Test Bank 1
Chapters 1-8
Short Answer
1. How would you distinguish between engineering management and management in
general?
2. Give an example of the Abilene Paradox, other than the ones given in class.
Write your example in paragraph form stating the Abilene Paradox and how your
example conforms to this paradigm. State this so that someone outside of class may
understand what we are talking about.
3. What have we learned from classical management thinking? Give 3 items
4. What was a positive value of Max Weber’s model of “bureaucracy”?
5. Comments have been made as to the positive and negative aspects of Frederick
Taylor’s teachings. Give 2 positive comments on the teachings and discuss.
6. A strategy is a statement about the way to achieve objectives. Why is it important to
have alternate strategies?
2
7. What changes in an organization structure might you expect as a result of the
information revolution?
8. Can multinational companies overcome the need for co-location of team members
when the teams must be created with people who come from greatly separated
geographical locations? If your answer is yes, how can they accomplish this? If your
answer is no, support your answer.
9. Give a company’s mission that you found on the web.
10. What is a difference in a Vision and a Mission for a company?
11. Some companies require that employees who receive training at the company’s
expense enter into a contractual agreement to stay with the company a number of
years or repay the company if they leave. Is this unduly restrictive, or is it justifiable?
Why?
3
12. What are four items to remember when putting your resume together?
13. Do you think that engineering leaders of today are leaning more toward the servant
leadership? Why? 2 reasons.
14. In considering leaders, name a leader and 3 of the qualities discussed that this
person has.
15. Why is planning said to have “primacy” among the managerial functions?
16. If as a manager of an engineering company you ask that engineers become more
familiar with financial reports, what would you tell them are the benefits? Give 3.
4
17. Usually we address the Scientific Method for solving problems, why is the
engineering problem solving method better for engineers?
18. Distinguish between traditional line authority and staff authority. Give an example
within your university. (or in your company)
A. List 4 characteristics of the Delphi technique.
B. Give an example of a situation to use the Delphi technique.
20. Herzberg specifically classed salary as a hygiene factor, not a motivator.
How does salary fit in with Maslow’s hierarchy? Discuss how these two
5
Quantitative Problems
1. Based on the expected value, which of the investment options listed below is the best
choice, if my choice is to make money. The states of the economy are given with their
probability of occurrence. Also given is the amount of money to be made in each state
(given in thousands of dollars)
States of
nature
Alternatives
.4
Solid Growth
.3
Recession
.3
Inflation
Expected Value
Bonds 12 6 3
Stocks 15 -2 4
Certificates of
Deposits
4.5
4.5
4.5
2. WP Machine shop makes deluxe and regular skis on a weekly schedule for the area
skiing enthusiasts. They also supply both regular and deluxe skis to local sporting
goods stores. A deluxe pair of skis requires 40 minutes for roughing and 20 minutes
for finishing, whereas a regular pair of skis requires 20 minutes for roughing and 27
minutes for finishing. With only 1,000 minutes for roughing and 800 minutes of
finishing time available per week and a profit realization of 4 Euros and 3 Euros for the
deluxe and regular, respectively, what weekly mix of the two types of skis should be
produced to meet the contract’s requirement and maximize profits.
Do Not Solve!!!
∞ What is the problem?
Give (in mathematical terms):
∞ Decision Variables –
∞ Objective Function –
∞ Constraints –
6
3. Super Electronics, Inc. is a specialist in the emerging field of microcomputers. The
firm currently produces two products: a personal computer with the label GE-1000 and
a small computer with the label GE-2000. The company has set up two modern
production assembly lines. The assembly time requirements, the production
capacities of assembly lines, and the unit profit for the two products are as follows:
Production
GE-1000
Hours/unit
Production
GE-2000
Hours/unit
Production
Capacity
Hours/week
Assembly line 1 4 2 80
Assembly line 2 1 3 60
Unit profit $150 $250
The management of Galaxy Electronics is attempting to determine the best possible
weekly production schedule for GE-1000 and GE-2000 to maximize total profit.
Do Not Solve!!!
What is the problem?
Give (in mathematical terms):
Decision Variables –
Objective Function –
Constraints –
A: Problem – How many each of products GE-1000 and GE-2000 to produce in a week.
4. The Blue Manufacturing Company has had sales for the years 2006through 2009 have
been $48,000, $64,000, $67,000, and $83,000, respectively.
a. What sales would you predict for 2010 using a weighted moving average with weights
of 0.50 for the immediate preceding year and 0.30, 0.15, and 0.05 for the three years
before that?
7
c. Are the answers in a and b the only predictions to use? Why?
5. The Bozo Sales Company has had sales for the years 2004 through 2007 have been
$50,000, $64,000, $67,000, and $80,000, respectively.
a. What sales would you predict for 2008 using a weighted moving average with weights
of 0.40 for the immediate preceding year and 0.30, 0.20, and 0.10 for the three years
b. What sales would you predict for 2008 using a simple four-year moving average?
c. Are the answers in a and b the only predictions to use? Why?