978-0134729329 Chapter 1 Solution Manual

Unlock access to all the studying documents.

View Full Document

Questions for Review

1-1. What is the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace?

Answer: Understanding human behavior is critical for managerial effectiveness today. To

Learning Objective: Demonstrate the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace

Learning Outcomes: Understanding OB helps determine manager effectiveness; Technical and

AACSB: Written and oral communication

1-2. What is the definition of organizational behavior (OB)?

Answer: Organizational behavior (OB) is a field of study that investigates the impact that

manage individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Learning Objectives: Define organizational behavior (OB)

Learning Outcome: Define organizational behavior

AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking

1-3. How does systematic study contribute to our understanding of OB?

Answer: Behavior according to systematic study is not random. There are fundamental

approach that involves basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific

evidence. Intuition, in contrast, is based on one’s “gut feeling.” Although unscientific and

AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking

1-4. What are the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB?

Answer: OB is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and

including learning, perception, personality, emotions, training, leadership, motivation, job

satisfaction, decision making, etc. Social psychology blends concepts from both

and their activities within different cultures and environments.

Learning Objective: Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB

AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking

1-5. Why are there so few absolutes in OB?

and therefore it is difficult to make many generalizations. Variables such as people’s

AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking

1-6. What are the challenges and opportunities for managers in using OB concepts?

Answer: This field of study offers managers specific insights and opportunities to

profitability. Challenges can also be found in critical labor shortages, the fast pace of

change in a world of temporariness, and the need for continuous innovation. Finally,

climate.

Learning Objective: Identify managers’ challenges and opportunities in applying OB concepts

Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study

1-7. What are the three levels of analysis in our OB model?

Learning Objectives: Compare the three levels of analysis in this text’s OB model

Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study

AACSB: Analytical thinking

Experiential Exercise

Managing the OB Way

This exercise contributes to:

Learning Objectives: Demonstrate the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace; Define organizational

behavior (OB); Show the value to OB of systematic study; Demonstrate why few absolutes apply to OB; Identify

managers’ challenges and opportunities in applying OB concepts

Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study; Describe

the factors that influence the formation of individual attitudes and values; Apply the study of perception and

attribution to the workplace; Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce; Describe the

nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational

cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices

AACSB: Written and oral communication; Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking; Diverse and

multicultural work environments; Reflective thinking

After class members have formed groups of approximately four members each, each group

should consider the following scenario:

You will assume the role of a special committee of district managers at a large pharmaceutical

company. Your committee will be meeting to discuss some problems. The process set up by the

committee is as follows:

independent ideas for what might be done.

2. At the start of the meeting, each member should spend one minute addressing the group.

During the meeting, the committee must reach a consensus on both the best solution and

with a little more than a year’s experience and an average (but declining) sales record, has

grown a very long and ragged beard that detracts significantly from his appearance. His

with his individual freedom.

There have been numerous complaints about Tom’s appearance from both doctors and

pharmacists. The manager has talked to him on many occasions about the impact his

they were last year.

When the groups have reached their consensus decisions, the following questions can serve as

the basis for class discussion:

they care about his appearance?

1-9. What was your group’s consensus decision regarding the issue with Tom’s facial hair?

1-10. Let’s say Tom told you he thinks the beard is part of his personal religion that he is

forming. Do you think that announcement would change how you talk to Tom about the

issue?

Teaching Notes

potential success of each approach.

This exercise is applicable to face-to-face classes or synchronous online classes such as

BlackBoard 9.1, WIMBA, and Second Life Virtual Classrooms. See

(http://www.wimba.com/solutions/higher-education/wimba_classroom_for_higher_education),

(http://go.secondlife.com/landing/education/) and

(http://docplayer.net/19442732-Effective-use-of-collaboration-tools-for-online-learning-jennifer-pontano-ke-anna-sk

ipwith-drexel-university-e-learning-2-0-conference-march-2011.html) for more information.

Ethical Dilemma

There’s a Drone in Your Soup

This exercise contributes to:

AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking

It is the year 2020, and drones are everywhere. Alibaba quadcopters have been delivering

special ginger tea to customers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou for years; Amazon’s

octocopters finally deliver packages in most major cities within 30 minutes without knocking

That’s all about to change.

You work for a multinational technology corporation on a sprawling, 25-acre headquarters

campus, with offices in 2 million sqaure feet of interior space in one large building and four

additional smaller (but still large) buildings. The official Head of Interior Spaces is your boss;

you’re the leader of the Consideration of New Things team. In a meeting with your team, your

camera, a speaker, and a recorder.”

Your team expresses surprise; no one even knew an inside utility drone was under development,

and governments worldwide are still haggling over regulations for drones. Your boss goes on

enthusiastically, “I’ve seen the little drones, and I think you’ll be impressed – not only can they

scoot across the quad, but they can fetch things off tables, grab me a latte, attend meetings for

“Sounds, uh, great,” you reply. “But how about the team takes the afternoon to set the ground

rules?”

Questions

1-11. How might the R2D2 drones influence employee behavior? Do you think they will cause

to misbehave. However, many students will be concerned that the drones could facilitate

1-12. Who should get the drones initially? How can you justify your decision ethically? What

perspective. Students should recognize that a key issue in the situation is the inability to

1-13. How will your organization deal with sabotage or misuse of drones? The value of an

R2D2 drone is $2,500.

impossible.

1-14. Many organizations already use electronic monitoring of employees, including sifting

through website usage and e-mail correspondence, often without the employee’s direct

knowledge. In what ways might drone monitoring be better or worse for employees than

covert electronic monitoring of Web or e-mail activity?

Case Incident 1

Apple Goes Global

This exercise contributes to:

cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices

AACSB: Written and oral communication; Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking; Diverse and multicultural work

environments

It wasn’t long ago that products from Apple, perhaps the most recognizable name in electronics

At first glance, the transfer of jobs from one workforce to another would seem to hinge on a

difference in wages, but Apple shows this is an oversimplification. In fact, paying U.S. wages

would add only $65 to each iPhone’s expense, while Apple’s profits average hundreds of dollars

per phone. Rather, and of more concern, Apple’s leaders believe the intrinsic characteristics of

Because Apple is one of the most imitated companies in the world, this perception of an overseas

advantage might suggest that the U.S. workforce needs to be better led, better trained, more

effectively managed, and more motivated to be proactive and flexible. If U.S. and Western

European workers are less motivated and less adaptable, it’s hard to imagine that does not spell

we can’t forget that Apple posted $16.1 billion in revenue from the first quarter of 2014, perhaps

in part because its manufacturing in China builds support for the brand there.

As makers of some of the most cutting-edge, revered products in the electronics marketplace,

perhaps Apple serves not as a failure of one country to hold onto a company completely, but as

Threatens $30 Billion Global Supplier Web,” Bloomberg,

www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-18/apple-slowdown-threatens-30-billion-global-supplierweb-

tech.html.

Questions

1-15. What are the pros and cons for local and overseas labor forces of Apple’s going global? What are

the potential political implications for country relationships?

with product development could benefit if Apple’s products continue to be in high

demand. While the ‘export of jobs’ can create tension between China and the United

1-16. Do you think Apple is justified in drawing the observations and conclusions expressed in the

case? Why or why not? Do you think it is good or harmful to the company that its executives

have voiced these opinions?

1-17.How could managers use increased worker flexibility and diligence to increase the

competitiveness of their manufacturing sites? What would you recommend?

Case Incident 2

Big Data for Dummies

This exercise contributes to:

Learning Objectives: Define organizational behavior (OB); Show the value to OB of systematic study; Demonstrate

resource practices

AACSB: Analytic thinking; Reflective thinking

Do you need big data? Maybe the question is better phrased as: Can you afford not to use big

data? The age of big data is here, and to ignore its benefits is to run the risk of missed

opportunities.

access to useful data significantly increased in a year?

According to Amy Braverman, a principal statistician who analyzes NASA’s spacecraft data, the

problem is in interpreting the new kinds and volumes of data we are able to collect. “This

opportunistic data collection is leading to entirely new kinds of data that aren’t well suited to

big data.

With strong need combating the high hurdle for usability, how should a company get started

using big data? The quick answer seems to be to hire talent. But not just anyone will do. Here

are some points to ponder when hiring data professionals:

1. Look for candidates with a strong educational background in analytics/statistics.

data.

2. The ideal candidates will have specific experience in your industry or a related

at Ernst & Young.

advanced in big data.

4. Communication skills are a must. Look for a candidate “who can translate Ph.D. to

people to find.”

5. Find candidates with a proven record of finding useful information from a mess of

and discerning.

data projects have a short-term focus.

7. Test candidates’ expertise on real problems. Netflix’s Director of Algorithms asks

this particular problem?”

Sources: M. Taes, “If I Could Have More Data…,” The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2014, R5; S. Thurm, “It’s a Whole

Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2014, B7.

Questions

1-18. Let’s say you work in a metropolitan city for a large department store chain and your

manager puts you in charge of a team to find out whether keeping the store open an hour

longer each day would increase profits. What data might be available to your

decision-making process? What data would be important to your decision?

Answer: Relevant internally-generated variables would include number of customers in

the store prior to closing, sales levels prior to closing, and so on. Data along these lines is

probably readily available to companies that track sales. Managers would also probably

consider external variables such as the opening hours of competitors or access to public

transportation if the store is in an urban area.

1-19. What kinds of data might we want in OB applications?

1-20. As Braverman notes, one problem with big data is making sense of the information. How

might a better understanding of psychology help you sift through all this data?

to whether similar numbers could be expected in the future or whether

they might take a diLerent path.

My Lab Management

following Assisted-graded writing questions:

1-21. You have read the chapter and Case Incident 1, and let’s say that you are now an Apple

recommend?

1-22. In relation to Case Incident 2, why do you think it is important to have educated,

experienced statisticians on any team that is using big data for decision making? What

might be the consequences of hiring someone with less experience?

1-23. MyLab Management only—comprehensive writing assignment for this chapter.

Instructor’s Choice

Companies Dealing with OB Issues

This exercise contributes to:

nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational

cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices

AACSB: Written and oral communication; Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking; Information

technology; Diverse and multicultural work environments; Reflective thinking

under increasing criticism for its manufacturing practices in Vietnam. Have students see how the

company explains its current practices and relationships with foreign contractors.

Exploring OB Topics on the Web

This exercise contributes to:

applying OB concepts

Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study; Describe

the factors that influence the formation of individual attitudes and values; Apply the study of perception and

attribution to the workplace; Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce; Describe the

nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational

the Search Engine Watch home page, click on Search Engine Listings, then on Major Search

Engines. This page presents an overview of the major engines and how best to use them. Do not

forget to look at other topics on this website that are interesting to you.

Now perform a search on “Organizational Behavior” using three different search engines. Do the

choose one search engine over another.

1. The text tells us that OB replaces intuition with systematic study. Where do scholars prepare

for a career researching OB topics? Additionally, what if you decide at some point to pursue

programs. If you need ideas as to where to start, try:

a. Harvard: http://www.hbs.edu/units/ob/index.html

Management: http://www.obweb.org/

If time allows, discuss as a class the information you found on the general areas of study and

the types of courses required in graduate work in OB.

2. One of the challenges facing managers is the fact that organizations are no longer constrained

by national borders.

note the ones you missed.

b. Choose one of the topics and, on a separate paper, write three questions you have on the

topic. Click on the topics or links on the SHRM homepage and try to find the answers. If

3. Many organizations look for ways to promote diversity through family-friendly policies.

Look for three companies that are incorporating family-friendly policies into their HRM

b. What are their policies?

c. How do these policies attract and keep people?

d. Do these policies interest you? Why?

4. Find an organization that directly addresses the cost of absenteeism or turnover on its

website. What, if anything, is that organization doing to reduce those costs? What did your

organization’s strategy to the group and possibly the class. Below are some websites to get

you started, but do not hesitate to perform your own search:

a. www.shrm.org

b. http://www.jointventure.org

c. http://eafinc.org