Multiple Choice
1. A manager who asks such questions as “Why are we doing this?” and “How and when did we
start doing this?” is:
a.
a whiner
b.
ready to downsize the organization
c.
about to reorganize a work unit
d.
conducting a sacred cow hunt
d
2. Bill is required to complete five forms for every request he makes. Bill is upset because
he considers theses forms to be examples of a:
a.
b.
c.
d.
d
3. Every memo that Cheryl receives indicates that an immediate response is required. Cheryl
thinks these timelines are unnecessary are nothing more than a:
a.
b.
c.
d.
c
4. Organizational change can be encouraged by all of the following except:
a.
conduct a sacred cow hunt
b.
play by everyone else’s rules
c.
think like a beginner
d.
ask stupid questions
b
5. When organizations undergo change, the first stage employees go through is called:
a.
discarding
b.
defense
c.
denial
d.
internalization
c
6. In a change made ________, employees will most likely accept the change.
a.
because everyone else is doing it
b.
by a respected leader
c.
without telling the reason for the change
d.
by a leader with a self-interest in the change
b
7. Which of the following would most likely say If it ain’t broke, break it?
a.
Change analyst
b.
Change agent
c.
Receptive changer
d.
Change resister
b
8. Which of the following would most likely say If it’s broke, I’ll help fix it?
a.
Change analyst
b.
Change agent
c.
Receptive changer
d.
Change resister
c
9. According to Denton (1996), what is the first step in implementing change?
a.
Communicating details
b.
Creating an atmosphere for change
c.
Determining a time frame for change
d.
Assessing training needs
b
10. To create a good atmosphere for change, it is important for an organization to create:
a.
dissatisfaction with the current system
b.
a sense of the “good old days”
c.
a way to hide the change from doubters
d.
none of the three is a good idea
a
11. An organization undergoing change should try to get the change completed no later than:
a.
a few weeks
b.
several months
c.
two years
d.
five years
c
12. After organizational change has occurred, what is the first step in assessing the new culture?
a.
Determining executive direction
b.
Training
c.
Evaluation
d.
Needs assessment
b
13. Which of the following is NOT a step in changing organizational culture?
a.
Socializing new employees
b.
Creating dissatisfaction with the old culture
c.
Avoiding rituals
d.
Hiring people compatible with the new culture
c
14. Which of the following is good advice for handling organizational change?
a.
Slow-down and don’t make mistakes
b.
Take the initiative and don’t be afraid
c.
Don’t spend too much energy
d.
All three of these are good advice
b
15. According to Sherriton and Stern (1997), what is the fifth and final step in assessing the new culture following
organizational change?
a.
Needs assessment
b.
Determining executive direction
c.
Training
d.
Evaluation of the new culture
d
16. Which of the following can be used to help make decisions?
a.
Vroom-Yetton Model
b.
Two-factor Theory
c.
Sacred Cow Guide
d.
Organizational Consequence Model
a
17. A manager is about to make a decision regarding work schedules. He has been with the company for 20 years and has
all of the information needed to make the decision. Though work schedules are a touchy issue, the manager is well
thought of by his employees. How should he make the decision?
a.
Make the decision himself
b.
Ask for employee input and then decide
c.
Have his employees make the decision
d.
Give the employees options and let them vote
a
18. Leaders can make decisions without consulting others unless:
a.
their subordinates trust them
b.
the leader is knowledgeable
c.
the problem is unstructured
d.
the decision quality in unimportant
c
19. Which of the following is NOT a decision making strategy associated with the Vroom-Yetton model?
a.
Autocratic I
b.
Consultative III
c.
Autocratic II
d.
Group I
b
20. What is the lowest level of employee input and control?
a.
ownership of own product
b.
advisory
c.
following
d.
absolute
c
21. Which of the following levels of employee input and control is the first to remove a “redundant system?”
a.
Ownership of own product
b.
Following
c.
Advisory
d.
Absolute
a
22. A manager asks an employee to study an issue and report back with recommendations on how the issue can be
resolved. In this example, the employee is at the _____ level of input and control.
a.
ownership of own product
b.
following
c.
advisory
d.
absolute
c
23. If an empowered employee makes a wrong decision, a manager should:
a.
train the employee
b.
place the employee on a lower input level
c.
ignore the problem
d.
keep track of any future problems
a
24. To reduce misunderstandings about levels of control, _______ should be used.
a.
the Vroom-Yetton model
b.
the two-factor theory
c.
empowerment charts
d.
memos and e-mail
c
25. At what level of input and control should a new employee be placed?
a.
Following
b.
Ownership of own product
c.
Advisory
d.
Participative
a
26. Raja has been working for Shahidi Enterprises for five years. She works by herself in a building, sorting mail. She is
allowed two 20-minutes breaks each day and can take them whenever she wants. In an empowerment chart, at what level
would she be at regarding her authority to make decisions about when these two breaks should occur?
a.
Following
b.
Advisory
c.
Participative
d.
Absolute
d
27. In general, empowering employees ______ job satisfaction and _______ stress.
a.
increases / decreases
b.
decreases / decreases
c.
decreases / increases
d.
the effects depend on the employee
d
28. Which of the following is true about employees’ desire for empowerment?
a.
All employees want empowerment
b.
Very few employees want to be empowered
c.
Most employees want empowerment
d.
Some want empowerment and some don’t
d
29. During flextime working hours, ___ refer(s) to the total number of potential hours available for work each day?
a.
bandwidth
b.
core hours
c.
flexible hours
d.
flexitour hours
a
30. A local grocery store has identified hours that everyone must work. These hours are known as:
a.
bandwidth
b.
core
c.
gliding
d.
gliding
b
31. _____ are(is) the number of potential hours available for work, whereas ____ consist(s) of hours during which an
organization is busiest.
a.
core/bandwidth
b.
bandwidth/core
c.
flex/gliding
d.
bandwidth/flexitour
b
32. The most flexible work schedule is:
a.
gliding time
b.
modified flexitour
c.
job sharing
d.
core time
a
33. Research indicates that flexible working schedules are associated with each of the following criteria except:
a.
higher levels of fatigue
b.
less absenteeism
c.
higher job satisfaction
d.
slight increases in productivity
a
34. An example of a compressed work week involves:
a.
working 4 days a week, 10 hours a day
b.
working 5 days a week, 8 hours a day
c.
working staggered hours
d.
sharing the hours with another employee
a
35. Research on compressed work weeks indicates that compressed schedules are associated with:
a.
a moderate reduction in absenteeism
b.
small increases in productivity
c.
large increases in job satisfaction
d.
all of these
d
36. According to research, employees who work 12-hour shifts are _____ than those working 8‑hour shifts.
a.
more fatigued
b.
absent more often
c.
more likely to leave the organization
d.
less productive
a
37. With ______, an employee works on an irregular or as-needed basis.
a.
casual work
b.
flextime
c.
peak-time pay
d.
job sharing
a
38. Bob works from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every day as a clerk; Sue works in that same position except from 1:00 p.m.
‑5:00 p.m. They are working an alternative work schedule called:
a.
flex time
b.
gliding time
c.
job sharing
d.
peak‑time pay
c
39. Which of the following is the main difference between job sharing and part-time employees?
a.
Transportation ease
b.
Safety
c.
Organizational costs
d.
Employee commitment
d
40. An employee sews garments for her company at home. Once a week she brings in the finished goods and gets paid.
Her work situation would be called:
a.
telecommuting
b.
telework
c.
work at home
d.
mobile working
c
41. Which of the following is a disadvantage of working from home?
a.
Lower commuting costs for employees
b.
Lower utility costs for employers
c.
Unions strongly approve of home work
d.
It is difficult to enforce safety and fair treatment standards
d
42. Which of the following is true about the relationship between economics and downsizing? Prior to downsizing:
a.
most organizations were losing money
b.
most organizations were profitable
c.
employees complained about low wages
d.
most organizations lost big contracts
b
43. Which of the following is NOT an alternative to layoffs?
a.
Use of temporary employees
b.
Outsourcing
c.
Both are alternatives
d.
Neither is an alternative
c
44. A company gets a huge, one-time order. It needs an additional 40 employees to complete the job but will not need
them once the job is done. The best strategy is for the company to:
a.
not accept the new job
b.
use temporary employees
c.
hire and then layoff 40 employees
d.
bring former employees out of retirement
b
45. Henri is the president of a company with 10 employees. Each employee has full medical benefits and Henri doesn’t
have the time or knowledge to administer the benefits program. His best bet would be to:
a.
use outsourcing
b.
learn the needed skills
c.
hire a temporary employee each month
d.
adjust his working schedule
a
46. A problem with offering early retirement is that:
a.
it is too expensive
b.
few employees agree to retire early
c.
too many employees want to retire
d.
it is often illegal
a
47. Which of the following methods of avoiding downsizing is based on the premise that most economic recessions last
less than a year?
a.
Job sharing
b.
Restricted overtime
c.
Reduced employee pay
d.
Use of payless holidays
c
48. An employee who ______ might be vulnerable to being downsized.
a.
has kept up with technology
b.
has excellent performance ratings
c.
has a lot of idle time
d.
all three are signs of risk
c
49. When a layoff is announced, employees should be told:
a.
in a formal, written announcement
b.
in person
c.
on the last day they will be working
d.
all three are good practices
b
50. When employees receive word of downsizing, the first stage they go through is:
a.
anger
b.
denial
c.
fear
d.
acceptance
b
51. Having support groups in which downsized employees can vent would be most useful during which of the following
stages?
a.
Anger
b.
Denial
c.
Fear
d.
Acceptance
a
52. Which of the following services is NOT needed by layoff victims?
a.
Emotional counseling
b.
Financial counseling
c.
Career assessment
d.
All three are needed
d
53. Which of the following would NOT be discussed during financial counseling?
a.
Severance pay
b.
Transferable skills
c.
Unemployment insurance
d.
All three would be discussed
b
54. Which of the following is NOT true about the effects of layoffs?
a.
Survivors have problems
b.
Victims have problems
c.
The local community suffers
d.
All three are true
d
55. Survivors of layoffs:
a.
tend to quickly leave the company
b.
are more apt to take risks
c.
have lower role ambiguity
d.
lose self-confidence
d
56. Most companies that downsize:
a.
reduce expenses
b.
have fewer disability claims
c.
have increased productivity
d.
do not increase their financial success
d
57. Name and briefly describe the three types of sacred-cow hunts.
58. What are the five stages in employee acceptance of change?
59. Name and describe the five types of people involved with change.
60. Name and briefly describe the five decision-making strategies in the Vroom-Yetton Model.
61. What are five strategies an organization can use to reduce the need for downsizing?
62. What are the four common flexible work arrangement strategies?
63. Name and briefly describe the three common flexible working schedules/