Max Is Interviewing for a Management Job with an International

question 98

Multiple Choice

Max is interviewing for a management job with an international manufacturer. One of the interviewers asks him whether he would rather focus on the task environment or the general environment in this management position. Which of these is the best answer for Max to give?

• A)"I'd like to focus on the task environment because it has the most immediate and direct effect on managers, so I could make a real difference."
• B)"Focusing on the general environment interests me because I want to improve the organization's ability to obtain inputs and dispose of outputs."
• C)"I can focus on both because the task environment and the general environment are basically the same thing."
• D)"Since companies are becoming more homogeneous because of globalization, neither the label 'task environment' nor 'general environment' really applies anymore."

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Definitions:

Product Cost Method

A cost-plus method of price setting in which only the costs of manufacturing the product are included in the cost amount to which the markup is added.

Selling Expenses

Expenses that are incurred directly in the selling of merchandise.

Administrative Expenses

Costs related to the general operation of a business, such as salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, office supplies, and utilities.

Variable Cost Method

A cost-plus method of pricing setting in which only the variable costs are included in the cost amount to which the markup is added.