MGT1014 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MANAGEMENT

TUTORIAL 1 (Fundamentals of Management)- Week 2

Discussion Question
1. Explain the primary functions of management. In your opinion, which management
function is the most vital for the success of organizations?
TUTORIAL 2 (History of Management)- Week 3
Discussion Question
Fayols 14 principles of management were first published in 1916. Are they as useful
today as they were then? Why or why not? When are they most, and least, useful?
True/ False Questions:
1. Economies of scale are best described as the increase in the average cost of a unit
of production as the total volume produced increases.
2. Max Weber, a German sociologist, believed that bureaucratic structures can
eliminate the variability that results when managers in the same organisation have
different skills, experience, and goals.
3. During the first stage of the Hawthorne Studies, various working conditions were
altered to determine the effects of these changes on productivity. The results
reflected no change in productivity.
4. In the evolution of management thought, the systems theory and the contingency
theory are classed as contemporary approaches.
5. Max Webers theory X and theory Y perspective marked the transition from human
relations perspectives.
Match Terms With Definitions:
a. Hawthorne Studies
b. Scientific Management

c. Bureaucracy
d. Division of labor

_____ 1. The breakdown of jobs into narrow, repetitive tasks.

_____ 2. Mayos conclusions about this led to a new emphasis on the human
behaviour factor in management.
_____ 3. A form of organisation advocated by Max Weber and marked by division of
labor, hierarchy, rules and regulations, and impersonal relationships.
_____ 4. The use of the scientific method to define the one best way for a job to be
done.

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Short Answer Questions:
1. What is the approach that requires managers to use different approaches and
techniques in different and changing situations?
2. Today when we describe organizations as systems, we mean ___________ systems.
3. The unity of command principle is a major feature of ____________ management
theory.
4. A man cannot serve two masters is a Biblican injunction that could be applied to
the theories of _________________.
5. Paying each worker in direct proportion to his or her production is a feature of the
_________________ school of management.

TUTORIAL 3 (Ethics and Social Responsibility)- Week 4

Discussion Question:
1.

Identify and compare the four views for defining the ethicality of human
behavior.

TUTORIAL 4 (Planning)- Week 5

Structured Questions:
1. List the basic steps in the formal planning process. Suppose you are a top executive
of a 5 stars hotel and you want to launch a new hotel website. Provide examples of
activities you would carry out during each step to create the site.

TUTORIAL 5 (Strategic Management)- Week 6

Structured Questions:
1. Briefly, describe the Boston Consulting Group matrix, including its dimensions,
quadrants, and strategic recommendations.

True/False Questions:
1. Strategic management is the set of managerial decisions and actions that determine
the short-term performance of an organization.
2. The first step in the strategic management process is analyzing the external
environment.
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3. Generally, strategic plans do not work well for small, entrepreneurial companies.
4. SWOT analysis includes an analysis of an organization's environmental
opportunities and threats.
5. Corporate-level strategies are developed for organizations that run more than one
type of business.
6. A trucking company that grows by purchasing a chain of gasoline stations is
engaged in horizontal integration.
7. Based on the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix, the business group that is
characterized by having low growth but high market share is known as a cash cow.
8. The BCG matrix evaluates SBUs to identify which SBUs offer high potential and
which drain organizational resources.
9. Dogs, one of the four business groups in the corporate portfolio mix, are
characterized by low growth and low market share.
10. Within an industry, an environment can present opportunities to one organization
and pose threats to another.

TUTORIAL 6 (Organising)- Week 7

Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using functional structure.
2. Explain matrix structure with the aid of a diagram.

TUTORIAL 7 (Human Resource Management)- Week 8

Discussion Questions:
1.

Why is human resource management important and what external factors influence
the human resource management process?

2.

Explain the key problems or biases that an appraiser should be aware of when
conducting a performance appraisal.

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TUTORIAL 9 (Leadership)- Week 9
Matching Questions
1. Match each source of power with the correct phrase:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Control over punishments

Control overvalued outcomes
Authority to tell others what to do
Possession of knowledge

___1. Legitimate Power

___2. Reward Power
___3. Coercive Power
___4. Expert Power

2. Match each trait with the appropriate phrase:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Integrity
Drive
Self-Confidence
Leadership Motivation

___1. reflects a high level of effort

___2. people who want to lead
___3. matching actions and words
___4. enables one to overcome obstacles

Discussion Questions

1. Explain the FIVE (5) sources in which leader power has been identified. Include
specific examples of each source of power to support your answer.

True/False Questions:
1. Managers and leaders are the same.
2. Not all leaders have the capabilities or skills needed to hold managerial positions.
3. Leadership is based on authority granted from the organizational position.

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TUTORIAL 10 (Leadership-continued) & Motivation Week 10
Discussion Questions:
1. The most generally useful situational model of leadership effectiveness is a pathgoal theory. Describe the contents of path-goal theory, and the key situational
factors.
2. Explain the THREE (3) key relationships in Expectancy theory and their
managerial implications in motivation.
True/False Questions:
1. Robert House's supportive leader consults with subordinates and uses their
suggestions before making a decision.
2. Robert House assumed that leadership style changes depending on the situation.
3. Path-goal theory holds that subordinates with an external locus of control will
be more satisfied with a directive style.
4. Charisma is the ability to create and articulate a realistic, credible, attractive
vision of the future for any organization or organizational unit that grows out of
and improves on the present.
5. The evidence supports the superiority of transformational leadership over
transactional leadership.

TUTORIAL 11 (Motivation)- Week 11

1. Discuss the difference between Maslow and Alderfers needs theory. Support your
answers with examples.

Scenario Questions
Pay TV
There is no industry in America whose reputation for appalling customer service
outshines that of the nations pay-TV providers. Much of the blame for this terrible
customer service is blamed on outsourcing. To cut costs, most pay-TV providers
have farmed out customer service functions to vast call centers that hire low-paid,
poorly trained employees who lack any incentive to care about faceless customers.
There is one exception to that ruleDirecTV, which has the best customer service
record in the industry even though it, too, uses outsourcing. The primary difference
between DirecTV and other pay-TV providers is money. The customer service reps
get free satellite TV at their homes after three months on the job. The call reps are
invited to special events and given the opportunity to mingle with NFL stars and
television celebrities. In addition, the reps were given the power to handle customers
complaints themselves, rather than simply acting as listeners.
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1. Refer to Pay TV. In terms of the management function of leading, _____ is the
source of poor customer service by most pay-TV providers.
a. strategic planning
b. tactical implementation
c. motivation
d. communications
e. autonomy
2. Refer to Pay TV. The providing of free satellite television to call reps after three
months of employee is an example of a(n):
a. extrinsic reward
b. absolute reinforcement
c. valence motivator
d. intrinsic reward
e. over reward
3. Refer to Pay TV. According to the _____, employees at most call centers would
likely believe they are being treated unfairly.
a. expectancy theory
b. trait theory
c. goal-setting theory
d. reinforcement theory
e. equity theory
4. Refer to Pay TV. Apparently, rewards such as empowerment and free satellite
television have a _____ for people who are the customer service reps for DirecTV.
a. low instrumentality
b. high valence
c. high over reward value
d. low reinforcement value
e. low valence
5. Refer to Pay TV. According to the reinforcement theory, the giving of the free
satellite television would be an example of:
a. extinction
b. high instrumentality
c. reinforcement on a variable ratio schedule
d. positive reinforcement
e. equitable reinforcement

ScenarioOdysess Miller
Odysess Miller was a successful manager for one of the subsidiaries at Tour Unlimited.
He was responsible for 232 workers and had a span of control of eight lower level
managers. Odysess has decided to try to increase performance and productivity by the
careful use of motivational theories.
1.

The hygiene factors, or dissatisfiers, that Odysess can influence include all of the
following EXCEPT

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a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2.

salary and wages.

supervision relationships.
working conditions.
company policies.
all are hygiene factors.

The motivator factors, or satisfiers, that Odysess can change and influence
includes all of the following EXCEPT
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

3.

recognition.
growth opportunities.
achievement.
salary.
all are motivator factors.

Odysess understands that perceived inequity creates tensions within individuals

that motivate them to bring equity back into balance, and one of his production
supervisors feels that she is underpaid. Which of the following is not a common
method for reducing perceived inequity?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Change in his inputs to the organization

Change his outcomes from the organization
Distort his perception
Leave the job for a new one
All are common methods

TUTORIAL 12 (Communication and Teamwork)- Week 12

Class Activity
Think of a group to which you belong (or have belonged), describe the following
characteristics of your group: role structure, behavior norms, cohesiveness and
formal/informal leadership. Prepared your answer in a bulleted form and be prepared
to share your answer with the class.

TUTORIAL 13 (Managerial Control)- Week 13

Discussion Questions:
1. Describe feedforward, feedback, and concurrent control.
2. Briefly describe market control at the corporate level, business unit level, and
individual level.

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