MGMT 310 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. At Quartz Systems, one supervisor has so many direct reports that coaching and performance
discussions are routinely delayed. The plant manager responds by deciding to adjust the number of direct
reports to fit task complexity, employee capability, and the manager's coordination workload. Which
concept is most directly illustrated by this response?
A. Centralization
B. Decentralization
C. Chain of command
D. Span of control
Correct Answer: D. Span of control
Explanation: This is span of control because it involves the number of direct reports for whom a manager is
responsible. The chosen response - to adjust the number of direct reports to fit task complexity, employee
capability, and the manager's coordination workload - directly applies that principle to the situation.
2. Which option correctly differentiates SMART goal and groupthink?
A. SMART goal and groupthink are interchangeable terms for the idea that decision makers face limits in
time, information, attention, and cognitive processing.
B. SMART goal focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound,
whereas groupthink focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group.
C. SMART goal focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group, whereas groupthink focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant, and time-bound.
D. Both concepts primarily focus on an assessment of internal strengths and weaknesses together with
external opportunities and threats.
Correct Answer: B. SMART goal focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and
time-bound, whereas groupthink focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical
evaluation in a cohesive decision group.
Explanation: SMART goal concerns a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and
time-bound; groupthink concerns pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group. The correct option preserves that distinction instead of reversing or conflating the
two concepts.
, 3. Which response would best address the following situation at Willow Markets: a buyer and seller are
bargaining mainly over one price with little opportunity to add issues or create additional value?
A. Make expectations explicit and have members reinforce agreed standards for behavior and performance
B. Make individual contributions visible, keep teams appropriately sized, and establish meaningful
individual and collective accountability
C. Prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while recognizing the fixed-sum nature of the
issue
D. Maintain autonomy, remove obstacles, and support continuous improvement rather than overmanaging
routine coordination
Correct Answer: C. Prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while recognizing the
fixed-sum nature of the issue
Explanation: The best action is to prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while
recognizing the fixed-sum nature of the issue. That response applies distributive negotiation, which refers to
negotiation over how to divide a largely fixed amount of value, and therefore addresses the underlying
problem more directly than the alternatives.
4. In management terminology, which concept centers on influencing and motivating people so they work
toward shared objectives?
A. Technical skill
B. Organizing
C. Conceptual skill
D. Leading
Correct Answer: D. Leading
Explanation: Leading refers to influencing and motivating people so they work toward shared objectives.
That meaning matches the description in the stem more closely than the other management concepts listed.
5. If leaders at Cedar Logistics want better evidence that a hiring tool measures something useful for the
job, which response is most directly aligned with that objective?
A. Evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job performance criteria
B. Compare applicants with job-related criteria using valid, consistent assessment methods
C. Use targeted sourcing and an accurate employer message to increase the qualified applicant pool
D. Diagnose organizational, task, and person-level causes before designing training
Correct Answer: A. Evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job
performance criteria
Explanation: The action to evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job
performance criteria most directly applies selection validity. The concept refers to the extent to which a
selection method meaningfully predicts or relates to job performance or another relevant criterion, making
this option the one most closely linked to better evidence that a hiring tool measures something useful for the
job.
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
| American Public University
1. At Quartz Systems, one supervisor has so many direct reports that coaching and performance
discussions are routinely delayed. The plant manager responds by deciding to adjust the number of direct
reports to fit task complexity, employee capability, and the manager's coordination workload. Which
concept is most directly illustrated by this response?
A. Centralization
B. Decentralization
C. Chain of command
D. Span of control
Correct Answer: D. Span of control
Explanation: This is span of control because it involves the number of direct reports for whom a manager is
responsible. The chosen response - to adjust the number of direct reports to fit task complexity, employee
capability, and the manager's coordination workload - directly applies that principle to the situation.
2. Which option correctly differentiates SMART goal and groupthink?
A. SMART goal and groupthink are interchangeable terms for the idea that decision makers face limits in
time, information, attention, and cognitive processing.
B. SMART goal focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound,
whereas groupthink focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group.
C. SMART goal focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group, whereas groupthink focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant, and time-bound.
D. Both concepts primarily focus on an assessment of internal strengths and weaknesses together with
external opportunities and threats.
Correct Answer: B. SMART goal focuses on a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and
time-bound, whereas groupthink focuses on pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical
evaluation in a cohesive decision group.
Explanation: SMART goal concerns a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and
time-bound; groupthink concerns pressure for consensus that suppresses dissent and critical evaluation in a
cohesive decision group. The correct option preserves that distinction instead of reversing or conflating the
two concepts.
, 3. Which response would best address the following situation at Willow Markets: a buyer and seller are
bargaining mainly over one price with little opportunity to add issues or create additional value?
A. Make expectations explicit and have members reinforce agreed standards for behavior and performance
B. Make individual contributions visible, keep teams appropriately sized, and establish meaningful
individual and collective accountability
C. Prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while recognizing the fixed-sum nature of the
issue
D. Maintain autonomy, remove obstacles, and support continuous improvement rather than overmanaging
routine coordination
Correct Answer: C. Prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while recognizing the
fixed-sum nature of the issue
Explanation: The best action is to prepare reservation points and trade concessions carefully while
recognizing the fixed-sum nature of the issue. That response applies distributive negotiation, which refers to
negotiation over how to divide a largely fixed amount of value, and therefore addresses the underlying
problem more directly than the alternatives.
4. In management terminology, which concept centers on influencing and motivating people so they work
toward shared objectives?
A. Technical skill
B. Organizing
C. Conceptual skill
D. Leading
Correct Answer: D. Leading
Explanation: Leading refers to influencing and motivating people so they work toward shared objectives.
That meaning matches the description in the stem more closely than the other management concepts listed.
5. If leaders at Cedar Logistics want better evidence that a hiring tool measures something useful for the
job, which response is most directly aligned with that objective?
A. Evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job performance criteria
B. Compare applicants with job-related criteria using valid, consistent assessment methods
C. Use targeted sourcing and an accurate employer message to increase the qualified applicant pool
D. Diagnose organizational, task, and person-level causes before designing training
Correct Answer: A. Evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job
performance criteria
Explanation: The action to evaluate whether assessment scores are meaningfully related to relevant job
performance criteria most directly applies selection validity. The concept refers to the extent to which a
selection method meaningfully predicts or relates to job performance or another relevant criterion, making
this option the one most closely linked to better evidence that a hiring tool measures something useful for the
job.
