Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4th edition
Robert B. Denhardt • Janet V. Denhardt • Maria P. Aristigueta
Sage 2015
Test Bank | Chapter 1
Organizational Behavior as a Way of Thinking and Acting
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following questions should you ask when analyzing individual employee
behavior in public organizations?
A) Do employees feel like part of a team?
B) Do workers understand the underlying values of the mission of the unit?
C) Are the appropriate equipment, technology, and supplies available?
D) Is the unit is receiving adequate funding and central agency support?
2. Public servants have a responsibility to manage organizational behavior to meet:
A) Public objectives and community needs
B) Public objectives and organizational needs
C) Public objectives and personal needs of employees
D) Public objectives and influencing people to behave in a particular way
3. The ________ conducted a study addressing what public organizations need to know in order
to act effectively and responsibly.
A) U.S. Office of Personnel Management
B) U.S. Office of Management & Budget
C) U.S. Office of Special Counsel
D) U.S. Department of Education
4. Which of the following researchers explored the importance of organizational culture?
A) Edgar Schein
B) Peter Drucker
C) Margaret Wheatley
D) Frederick Taylor
5. Which of the following is a “what” of management function?
A) Strategic view
B) Broad perspective
C) Leadership
D) Monitoring
6. Which of the following management functions involves presenting, explaining, selling, and
defending the work unit’s activities to the supervisor in the agency and to persons and groups
outside of the agency?
A) Coordination
B) Representation
C) Leadership
D) Monitoring
7. Which of the following management functions involves self-knowledge and awareness of
impact on others?
A) Interpersonal sensitivity
B) Communication
C) Representation
D) Monitoring
8. Evaluating whether the unit is receiving adequate funding and central agency support is
analysis on the ___________ level.
A) Individual
B) Group
C) Organizational
D) Systems
9. The finding that people change their behavior when they know they are being observed is
known as the:
A) Hawthorne finding
B) Hawthorne effect
C) Hawthorne works
D) Hawthorne results
10. Theory Y characterizes people as:
A) Motivated solely by money
B) Lazy and uninvolved
C) Inherently worthwhile
D) Complex and difficult to understand
11. Rensis Likert refers to managers as the __________.
A) Focal point
B) Trend setter
C) Leader
D) Linking pin
12. Which of the following is NOT an assumption that underlies the study of organizational
behavior?
A) Human behavior is purposeful.
B) Human behavior is random.
C) Human behavior can be changed.
D) Human behavior can be influenced by others.
13. The understanding that people are more likely to carry out decisions they helped to make is
based on the research of ____________.
A) Kurt Lewin
B) Douglas McGregor
C) Frederick Taylor
D) Chester Barnard
14. Evaluating whether resources are tracked and allocated to areas of high need is analysis on
the ________ level.
A) Individual
B) Group
C) Organizational
D) Systems
15. Sarah is trying to evaluate whether her supervisors are managing their units in a manner that
supports employee development and performance. Which of the following levels of analysis is
she engaging in?
A) Individual
B) Group
C) Organizational
D) Systems
16. Joe is researching any external issues or trends that seem likely to affect the work unit.
Which management function is he engaging in?
A) Supervision
B) Budgeting
C) Representation
D) External awareness
17. Martha has specialized expertise in agency programs and operations. Which of the following
effective management characteristics was she most likely hired for?
A) Interpersonal sensitivity
B) Technical competence
C) Action orientation
D) Strategic view
18. Organizational behavior provides the ________ for managing human behavior in
organizations.
A) Strategies
B) Rationale
C) Goals
D) Purpose
19. Helen feels that it is possible for a trained monkey to do the jobs of her workers. Which
researcher’s viewpoint is she espousing?
A) Max Hawthorne
B) Chester Barnard
C) Frederick Taylor
D) Abraham Maslow
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20. Jason believes he should focus on the strength, resilience, and vitality of his workers. He is
most likely influenced by which researcher?
A) Frederick Taylor
B) Martin Seligman
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Robert Waterman
21. According to Maslow, which of the following is the base need for humans’ motivations and
desires?
A) Love
B) Safety
C) Physiological
D) Esteem
22. Research shows that employees who are engaged in their work increase the odds of success
by ______ percent compared to those who are less engaged.
A) 100
B) 25
C) 50
D) 200
23. Which of the following factors should managers use to engage their employees?
A) Maintain a positive perspective
B) Provide recognition and encouragement
C) A strengths-based approach
D) All of the above
24. Improvements to organizational processes, structure, and performance require:
A) Management through people
B) Management of people
C) Management by engagement
D) None of the above
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True/False
25. To be effective, public administrators and nonprofit managers must lead and motivate others
only within their organizations.
26. Organizational behavior can tell a manager what type of computer system will be most
effective.
27. Organizational behavior is concerned with how people act, their motivations, and how they
interact with others.
28. The management of organizational behavior in the public sector does not concern governance
in the public interest.
29. In order for executives at the top levels of government to be successful, they must have the
ability to work with and through people.
30. Frederick Taylor was greatly concerned with employee motivation.
31. The importance of human cooperation in organizations was emphasized in the Hawthorn
study’s definition of a formal organization.
32. The psychological theories of Sigmund Freud are useful when looking at adults in
organizational settings.
33. Positive organizational scholarship focuses on what is wrong with people and their
deficiencies.
34. One assumption that guides the exploration of organizational behavior in the public sector is
that public service is about serving others.
35. Management approaches that disrespect or ignore employees can be effective for short-term
results.
Essay
36. Define the different levels of analysis in organizational behavior. What questions should be
asked for each level? How should the analysis be conducted?
37. Discuss how organizational behavior is defined in the public sector. Does this differ from
organizational behavior outside of the public sector? Why or why not?
38. Identify the skills that are critical to managerial success in government. Pick five skills to
discuss in detail. Why did you choose these skills? What makes them important?
39. Discuss the evolution of research and understanding about human behavior in an
organizational context. Be sure to identify the factors that led to changes in understanding
organizational behavior.
40. Discuss aspects of the “What” and “How” of management.