CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING INTRO

Think again about the activity of planning a family vacation. Imagine you’ve just arrived at the airport, and you check the departures schedule only to find that your flight is delayed by 3 hours. You realize this will cause you to miss your connecting flight and eventually arrive at your destination well after midnight, so you decide to call the airline’s customer service number to see if they can get you on a different flight. Which management activity are you primarily engaging in?

• Analyzing and adapting to the environment

• Applying and distributing organizational resources

• Developing relationships with people

Management can be approached as either

• people or process

• organizing or strategic decision-making

• allocating resources or complying with legal responsibilities

Management as a process means

• hiring and firing employees

• planning, leading, organizing, and controlling resources and people to meet organizational goals

• leading, organizing, and controlling resources and employees to meet company goals

Although it may seem straightforward, the management process is complex. The management functions include:

• distributing resources to the highest bidder

• applying and distributing resources effectively

• applying organizational resources to urgent problems

As you’re walking out the door to head to the airport for your vacation, you go down a checklist in your head (or maybe on paper, if you’re really prepared): Did you bring your pajamas? Do you have your toothbrush? Does anyone need to visit the bathroom? These checks represent the management function of

• planning

• controlling

• leading

Answer explanation

Correct. Controlling is the process of monitoring activities, measuring performance, comparing results to objectives, and making modifications and corrections when needed.

To maintain peace, you’ve noted in the vacation plan that each family member will pick a restaurant for one night of the trip. Each person will be able to pick a favorite food or style. Deciding to handle meals this way represents the management function of

• leading

• organizing

• planning

Answer explanation

Correct. Organizing involves assigning authority and responsibility to various departments, allocating resources across the organization, and defining how the activities of groups and individuals will be coordinated.

What management function are you fulfilling as you decide on what activities and accommodations the family will partake of?

• Planning

• Organizing

• Leading

• Controlling

When you encourage everyone in your family to have fun and enjoy during the trip, you are ____ as a manager.

• Planning

• Organizing

• Leading

• Controlling

Management can be viewed as both ______ and ________ oriented.

What is your definition of GOOD management?