1. How does a manager's personality and leadership style impact his/her motivational style? Include example characteristics and styles of past managers to illustrate both positive and negative impacts.
2. It has been said that you cannot motivate people but must use the motivation that they already have. Explain how you, as a manager, would use internal motivation. What would be your plan for an employee that is difficult to motivate?
3. Choose a product or company with which you are familiar. What factors might be relevant in forecasts for demand for the product? How would each affect demand? Discuss changes in the future which might affect the demand. Which forecast technique would you recommend and why?
4. Explain the difference between optimizing and satisficing in decision making. What are the advantages of each? Give a specific personal example of when you have been involved in the use of each.
5. What is the difference between authority and responsibility? Often, engineers are given the responsibility of completing a project without having authority over the resources. Give an example of this (personal if possible), and then explain what actions you could take to address the issue.