Exam 6: Networks, Groups, Bureaucracies, and Societies

Curtis attends a large university and knows very few people in his classes. In his sociology class, however, he was required to meet weekly with a group of four other people to work on a term project. After the term was over, they kept meeting weekly to discuss classes and life at university. What type of social group do Curtis and the others make?

The large organization that Josh works for issues each employee a number, has each employee sign in to work via time clock, and never addresses employees by name, only by number. What criticism against bureaucracies is relevant in this case?

How does the size of an organization contribute to bureaucratic inefficiency?

Define bureaucratic dehumanization and bureaucratic ritualism. Give examples.

Solange wanted to see how many people it would take to hand-deliver a package from Vancouver, British Columbia, to her aunt in St. John's, Newfoundland. Which of the following concepts would explain her research results?

Authoritarian leadership works best when group members are highly experienced, trained, motivated, and educated, and when trust and confidence in group members are high.

Explain what a social category is and give an example.

In what ways do informal relations in bureaucracy influence the work experiences of employees?

In what ways does leadership style have a significant impact on bureaucratic performance?

The Milgram experiment has shown that most people socialized in democratic societies will resist authority when asked to harm innocent strangers.

What is the relation between group conformity and inequality?

According to the textbook, what type of formal organization is the most widespread and influential?

Social networks may be formal, but they are more often informal.

What was the focus of the Asch experiment?

According to the textbook, what lies at the heart of social interactions that require cooperation?

Which of the following leadership styles is most effective in a crisis situation?

Which factor influencing conformity did Milgram study?

Aruna works for a company in the rapidly changing computer technology industry. Which of the following organizational structures is likely to be the best for her company?

The Industrial Revolution began in the nineteenth-century United States.

You have been hired as a consultant to improve efficiency of a federal ministry. What measures would you propose?