
19. Give an example of a charismatic and transformational leader.
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
20. Can creative people flourish in a highly controlled decision environment?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
21. What forms of resistance to a control system may be evident from employees?
Discuss and provide an illustrative example.
22. What characteristics should an organisational control system have to be effective?