06_Administration&Management

Question 1

Likely themes for planning agency organization

Answer 1

-Subject area or specialization
-Functional approach
-Long range vs. Current planning

Question 2

Performance Budgeting

Answer 2

Ties budgets to performance objectives

Question 3

Planning Programming Budget System

Answer 3

Links planning and budgeting, making the budget reflect objectives

Question 4

Zero-Based Budgeting

Answer 4

Starts from a “zero base” and every function within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs

Question 5

What is the most important element of a contract for consulting work?

Answer 5

List of milestones

Question 6

What is Ripple Effect Mapping (REM)?

Answer 6

method used in evaluating impact of projects and programs

Question 7

What kind of organization approach works best where there are large and functionally complex organizations?

Answer 7

vertical

(can be divisions based on function with a chain of command leading from the divisions to the director)

Question 8

What type of plan would be best when reorganizing development functions and/or creating a new department?

Answer 8

strategic plan

(sets priorities to strengthen the operations of an organization)

Question 9

_____________ Budgeting uses decision packages that can be independently decided upon for funding purposes.

Answer 9

Zero Base

Question 10

What is the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)?

Answer 10

Deals with unpredictable activities (where the time needed to complete activities is not known).

Question 11

What is the Critical Path Method (CPM)?

Answer 11

Deals with predictable activities (projects that are recurring).

Question 12

What is the Hoshin Kanri method?

Answer 12

ensures that strategic goals drive progress and action at every level within that organization.

-establish a vision
-developing objectives
-deploy annual objectives
-implement objectives
-Review progress on a monthly and annual basis.

Question 13

What is the “holy grail” of effective planning agency management?

Answer 13

Having the best possible team

Question 14

CPM, PERT, and Gantt are all about what issue?

Answer 14

Scheduling

Question 15

What is Linear programming?

Answer 15

Method for determining an optimal solution.

(could apply to a number of planning projects, such as a regional agricultural development plan)

Question 16

A flat organization

Answer 16

-enhances communication
-places more responsibility among individual employees

Question 17

What is a management audit?

Answer 17

Examines efficiency and effectiveness of management in carrying out its activities

Question 18

What is Management by Objectives (MBO)?

Answer 18

-process of agreeing upon objectives within an organization so that management and employees agree to the objectives and understand what they are.

(popularized by Peter Drucker in 1954 in his book ‘The Practice of Management’)

Question 19

Assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) is a critical part of the {blank} process.

Answer 19

strategic planning

Question 20

Which of the following divisions would characterize a planning agency that is vertically integrated by subject area?

a. Transportation, land use, housing

b. Comprehensive planning, site plan review, zoning

c. Current planning, long range planning, sustainability

d. Current planning, regulations, information systems

Answer 20

a. Transportation, land use, housing

(vertically integrated by subject area)

(FYI d. Current planning, regulations, information systems = Functional Integration)

Question 21

Planning and code writing are examples of {blank} functions

Answer 21

legislative

Question 22

Regulatory activities are examples of {blank} functions

Answer 22

Quasi-judicial

Question 23

Permit administration is an example of an {blank} function

Answer 23

Enforcement

Question 24

What is Linear Programming?

Answer 24

mathematical method to determine the optimal solution to a complex problem.

Question 25

Scenario

-you’re overseeing an eminent domain and redevelopment project.

-you’re sequencing events so that it is clear which activities need to occur in which sequence

*Which project management technique would be most effective in helping you complete this project saving the most time and resources?

Answer 25

Program Evaluation and Review technique (PERT)

Question 26

Program Evaluation and Review technique is a decision-making tool designed to achieve objectives in which {blank} is a critical factor.

Answer 26

time

Question 27

{blank} is a project planning tool that-works well when:

-there are multiple activities
-some of the activities cannot start until others are complete.

Answer 27

Critical Path Method

Question 28

What is a 360-degree evaluation?

Answer 28

Employees receive feedback from people they report to, peers, and people that work for employees.

Question 29

-You’re the Planning Director of an agency with 20 employees,

-A planner comes to you to make a complaint of sexual harassment against another employee in the department.

*What is the first thing you should do as the Planning Director?

Answer 29

Review the section on sexual harassment in the Departmental Manager’s Rules and Procedures Manual and follow the instructions.

Question 30

What two qualities characterize the hallmarks of exemplary planning leadership?

Answer 30

-Being open to new ideas

-Being able to generate enthusiasm

Question 31

What technique can be used to find the optimum design solution on a project?

Answer 31

Linear Programming

Question 32

What is the techniue best used to determine an optimal solution?

Answer 32

Linear programming

Question 33

What is a Multi-attribute Utility Analysis?

Answer 33

Aallows for weighting of a series of values dimensions.

(e.g. participants are given a number of points that can be allocated between the value dimensions or participants can be asked which of two values is more important).

Question 34

The skills that managers need that leaders might not find helpful include

Answer 34

-attention to detail

-deference to an existing power structure

-willingness to get to a clean resolution at the expense of the right resolution.

Question 35

A manager gives {blank} feedback, a leader gives {blank} feedback

Answer 35

objective; constructive

Question 36

What do political acumen, willingness to take appropriate risks, and advocacy have in common

Answer 36

Skills that leaders need that managers might not find helpful