Management Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real CSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Management Principles flashcards as text
A CSI unit is reorganized so that latent print examiners, DNA analysts, and digital forensics staff all report to a single manager. This structure is known as:
Answer: A functional structure
A functional structure groups employees by specialty or function, such as forensic discipline, under a common manager.
During a high-profile case, a CSI supervisor receives pressure from a detective to rush evidence processing. The supervisor should:
Answer: Follow established prioritization protocols and explain timeline constraints to the detective
Adhering to established protocols protects evidence integrity and provides a defensible basis for processing timelines, regardless of external pressure.
A manager who uses informal authority built on expertise and respect, rather than positional power, is exercising which type of power?
Answer: Expert power
Expert power derives from a leader's knowledge, skills, and credibility in a field, independent of their formal organizational title.
A CSI manager is informed that a new state law affects how biological evidence must be stored. To comply, the manager should FIRST:
Answer: Review the law's requirements and assess current procedures against the new standard
A gap analysis comparing current procedures to the new legal standard is the necessary first step before determining what changes to implement.
Which scenario BEST illustrates the principle of 'unity of command' in a CSI unit?
Answer: Each investigator reports directly to one CSI supervisor only
Unity of command means each subordinate has one and only one direct supervisor, preventing conflicting orders and role confusion.
An evidence technician repeatedly arrives late to crime scenes. A CSI manager applying progressive discipline would FIRST:
Answer: Have an informal counseling conversation to identify and address the cause
Progressive discipline starts with the least severe intervention — informal counseling — before escalating to formal disciplinary actions.
A CSI manager who encourages investigators to suggest process improvements and acts on viable suggestions is practicing:
Answer: Participative management
Participative management involves employees in decision-making processes, leveraging their frontline knowledge to improve unit operations.