Read the passage about management and leadership carefully, and then answer the following blank-based question: "Management is a set of _____ that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running _____. The most _____ aspects of management include planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling and problem solving. Leadership is a set of processes that creates organization in the first place or adapts them to _____ changing circumstances. Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that _____ and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles. Management is a set of _____ that can keep a complicated system..." For the first blank ("Management is a set of _____"), choose the option that best completes the sentence.

Introduction / Context:
This question is part of a cloze test based on a short passage about the difference between management and leadership. The first sentence contrasts what management does with what leadership does. You must choose the word that correctly completes the first blank: "Management is a set of _____ that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running ...". Understanding the conceptual roles of management and leadership as described in business literature helps you select the best option.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence fragment: "Management is a set of _____ that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running ...".
- Options: instructions, resources, processes, proposals.
- Later in the passage, leadership is described as "a set of process that creates organization in the first place", which hints at a parallel word choice for management.

Concept / Approach:
In management theory, management is often described as a set of processes or functions that maintain stability and ensure that complex systems work efficiently. Words like planning, budgeting, organizing, and controlling are themselves processes or functions. The passage clearly aligns with this widely accepted view. Therefore, the noun that best fits the blank is "processes". The other words do not fit as naturally with the list of planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling, and problem solving.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the grammatical requirement. The phrase "a set of" is typically followed by a plural countable noun such as "processes", "rules", or "procedures".Step 2: Evaluate "instructions". While you can speak of a set of instructions, instructions are usually one-time directions, not the ongoing systematic activities that describe management.Step 3: Evaluate "resources". Resources are things that management uses, not what management itself "is"; saying "a set of resources" does not match the idea of planning, budgeting, and organizing.Step 4: Evaluate "processes". This fits perfectly with both grammar and meaning: management is a set of processes such as planning, budgeting, and controlling.Step 5: Evaluate "proposals". Proposals are suggestions or plans put forward for consideration and are not continuous activities that keep systems running.Step 6: Thus, "processes" is the best choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option into the sentence: "Management is a set of processes that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running..." sounds completely natural and matches standard business textbooks. In contrast, "a set of instructions/resources/proposals" does not connect smoothly with the following list of planning, budgeting, organizing, staffing, controlling, and problem solving, all of which are clearly processes rather than objects or one-off commands. This alignment with later context confirms the correctness of "processes".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Instructions: typically a set of directions given once; management is ongoing and dynamic, not just a list of commands.
- Resources: refers to people, money, or materials; management uses resources but is not itself a set of resources.
- Proposals: are suggestions that may or may not be accepted; they do not inherently "keep a system running".

Common Pitfalls:
Because "instructions" and "resources" commonly follow "set of", candidates may pick them based only on grammatical fit without considering deeper meaning. In cloze tests, context is crucial: you must always check the surrounding sentences to see which word type the author is using conceptually. When you see a list of continuous activities like planning and controlling, think of them as processes, not static objects or one-time directions.

Final Answer:
The correct word for the first blank is "processes", so the sentence should read: "Management is a set of processes that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running ..."