Exam 6: Post-Fordism and Organizational Communication

Geographical ______ allows companies to cut cost by moving manufacturing to where labor is cheapest.

Lee and Laura never finished high school but made a modest living by working at a local factory for over 30 years. They raised their two children who both went to college and had successful careers. Lee and Laura helped their grandchildren pay for college as well, however their grandchildren don't have the same career stability and often change jobs. Lee finds this all very frustrating. Based on what you know about postmodern organizations, what could you tell Lee to help explain what's going on with his grandkids?

The central element of immaterial labor is communication.

"Team work" in organizations probably emerged ______.

In our postmodern economy, ______ work can be dull, alienating, unpredictable, and lacking in job security.

Teamwork can increase the surveillance and stress that workers encounter in the workplace.

Bob's father worked for MOT Insurance for over two decades as a claims adjuster. Bob worked for the same insurance company, however in the span of two years, he was moved from a claims adjuster, to dispatcher, and then laid off. A few weeks later he was rehired as a contractor. Bob experienced ______.

The philosophy of Kaizen allows for continuous improvement in the work environment.

Neoliberalism began as an ______ philosophy and evolved into a taken for granted way of thinking about life.

President ______ implemented neoliberalism as a means of reducing obstacles to economic growth.

Robert Reich (1991) calls workers who process information and symbols ______.

The third spirit of capitalism was a cult-like and oppressive corporate structure.

Modern organizations are often called ______ organizations because of their tendency to produce people and products in mass quantities.

Creative knowledge-workers have the most security and the biggest boundaries between life and work in our postmodern economy.

The growth of the ______ class has resulted in an influx of workers who face a great degree of job insecurity, who are less likely to make long-term investments in neighborhoods and communities.

In our postmodern, consumption-based economy, people can be marketed in particular ways. We might, then, say that people, like products, can be ______.

As a manager, Larry believes that work teams are beneficial for his organization. He views ______ as one of the advantages that empowers employees.

As a business owner, Cynthia enjoys limited government intervention, her private property rights are protected, and she has freedom to express her own interests. Cynthia is functioning in a ______ economic system

Postmodern organizations are best characterized by ______.

Professor Quimble teaches a senior capstone class and constantly warns her students that in order to be successful in this new economy, they will have to "be flexible." She also mentions the characteristics of the idealized neoliberal worker include ______.