What is the primary contingency factor that dictates whether specific or directional plans are preferable?
Explanation
This question assesses the understanding of contingency factors in planning. The text on page 207 specifically links the choice between specific and directional plans to the level of environmental uncertainty.
Other questions
According to Chapter 8, what is the primary definition of planning?
Which of the following is NOT listed as a primary reason for why managers should plan?
What is the difference between stated goals and real goals?
According to the text on page 207, how are long-term plans defined in the context of modern environmental uncertainty?
What is the primary downside of traditional goal setting as illustrated in Exhibit 8-2?
What is a means-ends chain in the context of goal setting?
Which of the following is NOT one of the four essential elements of a Management by Objectives (MBO) program?
According to the text, which of the following is a characteristic of a well-written goal?
What does the 'commitment concept' in planning suggest about the time frame of plans?
In a dynamic environment, what type of plans should managers develop?
What is the primary purpose of environmental scanning?
A survey of managers mentioned in the 'by the numbers' box on page 211 found that what percentage said their company's planning approach wasn't working?
What is the primary difference between strategic plans and operational plans?
What is the main advantage of directional plans over specific plans?
A plan developed to address the one-time event of moving a company's headquarters would be classified as what type of plan?
What is the first step managers should take when setting goals?
In the traditional top-down approach to planning, who is primarily responsible for developing the plans?
What is a major criticism of the traditional, formal planning process mentioned in the text?
Gathering information about competitors that allows managers to anticipate their actions is known as what?
According to the text, a study of the planning-performance relationship found that formal planning is generally associated with what outcome?
What are defined as the 'essential elements of planning' because they guide management decisions and form the criterion against which results are measured?
What type of goals are related to the financial performance of an organization?
In the 'Leader Who Made a Difference' feature on Jeff Bezos, what was his original goal for Amazon?
How long does the text suggest it takes for formal planning to begin affecting a company's performance?