Review Sheet
Mid-Term Exam
Part I: Short Answer (40%) |
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Directions |
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| You have 10 short answer questions worth 4 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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Part II: Essay Questions (60%) |
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Directions |
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| You will have to answer three of the questions below (20 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 a few drinks, 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? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4) 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? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5) 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6) 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7) 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8) Read the case titled Ann’s Dilemma. You can download the reading by clicking here. This is a two part question. Be sure to answer both a and b. Suppose you are Ann and answer the following questions: a) Write a memo to your boss, Harry Goetz, that responds to his request. Be sure to explain the rationale behind your decision; b) briefly explain the competing ethical obligations that Ann faces, the options she has for dealing with this situation, and some of the potential consequences of these options. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9) The readings, cases, class discussion, and lecture notes all highlight the importance of effective communication. It is also clear that there are numerous barriers to effective communication. Describe five barriers to effective communication described in the lecture notes and use specific examples from the Waco case reading or video to provide examples of each barrier (i.e., communication problem). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10) 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11) 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12) 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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13) 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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14) In the case “The Good and Bad Administrator”, the workers were unhappy with their supervisor George Krittenbrink. Describe Krittenbrink’s leadership style. Is this style appropriate given the organization’s tasks? If not, what leadership style would be more appropriate? What sources of power does Krittenbrink have? Are there any sources of power that he needs to do his job more effectively? |
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15) Identify two individuals from the cases or the movies we saw who had power over others. What are their different sources of power? How do these sources of power make them an effective manager? How do these sources of power make them an effective leader? Did they use their power effectively? Why or why not? |
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| 16) In class we discussed three early theories (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, McGregor’s Theory X and Y, and Hertzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory) of what motivates individuals. We also briefly discussed goal-setting theory and reinforcement theory in class. Briefly discuss 3 of the 5 theories and describe how each of them could be used to explain what motivates your performance as a college student. Which theory(s) do you feel is the most accurate portrayal of what motivates your performance in PLS 308? If you are not motivated to perform, why not? How could these theories be used to describe your lack of motivation. Make sure to provide examples to support your answer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shaded terms and questions will not be on the exam