Part I: Short Answer (40%)
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Directions
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| You have 8 short answer questions worth 5 points each. The short answer questions will come in
various forms such as: List three types of _____ ; Define and explain how three types of
_____ operate; Explain what is meant by ______ ; In the video/case what was meant by
_____? Accordingly, some answers will involve listing terms while other will require
describing terms or concepts in either a few sentences or short paragraphs. You should
also be able to apply them to videos and handouts discussed in class. In general, there
will not be much overlap between the essay questions and the short answer questions. |
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Terms/Concepts
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| Differences between managing in the public and
private sector |
When to use group decision making |
| Federalism |
Strengths and weaknesses of group decision making |
| Categorical vs. Block Grants |
Work specialization |
| Different types of mandates |
Departmentalization |
| Changing state roles over time |
Chain of command |
| Trends in federal-state relations |
Span of control |
| Budget deficit vs. debt |
Centralization vs. decentralization |
| Pros and cons of different revenue sources |
Formalization |
| Regressive vs. progressive taxes |
Leader follower organizations |
| Horizontal vs. vertical equity |
Pyramid/Bureaucracy |
| Rational planning or decision-making model |
Consortium |
| Assumptions of the rational model |
Adhocracy/Matrix |
| Strengths and weaknesses of the rational model |
Work groups vs. teams |
| Bounded rationality |
Cohesiveness
of work groups/teams |
| Incrementalism |
Forecasting |
| group
think/groupshift |
Normative vs. exploratory forecasts
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| cognitive bolstering |
Forecasting techniques |
| escalation of commitment/entrapment |
Factors
affecting forecast accuracy |
| defensive avoidance |
Organizational culture |
| stereotyping |
Creating and sustaining an
organization's culture |
| Group decision-making techniques |
Ways employees learn an organization's
culture |
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Part II: Essay Questions (60%)
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Directions
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| You will have to answer two
of the questions below (30 points each). Each answer should clearly address all aspects of the question.
You should define all key terms/concepts used in your answer. You should also support your
answer using examples from books, lectures, class notes, videos, or handouts whenever
possible. |
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| 1) Describe the major trends if federal state
relations over the last 200 years. In
your answer, be sure to address the following: 1) has the trend been
towards increased centralization (i.e., greater federal control) or
decentralization of federal authority (i.e., more state control); 2) what are the causes of increased
centralization/decentralization; 3) are state and local governments in a
better position to take on additional responsibilities today; and finally,
4) explain whether you think the trend towards centralization or
decentralization will continue into the future.
Why or why not? |
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| 2) Imagine that a foreign exchange student has come
to live with you and she is unfamiliar with how our federal system
operates. To her it seems
clumsy and inefficient. She
doesn’t understand why the constitution doesn’t give all of the power
to either the federal government or to state/local governments.
Write an essay defending the merits of the U.S. federal system and
how it enhances democratic values. In
essay form, explain to her what federalism is and how it developed in the
United States over the last 200 years.
Be sure to discuss how the relationship between the federal and
state governments has changed. Speculate
about where the current trend seems to be heading and why you think that
is the case. She also wants
to know how different ideas about federalism influence politics in the
United States. Provide some
examples of how different ideas about federalism influence conservative
and liberal policy solutions. |
| |
| 3) Your friend is a management major in the Business
school. One night while you
and your friend were having dinner, you begin to have a discussion
about whether it is easier to manage in the private or public sector.
Your friend insisted that there were no substantive differences
between managing in the private or public sector.
Do you agree? Write an essay which explains your position.
In your answer, be sure to discuss at least 4 frequently identified
differences between managing in the public and private sector.
Do you think these differences are important?
Why? In formulating
your answer be sure to explain why you think it is easier, harder, or just
different managing in the private as compared to the public sector? |
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| 4) Compare and contrast the rational
planning/decision making model with one other decision making model
discussed in class. Be sure
to articulate the differences between the two models and the strengths and
weaknesses of each model. If
you were a town planner and in charge of developing a comprehensive land
use plan, which model do you think you would use to try and formulate the
plan? Which model do you
think would most accurately reflect how decisions were actually made?
Explain your reasoning. |
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| 5) Imagine you have just been appointed to lead an
effort to revise the comprehensive land use plan for Wilmington.
You remember from your days in PLS 308 that the rational decision
making/planning model is often recommended.
Describe the key steps in the rational planning/decision making
model. What are its
underlying assumptions? Do
you think this is an
appropriate model to use? What
are its strengths and weaknesses? Is
this the model you would use? Why
or why not? |
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| 6) Imagine you work in the Governor’s office in
North Carolina (He’s a Democrat). You
are formulating your budget submission for next year and need to raise
some additional revenue to pay for some new education programs targeted at
elementary school children. The
Governor has asked you to identify 4 potential revenue sources and wants
you to describe the positive and negative aspects of each. What factors would you want to consider when evaluating the
four potential revenue sources? Be
sure to identify the revenue source(s) which you think is most appropriate
based on these factors. Be
sure to define all key terms for the Governor and you have heard that he
likes lots of examples so be sure to use them in your answer. |
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| 7) Imagine you have been appointed by the Mayor to
lead an effort to revise the comprehensive land use plan for Wilmington.
You will be creating several advisory committees and lots of
individual and group decisions will have to be made.
At the initial organizational meeting one of the things you want to
discuss with those involved in the planning effort is to be aware that
individuals and groups tend to experience psychological common problems
when forced to make decisions. Explain
in essay form four of the common psychological problems experienced
by individuals and groups when making decisions.
Be sure to provide examples of each problem to support your answer.
Be sure to identify the problems you think are most likely to occur
and the steps you can take to avoid these problems. |
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| 8) Compare and contrast four of the common patterns
of organization that were discussed in class and your readings.
Be sure to discuss the characteristics of each type of organization
as well as its strengths and weaknesses.
Be sure to provide an example of each type of organization. |
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| 9)
In class, we discussed how 6 different factors
could be used to examine the structure of an organization.
Pick an organization you are familiar with (it can not be a UNCW
organization). Describe the
structure of the organization using these six characteristics.
Be sure to identify the factors that you feel are most important in
determining how the organization is structured.
Are there ways that the structure of the organization could be
improved to make it more effective? Be
sure to define key terms and use examples to support your answer. |
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| 10) In the
handout entitled “The Best Organization
is No Organization” the author describes how various organizations are
getting rid of their formal structures.
The author then raises the following question: “Are we witnessing
the end of the organizational chart?”
Write an essay which answers this question.
Be sure to consider the following: 1) What pattern or type of
organization does the author seem to advocate; 2) discuss the factors
which are causing some organizations to abandon the traditional pyramid
structure; 3) what are the advantages and disadvantages of getting rid of
formal organizational structures; and, 4) how important is leadership and
managerial skill in an organization without a formal structure compared to
organizations with a very formal structure? |
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| 11) Write
an essay explaining why organizational culture is important to
organizations. In your essay, be sure to describe the following:
what are the different ways that organizational culture is established;
how do you sustain organizational culture; and, how do new employees learn
organizational culture. |
