Read the passage about management and leadership carefully, and then answer the following blank-based question: "Management is a set of processes 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. of people and technology running _____." For the second blank ("running _____"), choose the option that best completes the sentence.

Introduction / Context:
This question continues the cloze test passage contrasting management and leadership. The sentence in focus is "Management is a set of processes that can keep a complicated system of people and technology running _____." Your task is to pick the most appropriate adverb to describe how an effective management system keeps complex operations functioning.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence fragment: "running _____".
- Options: fastly, reliably, smoothly, sharply.
- The overall passage emphasises stability, order, and effective functioning, not speed or aggressiveness.

Concept / Approach:
In business and organisational language, when describing well-managed systems, common collocations are "running smoothly", "running efficiently", or "running reliably". Among the options, "smoothly" is the most natural and frequently used adverb to describe a system that operates without disruption or conflict. "Fastly" is not standard English; "reliably" is possible but collocates more with "working reliably" than "running reliably" in this exact management context; "sharply" suggests abrupt or severe behaviour, which does not fit here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the purpose of management as described in the passage: to keep a complicated system of people and technology in proper functioning order.Step 2: Evaluate "fastly". This word is non-standard; the correct adverb is "fast", and even then, speed is not the main idea in management theory.Step 3: Evaluate "reliably". While we can say systems should operate reliably, the phrase "running reliably" is less idiomatic in this particular generic description than "running smoothly".Step 4: Evaluate "smoothly". The expression "keep a system running smoothly" is common in both spoken and written English to mean without friction or trouble.Step 5: Evaluate "sharply". This suggests precision or sudden changes and usually modifies words like "rise", "fall", or "criticize", not how systems run.Step 6: Therefore, "smoothly" is the best fit.

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 smoothly" sounds natural and matches standard collocations like "keep the office running smoothly". In contrast, "running fastly" is wrong, "running reliably" is possible but slightly awkward in this general description, and "running sharply" seems semantically off. Since exam questions usually align with the most idiomatic collocation, "smoothly" is clearly preferred.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Fastly: not a standard adverb; even "fast" would not fit the focus on stability and order.
- Reliably: suggests dependability but does not collocate as strongly with "running" in such broad management definitions.
- Sharply: associated with suddenness or severity, not with stable functioning.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes choose impressive-sounding words without checking whether they naturally collocate with the surrounding phrase. In cloze tests, fixed expressions and common word pairs are crucial. Phrases such as "keep the machine running smoothly", "keep operations running smoothly", and "keep the organisation running smoothly" are frequent in real English usage. Recognising these patterns helps you avoid less natural options that may appear attractive at first glance.

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