Administration and Management Flashcards
7 cards from real AICP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Administration and Management flashcards as text
Which type of organizational structure groups planning functions (e.g., current planning, long-range planning) into specialized divisions under a single director?
Answer: Functional structure
A functional structure organizes employees by specialized departments or functions, each reporting up through a hierarchical chain to a director.
A planner is hired as a consultant and discovers that the project conflicts with the community's adopted general plan. The AICP Code of Ethics requires the planner to:
Answer: Inform the client of the conflict and recommend conformance
The AICP Code of Ethics obligates planners to advise clients of conflicts with adopted plans and to recommend actions that bring proposals into conformance.
Which leadership style is generally most effective when a planning team is highly experienced and self-motivated?
Answer: Delegative (laissez-faire) leadership
Delegative leadership works best with skilled, self-directed teams that require minimal supervision and can take ownership of their work.
A planning agency is implementing a Geographic Information System (GIS). The primary administrative reason to conduct a needs assessment first is to:
Answer: Identify existing capabilities and gaps before investing resources
A needs assessment identifies current capabilities, gaps, and requirements to ensure technology investments align with actual organizational needs.
In public administration, 'span of control' refers to:
Answer: The number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise
Span of control describes how many direct reports a supervisor can effectively manage, influencing organizational hierarchy and efficiency.
A planning director wants to reduce siloed decision-making between transportation and land use staff. Creating interdisciplinary project teams is an example of:
Answer: Matrix management
Matrix management creates cross-functional teams where staff from different departments collaborate on shared projects while still reporting to their functional supervisors.
Which federal law primarily governs workplace safety standards that a planning agency must comply with as an employer?
Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) establishes federal standards that employers, including government agencies, must meet to ensure safe working conditions.