Successful Managers

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Successful Managers

by goelmohit2002 » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:24 am
Hi All,

In the below question, the OA is E...can someone please tell why not A.

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical maneuvers, these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed “intuition” to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.

Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.

Isenberg’s recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers’ intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an “Aha!” experience. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns. One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is inextricably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.

Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue. One implication of thinking/acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.

1.. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?
(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
(E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

OA = E
Source: — Reading Comprehension |

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Re: Successful Managers

by ketkoag » Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:18 pm
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

In the below question, the OA is E...can someone please tell why not A.

The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational model of first clarifying goals, assessing the problem, formulating options, estimating likelihoods of success, making a decision, and only then taking action to implement the decision. Rather, in their day-by-day tactical maneuvers, these senior executives rely on what is vaguely termed “intuition” to manage a network of interrelated problems that require them to deal with ambiguity, inconsistency, novelty, and surprise; and to integrate action into the process of thinking.

Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.

Isenberg’s recent research on the cognitive processes of senior managers reveals that managers’ intuition is neither of these. Rather, senior managers use intuition in at least five distinct ways. First, they intuitively sense when a problem exists. Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills. A third function of intuition is to synthesize isolated bits of data and practice into an integrated picture, often in an “Aha!” experience. Fourth, some managers use intuition as a check on the results of more rational analysis. Most senior executives are familiar with the formal decision analysis models and tools, and those who use such systematic methods for reaching decisions are occasionally leery of solutions suggested by these methods which run counter to their sense of the correct course of action. Finally, managers can use intuition to bypass in-depth analysis and move rapidly to engender a plausible solution. Used in this way, intuition is an almost instantaneous cognitive process in which a manager recognizes familiar patterns. One of the implications of the intuitive style of executive management is that “thinking” is inseparable from acting. Since managers often “know” what is right before they can analyze and explain it, they frequently act first and explain later. Analysis is inextricably tied to action in thinking/acting cycles, in which managers develop thoughts about their companies and organizations not by analyzing a problematic situation and then acting, but by acting and analyzing in close concert.

Given the great uncertainty of many of the management issues that they face, senior managers often instigate a course of action simply to learn more about an issue. They then use the results of the action to develop a more complete understanding of the issue
. One implication of thinking/acting cycles is that action is often part of defining the problem, not just of implementing the solution.

1.. The passage provides support for which of the following statements?
(A) Managers who rely on intuition are more successful than those who rely on formal decision analysis.
(B) Managers cannot justify their intuitive decisions.
(C) Managers’ intuition works contrary to their rational and analytical skills.
(D) Logical analysis of a problem increases the number of possible solutions.
(E) Intuition enables managers to employ their practical experience more efficiently.

OA = E
E is definitely the correct choice. check the bold statements above.
:)

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by goelmohit2002 » Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:30 pm
IMO E is supported in 3rd para and not at the location highlighted by you...

"Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills."

But I am confused why not A....the very first line of the pessage says :

"The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational"

Please tell me if I am misinterpreting you or missing something here.

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by ketkoag » Sat Aug 15, 2009 1:04 am
goelmohit2002 wrote:IMO E is supported in 3rd para and not at the location highlighted by you...

"Second, managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns rapidly. This intuition is not arbitrary or irrational, but is based on years of painstaking practice and hands-on experience that build skills."

But I am confused why not A....the very first line of the pessage says :

"The majority of successful senior managers do not closely follow the classical rational"

Please tell me if I am misinterpreting you or missing something here.
Please check the words MORE EFFICIENTLY in option E.. E means that intuition adds value to the manager's personal experience..and thus allow them to use their personal experience more efficiently.. this is only implied by the statements i indicated in my previous post.

The statements that u've referred do not imply the above meaning.. they simply say that managers rely on intuition to perform well-learned behavior patterns and never implied that intuition helps to improve the personal experience..Also, by the statements u indicated, it is implied that intuition is based on the personal experience but that is not mentioned in E.. If u read E closely then u'll find that intuition adds value to the personal experience and not vice versa..

lemme know if u have any other queries or doubts regarding this..

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by goelmohit2002 » Sat Aug 15, 2009 2:44 am
Hi Ketkoag,

Probably I am either misinterpreting you or I am missing something here....

But OG says that "E is the best answer. The question requires you to identify a statement that can be inferred from information in the passage but is not explicitly stated. The author asserts that intuitive managers can “move rapidly to engender a plausible solution” and that their intuition is based on “experience that builds skill”. This implies that the combination of skill and rapidity enables mangers to employ their practical experience more efficiently, as this choice states."

Thus it looks like 3rd para seems to supporting E.....

But what OG says to kick out A, I am not able to grasp.....OG says "Choice A cannot be inferred from the passage, which states only that a majority of successful managers are intuitive(lines 1-11), not that their degree of success is greater."

Can you please help me understand what OG meant here ?

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by scoobydooby » Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:40 am
yes A is not right.

majority of successful managers rely on intuition
does not mean managers who rely on intuition are more successful than managers who rely on classical decision theory.
it is only showing say out of 100 successful managers, more than 50 rely on intuition. it doesnt give any information on the managers following classical theory. no comparison can be made.

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by goelmohit2002 » Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:25 am
scoobydooby wrote:yes A is not right.

majority of successful managers rely on intuition
does not mean managers who rely on intuition are more successful than managers who rely on classical decision theory.
it is only showing say out of 100 successful managers, more than 50 rely on intuition. it doesnt give any information on the managers following classical theory. no comparison can be made.
Hi Scooby,

if more then 50 are following the same....doesn't it mean that they are more successful.....because the rest of the managers will comprise <=49...

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by scoobydooby » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:43 pm
goelmohit2002 wrote:
scoobydooby wrote:yes A is not right.

majority of successful managers rely on intuition
does not mean managers who rely on intuition are more successful than managers who rely on classical decision theory.
it is only showing say out of 100 successful managers, more than 50 rely on intuition. it doesnt give any information on the managers following classical theory. no comparison can be made.
Hi Scooby,

if more then 50 are following the same....doesn't it mean that they are more successful.....because the rest of the managers will comprise <=49...
yes 49 of the successful managers rely on classical theory. that wouldnt mean managers relying on classical theory are less successful.
we cannot compare two different populations.

there may be 1000 managers relying on intuition, 51 were successful=> 5.1% of them successful

there may be 98 managers relying on classical theory, 41 successful=>50% of them successful.

so we cant say managers relying on intuition are more successful than those relying on classical theory

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by goelmohit2002 » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:22 am
scoobydooby wrote:yes 49 of the successful managers rely on classical theory. that wouldnt mean managers relying on classical theory are less successful.
we cannot compare two different populations.

there may be 1000 managers relying on intuition, 51 were successful=> 5.1% of them successful

there may be 98 managers relying on classical theory, 41 successful=>50% of them successful.

so we cant say managers relying on intuition are more successful than those relying on classical theory
Hi Scooby,

Probably I am misinterpreting you or I am missing something here....

But the passage clearly say that Majority of successful managers use intuition....doesn't it mean that >=50% of the managers use intuition...and if <50% of the people are not using intiution....then does it mean that initiutive managers is the majority group ? Thus intiutive managers form the majority group.

Kindly tell what I am missing here.

Thanks
Mohit

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Mohit

Say you have 15 senior managers who are rated for their success on a scale of 100. Minimum rating to qualify as being successful is 30. Following is the result:

5 Managers Score < 30 - Hence Unsuccessful
10 Managers Score >= 30 - Hence Successful

Out of 10 Managers who were successful 6 practice intuition and 4 practice classic model.

Rating of 10 Managers is as follows:

Classic :
1 - 99
2 - 100
3 - 100
4 - 100

Intuitive
1 - 31
2 - 32
3 - 33
4 - 34
5 - 35
6 - 36


So you can see that though Intuitive Managers represent majority of successful managers but they are (on an average) not more successful than those who follow the classical approach.

Hope it helps.

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by estode » Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:46 pm
Hi Mohit,

I took a simpler approach when removing "A" as a possible answer.

The "classical" approach is described in the beginning of paragraph 1. However, is the classical approach the same as "formal decision analysis"? One can assume that they are synonymous... but that's an assumption.

NeeeYo's example makes sense too.

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by gmattesttaker2 » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:09 pm
Hello,

Can you please assist with this question:

The passage suggests which of the following about the "writers on management" mentioned in line 12?

(line 12 is the following in the passage:

Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.
)


(A) They have criticized managers for not following the classical rational model of decision analysis.
(B) They have not based their analyses on a sufficiently large sample of actual managers.
(C) They have relied in drawing their conclusions on what managers say rather than on what managers do.
(D) They have misunderstood how managers use intuition in making business decisions.
(E) They have not acknowledged the role of intuition in managerial practice.

OA: D

I thought it was B since it says that :

Generations of writers on management have recognized that some practicing managers rely heavily on intuition. In general, however, such writers display a poor grasp of what intuition is. Some see it as the opposite of rationality; others view it as an excuse for capriciousness.


Thanks,
Sri

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by rohitguglani » Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:19 pm
Can someone specify the difficulty level of this question. Want to get a basic idea of difficulty levels in GMAT

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by manis » Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:19 pm
Out of 10 lets say 6 use intitution and rest 4 use formal decision analysis. Now lets assume that anyone getting more than 50 percent is successful,higher the percentage more successful he/she is.

Scores of those who use intution (6)

52%
53%
54%
55%
56%
57%

Scores of those who resly on formal decision analysis.

99%
98%
97%
96%

Now as we can see majority might use intution,but in no way passage provides support that says intution users are more successful because the data above suggests that number of people using formal decision might be less compared to intution users,but if we compare later are clearly more successful than former.