Archives

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority. A) span of control B) departmentalization C) cross-functionality D) centralization E) unity of command Karen graduated from college four years ago and has been working at […]

According to McClelland’s theory of needs, when jobs have a high degree of personal responsibility and feedback and an intermediate degree of risk, high achievers are strongly motivated. The goal of a boundaryless organization is to break down cultural barriers. […]

Tabby Tolman is a project coordinator at Tristar Solutions. Whenever a new project comes her way, she holds a project meeting and follows it up with repeated meetings to address any concerns the team members may have and to monitor […]

________ is a dimension of intellectual ability which refers to the ability to understand what is read or heard and the relationship of words to each other. A) Lateral masking B) Verbal comprehension C) Depth perception D) Spatial visualization E) […]

You are more likely to notice a car like your own due to ________. A) stereotyping B) self-serving bias C) halo effect D) selective perception E) contrast effect Apprenticeship is an example of ________ socialization. A) divestiture B) variable C) […]

________ is a systematic effort to make an organization leaner by selling off business units, closing locations, or reducing staff. A) Removing boundaries B) Departmentalizing C) Decentralizing D) Downsizing E) Formalizing You decide to eliminate horizontal, vertical, and external barriers […]

Which of the following is an example of the affective component of an attitude? A) believing that one achieved all objectives of a project B) relying on the information of a company’s annual report C) perceiving whistle-blowing as the right […]

In a negotiation between a man and a woman, we would expect the woman to ________ than the man. A) act more assertively B) show higher self-interest C) be more accommodating D) place a higher value on the economic outcome […]

Attribution theory suggests that when we observe an individual’s behavior, we attempt to determine whether it was internally or externally caused. That determination, however, depends largely on three factors. Which of the following is one of these three factors? A) […]

Which of the following conflict-handling intentions is assertive and uncooperative? A) compromising B) avoiding C) competing D) collaborating E) accommodating People often behave in ways that violate established norms and threaten the organization, its members, or both. Such actions are […]

Sonia Soans is corporate trainer. One of her favorite ways to start a training program is to present a case study and encourage members to think of the case in depth and discuss it amongst each other. Using the results […]

Letters of recommendation are a form of background check. The goal of a work group is to share information. Answer: TRUE Explanation: A work group is a group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each […]

The job characteristics model describes any job in terms of five core job dimensions, and these five dimensions are skill variety, task significance, recognition, reward, and feedback. Women are more likely than men to overanalyze problems before making a decision […]

Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee’s ________ skills. A) financial B) technical C) problem-solving D) interpersonal E) social Which of the following is a forced comparison method of performance evaluation? A) written essays B) trait evaluations […]

Emily Boyce, a project manager at an insurance firm, regularly satisfices while making decisions. She often comes across complicated problems which would take a long time to resolve. Due to the pressing deadlines, she often meets project goals by satisficing […]

Role expectations at work are often conveyed through the psychological contract. Innovation is nurtured where there are slack resources. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Innovation is nurtured when there are slack resources. Having an abundance of resources allows an organization to afford […]

Which of the following best describes spatial visualization? A) the ability to imagine how an object would look if its position were changed B) the ability to retain and recall or remember past experiences C) the ability to identify visual […]

During the ________ stage, a new employee compares his or her expectations with the realities in the organization. A) prearrival B) encounter C) metamorphosis D) post-arrival E) post-encounter Which of the following statements is true regarding integrative bargaining? A) Integrative […]

The situational leadership theory focuses on follower readiness to determine the appropriate leadership behavior. The organizational design of a simple structure is highly risky. Answer: TRUE Explanation: The simple structure’s weakness is that it’s risky because everything depends on one […]

Experience on the job tends to be positively related to work stress. Depressed people are more likely than others to use heuristics, or rules of thumb, to help make good decisions quickly. Answer: FALSE Explanation: People in good moods or […]

To be effective, an employee involvement program must ________. A) rightsize the company by eliminating obsolete positions B) incorporate the unique demands of different cultures C) mandatorily establish work councils in the company D) eliminate the influence of employees in […]

According to Douglas McGregor’s Theory Y, a manager assumes that employees ________. A) need to be directed B) prefer to be controlled C) learn to accept responsibility D) need to be micromanaged E) attempt to avoid work In a negotiation […]

Using a single outcome measure is recommended when designing a performance evaluation system. In structural terms, a virtual organization is highly centralized, with little or no departmentalization. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Virtual organizations are typically small, core organizations that outsource major […]

“Voice” is an active and constructive response to dissatisfaction. Self-generated feedback is a more powerful motivator than externally generated feedback. Answer: TRUE Explanation: People do better when they get feedback on how well they are progressing toward their goals, because […]

In high-context cultures, directness is valued more than trust. Narrow spans of control increase the speed of decision making. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Narrow spans of control increase levels of hierarchy and slow down decision making. Unlike power, leadership requires some […]

Which of the following resistances to change is implicit? A) strike B) increased error C) resignation D) complaint E) work slowdown Which of the following is the major challenge for managers in a fully networked organization? A) eliminating the need […]

With reference to the job characteristics model, which of the following defines task identity? A) the degree to which a job requires completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work B) the degree to which work activities generate direct […]

Which of the following differentiates between high self-monitors and low self-monitors? A) High self-monitors are more likely to use defensive impression management techniques, while low self-monitors are more likely to use self-focused impression management techniques. B) High self-monitors are commonly […]

The chain network provides the highest accuracy of communication. An individual’s involvement with, satisfaction with, and enthusiasm for the work he or she does is known as employee engagement. Answer: TRUE Explanation: An individual’s involvement with, satisfaction with, and enthusiasm […]

Low levels of virtuality in teams result in higher levels of information sharing. A flextime arrangement requires all employees to be at their jobs during the common core period. Answer: TRUE Explanation: A flextime arrangement requires all employees to be […]

Management of a company threatens to close a manufacturing plant in the company whose employees are resisting an across-the-board pay cut. But this threat is actually untrue. In this case, which of the following tactics of overcoming resistance to change […]

John Dunker is one of the best firefighters in his squad, and he recently received an award for his outstanding performance. From this information, it may be concluded that John’s job has low task significance. A boundaryless organization tries to […]

Emotions tend to last for several days, for a much longer time period than moods. The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles. Answer: FALSE Explanation: The major disadvantages of the matrix lie in the confusion it creates, its […]

Which of the following statements is true regarding brainstorming? A) Brainstorming encourages criticizing an idea as early as possible. B) Brainstorming overcomes the problem of “production blocking.” C) Brainstorming can overcome the pressures for conformity. D) Research consistently shows that […]

Which of the following Big Five personality traits has been identified as the most important trait in effective leaders? A) conscientiousness B) openness C) extraversion D) agreeableness E) emotional stability Stacey was at work when Ann, her sister, called to […]

________ refers to staying with a decision even when there is clear evidence it’s wrong. A) Escalation of commitment B) Fundamental attribution error C) Randomness error D) Risk aversion E) Availability bias Daphne is one of the three project managers […]

A formal mentoring program is an example of an off-the-job training method. Aggressiveness is one of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture that capture the essence of an organization’s culture. It indicates the degree to which employees are encouraged […]

The concept of ________ considers how strongly people’s reasons for pursuing goals are consistent with their interests and core values. A) self-serving bias B) self-fulfilling prophecy C) self-concordance D) self-actualization E) self-efficacy Work should be performed by an individual if […]

According to Fred Luthans and his associates, managers who are involved in networking activities are most likely to undertake which of the following? A) planning B) decision making C) controlling D) politicking E) staffing Which of the following statements is […]

Which dimension of the Big Five model is a measure of reliability? A) extraversion B) agreeableness C) conscientiousness D) openness to experience E) emotional stability A(n) ________ is a neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated solution by using reasoning, […]

Similarity is a characteristic under the social identity theory that manifests itself in the ________. A) tendency of ingroup members to notice and emphasize identities that reflect how different they are from other groups B) tendency of people who have […]

If there is an inconsistency between an individual’s attitude on a specific issue and his/her behavior, there are only two courses of action available-alter the attitude or alter the behavior. According to John Holland’s personality-job fit theory, individuals belonging to […]

Synergy Inc. is a medium-sized logistics company. The management is facing tough times as the workers are dissatisfied and are engaging in a number of deviant workplace behaviors such as stealing and substance abuse during working hours. The management is […]

The ultimate source of an organization’s culture is ________. A) its top management B) its environment C) the country in which the organization operates D) its founders E) the sociocultural backgrounds of its employees Which theory of leadership proposes that […]

To retain its edge in the organic health food market, Natura has established a high-priority team comprised of senior executives from the company’s production, marketing, and research divisions. These employees work together closely to study consumer attitudes about organic health […]

The more management relies on formal, collective, sequential, fixed, and serial socialization programs and emphasizes divestiture, the more likely newcomers’ differences will be stripped away and replaced by standardized predictable behaviors. Asking employees how they feel about key elements in […]

Nancy is a part of a group at work that stresses collective goals and performance. Nancy is amazed at how well the members of the team use their skills to benefit themselves and their team members. Whenever a problem arises, […]

Which of the following fields of study is most likely to involve studying organizational culture, formal organization theory, and structure? A) sociology B) deontology C) epistemology D) agnotology E) dysteleology Xanadu Industries manufactures and sells the same calipers as Utopia […]

Excessive smoking, substance abuse, and sleep disorders are all examples of ________ symptoms of stress. A) personal B) psychological C) behavioral D) physiological E) pathological The term which is used to describe the degree to which tasks in an organization […]

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of an organic model of organization? A) narrow spans of control B) centralization C) free flow of information D) high formalization E) inflexibility People are likely to use automatic processing when ________. […]

Appreciative inquiry refers to a change process based on the systematic collection of data and selection of a change action based on what the analyzed data indicates. Intergroup development seeks to change groups’ attitudes, stereotypes, and perceptions that groups have […]

Negotiation is a process that begins when one party perceives that another party has negatively affected, or is about to negatively affect, something that the first party cares about. Sensitivity training emphasizes changing behavior through structured group interaction. Answer: FALSE […]

Problems such as lack of trust or lack of sharing information among team members in a competitive group can be swiftly changed by rewarding collective performance over individual performance. Collectivists are more interested in demonstrations of concern and working through […]

The term affect intensity refers to the individual differences in the strength with which individuals experience their emotions. The intent to act in a certain way is the affective component of an attitude. Answer: FALSE Explanation: The affective component is […]

The conflict-handling intention of accommodating is ________. A) assertive and uncooperative B) assertive and cooperative C) unassertive and uncooperative D) unassertive and cooperative E) reflective and assertive In the last month, Stacey, an intelligent and astute employee, has finished only […]

Communication apprehension applies to oral and written communication. According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator classification, people belonging to the feeling type use reason and logic to solve problems. Answer: FALSE Explanation: According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) classification, people […]

________ is the process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment. A) Sensation B) Impression C) Apprehension D) Attribution E) Perception Scarlett has received authorization to add an assistant manager […]

Stressors associated with workload, pressure to complete tasks, and time urgency are examples of hindrance stressors. Work specialization increases the time spent in changing tasks. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Due to work specialization, less time is spent in changing tasks, putting […]

The more scarce, dynamic, and complex the environment, the more organic a structure should be. The expression of emotions in speeches can be a critical element that makes people accept or reject a leader’s message. Answer: TRUE Explanation: The expression […]

Attribution theory tries to explain the ways in which we judge people differently, depending on the meaning we attribute to a given behavior. A flexible benefits package is designed for a male with a wife and two children at home. […]

According to Maslow, a need that is substantially satisfied no longer motivates. The simple structure is characterized by a high degree of departmentalization and narrow span of control. Answer: FALSE Explanation: The simple structure has a low degree of departmentalization, […]

________ is a collection of change methods that seek to improve organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. A) Organizational development B) Organizational polarization C) Operant conditioning D) Organizational restructuring E) Action research Uncertainty reduction is a dimension of the social identity […]

A test that measures factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and honesty is referred to as a task variability test. Surface-level diversity refers to attitudes, values, and opinions which are different in diverse groups. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Surface-level diversity is […]

Intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration are likely to be seen in the management by exception (active) style of leadership. Diversity management refers to being unbiased by overlooking the differences between individuals in an organization. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Diversity management makes […]

Jeremy Samuels works in a police department in California. His job often requires him to observe clues that criminals leave behind. His job is to analyze these clues, which helps the department catch the criminal. Which of the following dimensions […]

Sexual harassment is more likely to occur when there are small power differentials. Organizational behavior cannot offer reasonably accurate explanations of human behavior or make valid predictions. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Human beings are complex, and few, if any, simple and […]

In countries that are more politically unstable, employees seem to demonstrate greater tolerance of intense political processes in the workplace “Neglect” is an active and constructive response to dissatisfaction. Answer: FALSE Explanation: The neglect response to dissatisfaction passively allows conditions […]

________ is a condition in which information inflow exceeds an individual’s processing capacity. A) Information scarcity B) Information richness C) Information architecture D) Information inequity E) Information overload Why is Maslow’s theory criticized? A) The concept of self-actualization was unfounded. […]

Hispanics can be of any race. The affective component of attitude is the emotional, or feeling, segment of an attitude. Answer: TRUE Explanation: The affective component of attitude is the emotional, or feeling, segment of an attitude. It sets the […]

What factor would most likely increase the negative impact of an arbitration session? A) limited options of the arbitrator B) heavy-handedness of the arbitrator C) compulsory nature of the arbitration D) voluntary nature of the arbitration E) establishment of an […]

Due process systems provide individuals with adequate notice of what is expected of them. Individual decisions are more time consuming than group decisions. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Group decisions have their drawbacks. They’re time consuming because groups typically take more time […]

Rene Cox works as a media officer in a global forest protection organization. Her job requires her to interact with a large number of people from the press with whom she needs to establish strong professional relationships. This requires her […]

Participative management is characterized by the symbolic representation of employees in work councils and board meetings. A routine message can be delivered by a low richness channel as efficiently as a high richness channel. Answer: TRUE Explanation: The choice of […]

The advantages of oral communication are speed and feedback. Learning organizations use single-loop learning. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Most organizations engage in single-loop learning. When they detect errors, their correction process relies on past routines and present policies. In contrast, learning […]

Which of the following statements is true regarding conflict? A) The smaller the group, the greater the likelihood of conflict. B) The less specialized the activities of the group, the greater the likelihood of conflict. C) People low in the […]

Ingroup favoritism does not adversely affect people of the out-group. Surface acting refers to trying to modify one’s true inner feelings based on display rules. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Surface acting is hiding inner feelings and foregoing emotional expressions in response […]

According to the path-goal theory, directive leadership is likely to be welcomed and accepted by employees with high ability or considerable experience. Inductive reasoning is the ability to identify a logical sequence in a problem and then solve the problem. […]

Samantha Barnes is an emergency medical technician. Recently, during an emergency call, she was able to resuscitate a man who had a cardiac arrest. Subsequently, she spent some time calming the 12-year-old daughter of the patient and looked after her […]

The need for cognition is a personality trait of individuals who are most likely to be persuaded by evidence and facts. The job of a guest relations executive at a hotel is a kind of service job. Answer: TRUE Explanation: […]

When an appraiser rates employees based on items on a continuum with the points reflecting actual behaviors on a given job, this type of evaluation is called ________. A) BARS B) critical incident C) graphic rating scale D) group order […]

Hank Murphy was selected to develop an advanced personal communication device with his own self-managed work team. Hank was assured that resource allocation and timelines were flexible for this project provided the work was a cut above that provided by […]

Unwanted physical touching is an overt form of sexual harassment. Supporting someone else’s opinion despite your reservations about it is an example of collaborating. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Supporting someone else’s opinion despite your reservations about it is an example of […]

________ is a process that helps new employees adapt to the prevailing organizational culture. A) Satisficing B) Reciprocal interdependence C) Socialization D) Formalization E) Social loafing By training employees on how to be better listeners, organizations attempt to improve their […]

High Machs do exceptionally well in jobs which are administrative in nature and do not involve face-to-face communication. A candidate is likely to receive a more favorable evaluation if preceded by mediocre applicants and a less favorable evaluation if preceded […]

A manager doing performance appraisals gives more weight to recent employee behaviors than to behaviors of 6 or 9 months earlier. This shows that the manager’s perception is affected by a(n) ________ bias. A) self-serving bias B) availability C) impact […]

Which of the following represents the major determinants of group development and functioning as depicted by the punctuated-equilibrium model? A) better perspectives and patterns B) group solidarity and collectivist goals C) promotion of diversity D) deadlines and time constraints E) […]

The two most common forms of representative participation are ________ and board representatives. A) quality circles B) work councils C) employee unions D) task teams E) cross-functional teams According to the Big Five model, the ________ dimension addresses a range […]

A pure piece-rate plan provides no base salary and pays the employee only for what he or she produces. Unfair discrimination involves noticing and being aware of individual characteristics among people in a group. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Unfair discrimination involves […]

Activities that are formal or sedentary are more strongly associated with increases in positive mood than activities that are physical, informal, or epicurean. Technical training has become increasingly important because of changes in organizational design. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Most training […]