Chapter 6: Decision-Making

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The definition of leadership used in this book is “a process of influencing others toward a common vision.” Inherent in this definition is the need to ______.

A. determine a course of action

B. craft a strong identity

C. always remember where you came from

D. develop extroverted skills

Learning Objective: 6.1: Interpret the role of decision-making in leadership.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. You know you are working on a ______ problem when there is a known solution to the issue (even if it is still difficult to implement).

A. partial

B. adaptive

C. technical

D. simple

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. You know you are working on a ______ problem when a solution does not yet exist.

A. deep

B. adaptive

C. technical

D. high-level

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. You are in charge of a large software update on your office’s computers that will cause disruption to some services. This is an example of a ______ problem.

A. advanced

B. adaptive

C. simplistic

D. technical

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. You decide to dedicate your life to the cause of ending cancer. This is an example of a ______ problem.

A. adaptive

B. technical

C. leadership

D. management

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. There are two types of problems that leaders encounter. What is their primary difference?

A. One is for leadership and one is for management.

B. One requires vision and one requires facilitation.

C. One has a defined solution, while the other does not and requires continual learning.

D. One is old and one is new.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. It requires experimentation and engaging in continuous learning to best understand how to tackle ______ problems.

A. human

B. technical

C. pervasive

D. adaptive

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. ______ is defined as the process of making a choice or determining a course of action.

A. Deciding

B. Collective bargaining

C. Sensemaking

D. Intuiting

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. ______ is a specific process of choosing the best option.

A. Deciding

B. Winnowing

C. Decision-making

D. Management

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. ______ are factors deemed essential to consider in the process of choosing a course of action.

A. Decision criteria

B. Decision elements

C. Decision requirements

D. Decision slivers

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. When purchasing a car, you may use the following factors to make the decision: color, fuel-type, new or used, professional reviews, sales and rebates, and so on. These are examples of ______.

A. making an informed decision

B. decision criteria

C. characteristics to examine

D. things to consider

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. A ______ is made up of individuals who are coordinating their work for some reason or another.

A. team

B. department

C. community

D. group

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. A ______ is a made up of individuals with a collective target.

A. coalition

B. team

C. community

D. group

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. Which of the following is not one of the advantages of group decision-making?

A. It can be swifter.

B. It can accumulate and utilize more knowledge.

C. It can incorporate a broader perspective.

D. It can increase individual satisfaction by increasing participation.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Which of the following is not one of the disadvantages of group decision-making?

A. It is often slower than individual decision-making.

B. It may involve considerable compromise.

C. Overreliance on group decision-making can inhibit the ability to act quickly and decisively.

D. It can incorporate more knowledge.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. A ______ exists when an individual or group knows what they should do, but struggle to make the right decision for various reasons.

A. belief gap

B. problem gap

C. decision–action gap

D. gap

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. ______ are controversial topics that for a variety of reasons are avoided.

A. Nondecisions

B. Nonfactors

C. Invisible decisions

D. Invisible factors

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. While it would seem logical that when we make decision we work to determine the ideal solution, we often ______ instead.

A. sacrifice

B. satisfice

C. stall

D. simplify

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. When a decision is made, it can be either rational or intuitive. What is their main difference?

A. One is sanctioned by the organization, whereas the other is not.

B. One follows an established process, whereas the other relies more on a hunch or gut feeling.

C. One relies on historical analysis, whereas the other is future-oriented.

D. One requires justification, whereas the other does not.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. When making a decision in a group context, you will need to focus on at least two dimensions: ______.

A. communication and alignment

B. vision and relationships

C. Alignment and vision

D. process/task and relationships

Learning Objective: 6.4: Understand decision-making at the group/team level.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: In Leadership, Decision-Making Is a Team Sport (Much of the Time)

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. Which of the following is not a critical ingredient for any competent team?

A. a clear mission

B. resources

C. a structure aligned with the mission

D. effective delegation

Learning Objective: 6.4: Understand decision-making at the group/team level.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Designing (and Deciding) How the Team Will Work

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. ______ means that the time it takes to make a decision increases as the number and complexity of choices increases.

A. Moore’s law

B. Intricacy

C. Hick’s law

D. Convolution

Learning Objective: 6.4: Understand decision-making at the group/team level.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Leadership by Design

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Which of the following is not a viable decision-making option?

A. decide alone

B. consult group

C. delegate

D. delay

Learning Objective: 6.4: Understand decision-making at the group/team level.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Decision-Making Style

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. Which is the following is not a recognized model of decision-making?

A. EvalUATE

B. PrOACT

C. GOFER

D. DECIDE

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. This chapter focuses on the SOLVE model of decision-making, though it acknowledges its limitations as well. Which of the following is a common decision-making step that the SOLVE model does not include?

A. evaluation

B. implementation

C. making a decision

D. understanding

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Hard

26. Which of the following is not a common pitfall at the “Set Roles” stage of the SOLVE model?

A. Not enough time is given to this phase.

B. People forget their role.

C. Roles are not defined.

D. One individual takes on multiple roles.

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

27. Which of the following is not a common pitfall at the “Outline the problem and decision criteria” stage of the SOLVE model?

A. The problem is not accurately defined.

B. Inaccurate assumptions are made about the problem.

C. Too much time is given to this phase.

D. There is lack of clarity around decision criteria.

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. Which of the following is not a common pitfall at the “List multiple strategies” stage of the SOLVE model?

A. Perfect becomes the enemy of the good.

B. The group moves too slowly through the process.

C. The group stays in a place of only seeing the barriers.

D. The group struggles to make a decision.

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

29. Which of the following is not a common pitfall at the “Veer toward consensus” stage of the SOLVE model?

A. The group fails to reach a consensus.

B. The leader becomes overly concerned with finding the “right” answer.

C. The leader is afraid to put the decision to a vote.

D. The leader forgets to tap the quiet members of the group.

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

30. Which of the following is not a common pitfall at the “Evaluate decision and process” stage of the SOLVE model?

A. The group does not complete this phase of the process.

B. The group blames itself for results.

C. The group avoids the awkward conversation.

D. The group blames or externalizes others for results versus looking within.

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. In any team-based decision-making process, members must ______.

A. clearly articulate their values

B. challenge the leader

C. have clear roles

D. try on new roles

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

32. When a leader is evaluating the group’s appetite for disruption, identifying the problems underneath the problems, and clarifying decision criteria, they are most likely engaged in which stage of the SOLVE model?

A. listing multiple strategies

B. outlining the problem

C. evaluate decision and process

D. set roles

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. An important part of the “List multiple strategies” stage of the SOLVE model is to ______.

A. identify the ways to address the problems beneath the problems

B. identify the ways that the solution could go wrong

C. identify the ways that the leader could fail

D. identify the ways that the group could adjourn

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. Once a group has consensus around the problem statement and decision criteria, it will want to move forward with ______.

A. evaluation

B. researching

C. implementation

D. brainstorming

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

35. Once a group has identified a good number of ideas and options, the leader will want to help the group ______.

A. implement the best one

B. rapidly make a decision

C. veer toward an agreement

D. debate the pros and cons of each

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. An important strategy during the “Veer toward consensus” stage of the SOLVE model is to ______.

A. keep the group together

B. keep the group brainstorming

C. keep the group in the same space

D. keep the group in an experimentation mindset

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. After the decision has been made, the group needs to ______.

A. circle back and evaluate its process

B. move on to the next task

C. adjourn

D. think about other constituents

Learning Objective: 6.5: Apply and practice the SOLVE model of decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Designing Your Approach to Decision-Making: The SOLVE Model of Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

38. ______ occurs because people tend to pay closer attention to data that confirms their existing way of seeing the world.

A. Expectation bias

B. Confirmation bias

C. Anticipation bias

D. Mental bias

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. ______ occurs when we forget the complicated nature of some problems and believe we’ve found the silver bullet answer.

A. Limited thinking

B. Heistant thinking

C. Anticipatory thinking

D. One-Right-Answer thinking

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

40. Our tendency to consume media from sources that are aligned with the way we perceive the world is an example of which kind of cognitive bias?

A. overconfidence effect

B. framing effect

C. confirmation bias

D. law of triviality

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

41. Research on problem-solving suggests that the first solution is ______.

A. rarely the most effective path forward

B. often close to the best option

C. surprisingly effective

D. frequently offered by the number two person

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

42. Which of the following is not one of the three classic symptoms of groupthink?

A. negative stereotypes of the out-group

B. rationalizations concerning the issues

C. intellectual isolation

D. belief in the correctness of one’s own group

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

43. A person finds it difficult to be heard when offering up ideas that run counter to the way things have usually been done. She is most likely encountering which of the following instances of cognitive bias?

A. framing effect

B. groupthink

C. overconfidence effect

D. law of triviality

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

44. The ______ highlights the importance of how problems are understood.

A. overconfidence effect

B. framing effect

C. illusion of control

D. law of triviality

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

45. Placing an unusually high value on the conclusion you have arrived at is a symptom of the ______ effect.

A. authority

B. assurance

C. certainty

D. overconfidence

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

46. The ______ states that we spend much of our time avoiding tough (adaptive) challenges and instead focus on more easily solved issues.

A. law of frivolousness

B. law of triviality

C. law of cimplicity

D. law of ease

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

47. The ______ occurs when we believe we have more influence and probability of success in a situation than we actually do.

A. illusion of control

B. overconfidence effect

C. law of assurity

D. self-importance effect

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

48. When the leader believes the likelihood of success is unreasonably higher than the object probability, they are suffering from the ______.

A. overconfidence effect

B. law of assurity

C. illusion of control

D. self-importance effect

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

49. Instead of addressing the more complex problem of steadily declining recruitment numbers, a sorority spends much of its time planning their annual social. This is an example of which type of cognitive bias?

A. overconfidence effect

B. law of triviality

C. illusion of control

D. framing effect

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

50. After a difficult decision-making process, the marketing department forges ahead with their plan despite external questions raised about the strategy. This is an example of which type of cognitive bias?

A. framing effect

B. groupthink

C. confirmation bias

D. overconfidence effect

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

51. ______ is a design principle that explains that what is emphasized is what you see . . . and what you think.

A. Hick’s law

B. Framing

C. Performance load

D. Propositional density

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Leadership by Design

Difficulty Level: Easy

52. One of the most important steps in becoming a better facilitator of decision-making is ______.

A. recognizing your own dysfunctional behaviors

B. ensuring others are playing their roles

C. learning to communicate with many constituents

D. articulating a clear vision for the outcome

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ways You Could Be the Barrier to Effective Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

53. Which of the following is not a common behavior that can derail a decision-making process?

A. forgetfulness

B. being unprepared

C. poor delegation

D. decisiveness

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ways You Could Be the Barrier to Effective Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

54. Which of the following is not an indicator of high-functioning teams?

A. The team does not need a deep bench of talent.

B. There is a general sense of enthusiasm for the decision.

C. Individuals volunteer without you having to beg them to do so.

D. The team is securing results and collecting small wins.

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Ways You Could Be the Barrier to Effective Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

55. Emotional ______ is critical to facilitate effective decision-making processes.

A. congruence

B. intelligence

C. control

D. resistance

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ways Others Could Be the Barrier to Effective Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. Describe the difference between a technical and adaptive challenge.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. List three examples of technical challenges.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. List three examples of adaptive challenges.

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Technical or Adaptive? Types of Problems Leaders Face

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. If you are making a list of decision criteria to help inform your choice of what car to buy, what might be four of the decision criteria you come up with?

Learning Objective: 6.2: Describe two types of decisions and key terminology.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Defining Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Explain what confirmation bias is.

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Explain what the illusion of control is.

Learning Objective: 6.6: Assess several barriers to effective decision-making.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cognitive Biases that Hinder Decision-Making

Difficulty Level: medium