Name:
Class:
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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. True or false? It is usually possible to find a mentor and benefit from the mentor–mentee relationship even if
an organization does not offer a formal mentorship program.
a.
True
b.
False
2. True or false? The human resources approach to management considers the organization from the individual’s
perspective and emphasizes the individual’s goals and motivations for success.
a.
True
b.
False
3. True or false? Organizational heroes are the people who achieve great things for the organization.
a.
True
b.
False
4. True or false? Each organization can be said to have its own unique culture.
a.
True
b.
False
5. True or false? The systems approach likens organizations to machines, emphasizing efficiency.
a.
True
b.
False
6. When he walked into the real estate agent’s office, Phillip saw a wall of photographs. In the first, he saw his
agent as a child with her parents on the day they bought their first home; in another, he saw her with her
children on the day they bought their first home. Moving on, he saw photograph after photograph of his agent
with other families standing outside the homes she helped them purchase. The last frame on the wall had no
photo, but instead a message inside the glass that said, “I look forward to the day you and I can be photographed
outside your first home.” These photographs that told Phillip what his agent’s office was all about—a lifetime
commitment to helping people accomplish their dreams—are a form of organizational:
a.
assimilation.
b.
storytelling.
c.
culture.
d.
metaphor.
7. When Tammy was ready to return to work after her maternity leave, she sat down with her supervisor.
Tammy had been working a 50-hour-week schedule and traveling two weekends per month for business
meetings, but her supervisor offered her the chance to work from home two days per week and to conduct most
of her meetings with out-of-town clients over conference calls. This is an example of a program that would
provide employees with:
a.
burnout.
b.
work–life balance.
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c.
organizational assimilation.
d.
human relations.
8. True or false? Global social enterprises try to help struggling economies by developing innovation and
improved financial systems.
a.
True
b.
False
9. Which management approach views an organization as a unique whole made up of important members who
have interdependent relationships within their particular environment?
a.
human resources approach
b.
classical management approach
c.
human relations approach
d.
systems approach
10. True or false? Organizational storytelling is one way that an organization can disseminate its values to its
members and to the outside world.
a.
True
b.
False
11. On his first day on the job, Calvin was assigned a mentor. His mentor’s job was to introduce Calvin to the
other members of the office. The mentor would also meet him for lunch once a week for the first three months
that Calvin was on the job to ensure he was learning what to do and how to do it in their organizational culture.
The mentor’s job was to help Calvin through which process?
a.
organizational hero worship
b.
organizational storytelling
c.
organizational acculturation
d.
organizational assimilation
12. True or false? Organizations today are concerned with how individuals use their communication
technologies for nonwork purposes because it costs them a significant amount of money due to lost
productivity.
a.
True
b.
False
13. True or false? Organizational assimilation is the process by which newcomers learn the nuances of the
organization and determine if they fit in.
a.
True
b.
False
14. The human resources approach to management differs from the human relations approach in that it gives a
voice to employees’:
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a.
openness.
b.
adaptability.
c.
perspectives.
d.
families.
15. True or false? During the cultivation stage of mentor–mentee relationships, the relational partners are just
getting to know one another.
a.
True
b.
False
16. True or false? Research indicates that people usually become less productive when they form close
relationships with others in their organizations.
a.
True
b.
False
17. True or false? Your family is an example of an organization.
a.
True
b.
False
18. True or false? The classical management approach emphasizes open communication among the divisions of
labor.
a.
True
b.
False
19. True or false? Work–life balance programs can include on-site childcare and paid vacations.
a.
True
b.
False
20. True or false? Peer relationships are friendships within an organization where one individual has more
authority.
a.
True
b.
False
21. True or false? Relationships with colleagues and other organizational members can be both career
enhancing and personally satisfying.
a.
True
b.
False
22. True or false? People should keep track of and stick to their schedules in order to avoid burnout.
a.
True
b.
False
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Class:
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23. A group with a formal governance and structure is a(n)
a.
institution.
b.
organization.
c.
network.
d.
problem-solving group.
24. True or false? The act of ostracism may include giving others the silent treatment.
a.
True
b.
False
25. Which type of conflict involves completely ignoring another individual in the workplace?
a.
contempt
b.
criticism
c.
defensiveness
d.
ostracism
26. Many organizations now monitor employees to see how they are using technologies, such as email, the
internet, and instant messaging. This is called:
a.
surveillance.
b.
spying.
c.
scanning.
d.
openness.
27. True or false? Supervisor–supervisee relations are only relevant to workplace organizations.
a.
True
b.
False
28. True or false? Global social enterprises attempt to help developed economies reach even greater economic
potential.
a.
True
b.
False
29. An organization’s unique set of beliefs, values, norms, and ways of doing things is referred to as its
organizational:
a.
hierarchy.
b.
structure.
c.
culture.
d.
context.
30. True or false? Vocational anticipatory socialization (VAS) is the process of learning in advance about the
norms of an organization or about the culture of entire industries, careers, and even the very nature of “work.”
Name:
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a.
True
b.
False
31. True or false? A mentee is a seasoned, respected member of an organization who serves as a role model for
a less experienced individual.
a.
True
b.
False
32. An approach to managing organizations that likens organizations to machines, with a focus on maximizing
efficiency, is called the:
a.
human resources approach.
b.
classical management approach.
c.
human relations approach.
d.
systems approach.
33. True or false? Burnout is considered a problem for individuals as well as for the organizations they work
for.
a.
True
b.
False
34. Evan chose to leave his job after it became too uncomfortable and frustrating for him. Evan became
increasingly uncomfortable after one of his coworkers repeatedly made inappropriate sexual jokes and
innuendoes. These inappropriate interactions are examples of:
a.
sexual harassment.
b.
criticism.
c.
surveillance.
d.
contempt.
35. Making a negative comment about another’s personality or character rather than focusing on the person’s
bothersome behavior is called:
a.
contempt.
b.
criticism.
c.
defensiveness.
d.
ostracism.
36. The growing interdependence and connectivity of societies and economies around the world is known as:
a.
outsourcing.
b.
adaptability.
c.
surveillance.
d.
globalization.
37. True or false? Human relations and human resources are two labels for the same approach to organizational
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management.
a.
True
b.
False
38. In the systems approach to organizational management, an organization’s ability to be aware of its own
imbalances and problems is referred to as:
a.
openness.
b.
adaptability.
c.
awareness.
d.
regulation.
39. Negative communication that may include sarcasm, name-calling, ridicule, and insults is called:
a.
contempt.
b.
criticism.
c.
defensiveness.
d.
ostracism.
40. True or false? The orientation that most college students go through before taking classes is an example of
what college, as an organization, has done to encourage organizational assimilation.
a.
True
b.
False
41. True or false? In mentor–mentee interactions, the person with greater power (the mentor) is the one who
carries responsibility for effective communication.
a.
True
b.
False
42. A seasoned, respected member of an organization who serves as a role model for a less experienced
individual is a(n):
a.
observer.
b.
mentor.
c.
leader.
d.
supervisor.
43. Why would an organization engage in surveillance activities?
44. Choose a real-life organization and discuss its organizational culture in detail.
45. Synthesizing what you have learned throughout this chapter and others, what do we mean when we say that
an organization has its own culture? How is organizational culture different from and similar to the notion of
culture as it has been discussed in other chapters of the book?
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46. In your own words, define sexual harassment. What challenges does sexual harassment impose on an
organization?
47. Provide an example of an organization of which you are a member.
48. In a single sentence, explain the difference between the human relations approach to organizational
management and the human resources approach.
49. Robin has just been hired for her first professional position and will be supervising a team of several
employees. Up until now, Robin has only worked in her family’s small business, so she’s not really sure how a
supervisor should interact with employees, and vice versa. Synthesizing what you have learned throughout this
chapter, what advice would you give her about how to communicate effectively in her new role as both a
supervisor and a supervisee?
50. How do mentor–mentee relationships benefit mentors, mentees, and organizations? What can we do to take
advantage of these relationships if our organization doesn’t offer a formal mentorship program?
51. Consider the place where you work or an organization that you participate in. What are its organizational
stories? Describe how it tells these stories. Are there organizational heroes who feature prominently in your
workplace’s organizational stories?
52. Carl has always tried to keep his work life and his personal life separate; however, he has recently confided
in you that he feels like something is missing when he goes to work. What would you say to him to help him
understand the importance of having strong peer relationships at work? How would developing these
relationships benefit Carl? What should he be careful of if he chooses to form stronger bonds with some of his
coworkers? What steps could Carl take to form healthy friendships with people at work?
53. Explain how the classical management approach works.
54. Why do communication researchers believe peer relationships and peer communication are important in
organizations?
55. How does an organization differ from other kinds of groups? Give an example of a group and an
organization that you belong to and clearly explain why you would categorize each as you have.
56. Explain the concept of work–life balance. Why is it important to employees, and why are employers
creating programs to support their employees’ work–life balance? Use a real or fictional narrative example to
show how an organization with a progressive work–life balance program might create a win-win situation for
employees and the organization itself.
57. Cite one benefit and one challenge created by globalization.
58. What term does your textbook use to refer to someone who has achieved great things for an organization
through persistence and commitment, often in the face of great risk? Provide an example of this type of person,
either from your own life or a well-known person.
Name:
Class:
Date:
59. How have new communication technologies and globalization changed the nature of organizations in
today’s world?
60. In your own words, explain the difference between a mentor and a mentee. Then provide an example of a
time you were either in the role of a mentor or a mentee.
61. In your own words, define organizational communication and explain how organizational communication
can impact an organization.
62. Synthesizing what you have learned in this chapter and others, discuss the problem of sexual harassment in
the workplace. Why would you characterize sexual harassment as a problem not only for the victim but also for
the organization as a whole? What steps could you take to resolve matters of sexual harassment if you are the
victim or if you observe someone else being victimized?
63. Explain the concept of vocational anticipatory socialization (VAS). Provide an example of VAS by
explaining the effect it has had on your life growing up. How has VAS contributed to your choice of major?
64. Explain the two central ideas that classical management relies on.
65. List and describe the four approaches to managing an organization.
66. What is meant by global social enterprise? Provide an example of an organization that operates as a global
social enterprise.
67. Provide an example of a work–life balance program offered through your own employer or another
employer you have read or heard about.
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Class:
Date:
Name:
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Date:
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