Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4th edition
Robert B. Denhardt • Janet V. Denhardt • Maria P. Aristigueta
Sage 2015
Test Bank | Chapter 12
Organizational Change
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following approaches will aid in overcoming people’s normal resistance to
change?
A) Involving people throughout the organization in the change process
B) Communicating the problems inherent in the current situation
C) Giving people time to let go of the past and embrace the future
D) All of the above
2. Which of the following types of change takes place within an organization’s existing
framework?
A) Incremental change
B) Discontinuous change
C) Strategic change
D) Grassroots change
3. ________ takes place at the local or street level and involves middle-level and supervisory-
level managers.
A) Incremental change
B) Discontinuous change
C) Strategic change
D) Grassroots change
4. Changes of this type are highly analytical, technical, and helps establish the momentum for
change.
A) Incremental change
B) Discontinuous change
C) Strategic change
D) Crisis change
5. Which of the following types of change is initiated in times of crisis?
A) Crisis change
B) Organic change
C) Systematic change
D) Dramatic change
6. “The new system is easier to use” is an example of which type of force?
A) Restraining force
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B) Driving force
C) Restrictive force
D) Motivating force
7. SMART goals are:
A) Specific, meaningful, achievable, relevant, and timely
B) Specific, measurable, achievable, reachable, and timely
C) Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely
D) Specific, meaningful, attainable, reachable, and timely
8. The ________ stage is the first stage in the change process.
A) Unfreezing
B) Freezing
C) Change
D) Refreezing
9. Artifacts and creations of a culture include:
A) Values of an organization
B) Patterns of behavior that are taken for granted
C) An emphasis on problem solving
D) Day-to-day operating routines
10. Which of the following is NOT an element of Ott’s notion of organizational culture?
A) Organizational culture is made up of such things as values, beliefs, assumptions, perceptions,
behavioral norms, artifacts, and patterns of behavior
B) Organizational culture has a process of formally approving or prohibiting behaviors
C) Organizational culture is a socially constructed, unseen, and unobservable force behind
organizational activities
D) Organizational culture is a unifying theme that provides meaning, direction, and mobilization
for organization members
11. Which of the following is NOT a possible limitation to implementing cultural change of an
organization?
A) Cultural norms are deep-seated and may be quite resistant to change
B) Successful changes in an organization’s culture typically occur over a long period of time
C) Different generations have different feelings towards change
D) Important ethical questions may arise as managers attempt to “manipulate” the norms and
values of those in the organization
12. ________ is what we describe when people ask us what ideas govern our actions.
A) Espoused theory
B) Theory-in-use
C) Spoken theory
D) Governing theory
13. Successful public managers hoping to lead change must:
A) Assess the organizations’ environments and the need for change
B) Plan for change both strategically and pragmatically
C) Institutionalize the changes
D) All of the above
14. This discipline focuses on the way in which we see the world.
A) Personal mastery
B) Shared vision
C) Mental models
D) Systems thinking
15. Work can be divided on the basis of:
A) Purpose
B) Process
C) Place
D) All of the above
16. According to Golembiewski, OD philosophy includes which of the following values?
A) Responsibility only to oneself
B) Willingness to experiment
C) Closed communications
D) Private examination of conflicts
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17. Which of the following is NOT an OD strategy or technique used to help facilitate
organizational change?
A) T-groups
B) Process consultation
C) Brainstorming
D) Survey feedback
18. Creating a clear result-oriented vision in relation to discovered potential and in relation to
questions of higher purpose describes which phase of the process of appreciative inquiry?
A) Discovery
B) Dream
C) Design
D) Destiny
19. Six-sigma performs at the level of ________ perfection.
A) 99.97%
B) 99.997%
C) 99.9997%
D) 99.99997%
20. Which of the following is NOT a phase of the change process?
A) Definition
B) Clarification
C) Action
D) Sustainability
21. A manager who seeks organizational change by developing a dedication to the mission and
values of the organization is an example of which of these themes:
A) Commitment to values
B) Dedication to public services
C) Pragmatic incrementalism
D) None of the above
True/False
22. Incremental change is far more difficult for those in the organization than is discontinuous
change.
23. Force field analysis is a useful tool for evaluating a large number of interrelated forces and
tracking their likely effects in the future.
24. In order for comprehensive change to occur in any organization, attention must be given to
both strategic change and grassroots change.
25. Action research models the importance of not involving organizational members in the
change process.
26. Changing an organization’s culture does not change the behavior of the organization’s
employees.
27. Successful changes in an organization’s culture typically occur over a short period of time.
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28. The systems approach is seen as a way of ensuring attention to the “big picture.”
29. As long as our thinking is governed by habit, we will continue to re-create institutions as they
have been.
30. Organic structures are highly formalized, specialized, standardized, and centralized.
31. Appreciative inquiry focuses on emphasizing the strengths in an organization rather than its
weaknesses or “deficits.”
32. During periods of relative calm public agencies are constantly changing.
33. OD is an approach to change in the organization based in the psychological sciences.
Essay
34. Discuss the ways in which people’s normal resistance to change may be overcome. How
might changes be implemented more successfully?
35. Explore the different efforts to conceptualize change and to suggest strategies for change.
Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
36. What is organizational culture? How is it created or formed? What does it consist of?
Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
37. Describe Latham’s approach to behavior change. What are some limitations to instituting
behavior change? Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.
38. Compare and contrast the attributes needed by managers to effectively introduce change with
what is needed to build great public organizations.
39. OD represents a particular philosophy. According to Golemniewski (1972) what values are
included in this philosophy?
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