Question 1

In a 1983 review of the literature on "the skill debate," Spenner found that:

Accepted Answer

A)  most jobs have been "deskilled" 
B)  most jobs have been "upskilled" 
C)  jobs have been "upskilled" in terms of their complexity of tasks, but "deskilled" in terms of control of their work by the workers 
D)  skill levels have remained essentially unchanged 
E)  the notion of "skill" in most jobs has always been overrated 
A)  most jobs have been "deskilled" 
B)  most jobs have been "upskilled" 
C)  jobs have been "upskilled" in terms of their complexity of tasks, but "deskilled" in terms of control of their work by the workers 
D)  skill levels have remained essentially unchanged 
E)  the notion of "skill" in most jobs has always been overrated C

Question 2

The system developed by _______________,in which mass production is tied to the cultivation of mass markets,is known as _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Henry ford; Taylorism 
B)  Henry ford; fordism 
C)  frederick Winslow Taylor; fordism 
D)  frederick Winslow Taylor; scientific management 
E)  Homer Winslow; Simpson management 
A)  Henry ford; Taylorism 
B)  Henry ford; fordism 
C)  frederick Winslow Taylor; fordism 
D)  frederick Winslow Taylor; scientific management 
E)  Homer Winslow; Simpson management B

Question 3

Work plays an important role in structuring people's lives.Yet in the nineteenth century,Karl Marx argued that work in the modern industrial society (capitalism)is inherently alienating.Discuss the significance of his concept in light of more recent research on work and the economy in the late modern society.

Accepted Answer

Anwers may vary.

Question 4

Being a private secretary was once a very prestigious male occupation but lost its prestige because:

Accepted Answer

A)  with technology, there was really no need for someone to perform this type of administrative duties 
B)  global outsourcing required men to enter into more technologically based occupations 
C)  post-fordism established a pattern of men moving away from the office and into warehouses and production facilities 
D)  more women entered the field, and as it became an occupation associated with women, it became a clerical position 
E)  private secretaries did tasks that were far more complicated than contemporary secretaries do 
A)  with technology, there was really no need for someone to perform this type of administrative duties 
B)  global outsourcing required men to enter into more technologically based occupations 
C)  post-fordism established a pattern of men moving away from the office and into warehouses and production facilities 
D)  more women entered the field, and as it became an occupation associated with women, it became a clerical position 
E)  private secretaries did tasks that were far more complicated than contemporary secretaries do

Question 5

The tremendous increase in transnational corporations over the past 30 years has been made possible by the:

Accepted Answer

A)  dominance of family capitalism 
B)  advances in transportation and communications 
C)  elimination of poverty in the developing world 
D)  growth of unions 
E)  influence of socialist policies 
A)  dominance of family capitalism 
B)  advances in transportation and communications 
C)  elimination of poverty in the developing world 
D)  growth of unions 
E)  influence of socialist policies

Question 6

Among those listed here,a worker would most likely be dissatisfied as a:

Accepted Answer

A)  clergyperson 
B)  physical therapist 
C)  firefighter 
D)  education administrator 
E)  roofer 
A)  clergyperson 
B)  physical therapist 
C)  firefighter 
D)  education administrator 
E)  roofer

Question 7

Discuss the debate about automation among sociologists and industrial relations experts over the past 50 years.Summarize the positions of Robert Blauner,Harry Braverman,and Shoshana Zuboff regarding alienation,de-skilling,and the double-edged nature of information technology.How does Spenner synthesize these disparate views?

Accepted Answer

The debate about automation among sociol

Question 8

Groups of 5 to 20 workers who meet regularly to resolve production problems are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  Taylorists 
B)  quality circles 
C)  industrialists 
D)  entrepreneur teams 
E)  strike breakers 
A)  Taylorists 
B)  quality circles 
C)  industrialists 
D)  entrepreneur teams 
E)  strike breakers

Question 9

Theodore works for a marketing company and travels regularly for his job.His work schedule is flexible,and he works on his own projects.This company uses the type of managerial system known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  informal system 
B)  Taylor system 
C)  ford system 
D)  low-trust system 
E)  high-trust system 
A)  informal system 
B)  Taylor system 
C)  ford system 
D)  low-trust system 
E)  high-trust system

Question 10

Wal-Mart designs very little of what it sells and produces next to nothing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Why did union density increase in most developed countries between 1950 and 1980 and then decline?

Accepted Answer

Union density increased in most develope

Question 12

With respect to the future of work,the following statement that is true is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  people will likely tire of technological advancements and the frustrations they cause for workers 
B)  the fall of capitalism is imminent 
C)  people will worry less about their careers, which are becoming increasingly stable, and more about family life, which is increasingly unstable 
D)  unemployment is likely to decline until it is a thing of the past 
E)  people will move in and out of paid work at different points 
A)  people will likely tire of technological advancements and the frustrations they cause for workers 
B)  the fall of capitalism is imminent 
C)  people will worry less about their careers, which are becoming increasingly stable, and more about family life, which is increasingly unstable 
D)  unemployment is likely to decline until it is a thing of the past 
E)  people will move in and out of paid work at different points

Question 13

Taylorism resulted in:

Accepted Answer

A)  workers' loss of control over knowledge of the production process 
B)  increased autonomy for craft workers 
C)  the rise in skilled labor 
D)  massive unemployment 
E)  an increase in the social significance of work 
A)  workers' loss of control over knowledge of the production process 
B)  increased autonomy for craft workers 
C)  the rise in skilled labor 
D)  massive unemployment 
E)  an increase in the social significance of work

Question 14

According to the text,one of the reasons for the decrease in unionization is the labor union itself.In 2005,seven leading unions broke from the AfL-CIO and formed their own,known as Change to Win.A significant change in their attempts to unionize workers is:

Accepted Answer

A)  advocating for freedom of choice in unionization 
B)  dissolving current contracts 
C)  requiring employers to negotiate 
D)  concentrating on workers who are employed in jobs that cannot be sent overseas 
E)  advocating for undocumented workers 
A)  advocating for freedom of choice in unionization 
B)  dissolving current contracts 
C)  requiring employers to negotiate 
D)  concentrating on workers who are employed in jobs that cannot be sent overseas 
E)  advocating for undocumented workers

Question 15

Work has become divided into a number of different occupations in which people specialize.Sociologists refer to this as:

Accepted Answer

A)  division of labor 
B)  self-provisioning 
C)  occupational division 
D)  occupational segregation 
E)  technology 
A)  division of labor 
B)  self-provisioning 
C)  occupational division 
D)  occupational segregation 
E)  technology

Question 16

What is fordism? How is it connected to unions and collective bargaining agreements through a "virtuous circle"? Why do most sociologists think it broke down in the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

Fordism refers to the system of mass pro

Question 17

The "race to the bottom" in relation to the global economy means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  retailers and manufacturers are competing to have the most appealing work conditions and benefits for the lowest-level employees 
B)  retailers and manufacturers are making an effort to give the lowest-level workers more decision-making power 
C)  retailers and manufacturers are building more and more factories underground so they do not have to worry about environmental degradation 
D)  retailers and manufacturers will go anywhere to find the lowest wages 
E)  large retailers are racing to acquire all small firms with the goal of making small firms obsolete 
A)  retailers and manufacturers are competing to have the most appealing work conditions and benefits for the lowest-level employees 
B)  retailers and manufacturers are making an effort to give the lowest-level workers more decision-making power 
C)  retailers and manufacturers are building more and more factories underground so they do not have to worry about environmental degradation 
D)  retailers and manufacturers will go anywhere to find the lowest wages 
E)  large retailers are racing to acquire all small firms with the goal of making small firms obsolete

Question 18

What are the characteristics of post-fordism? Discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

Accepted Answer

Post-Fordism is a term used to describe

Question 19

The transnational corporation that has revolutionized the field of supply chain management,giving it a supreme edge in competing for products,is:

Accepted Answer

A)  General Motors 
B)  Wal-Mart 
C)  ford 
D)  Microsoft 
E)  Target 
A)  General Motors 
B)  Wal-Mart 
C)  ford 
D)  Microsoft 
E)  Target

Question 20

The global shopping mall has affordable products from around the world,and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds make their purchases there.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In a 1983 review of the literature on "the skill debate," Spenner found that:

The system developed by _,in which mass production is tied to the cultivation of mass markets,is known as _.

Being a private secretary was once a very prestigious male occupation but lost its prestige because:

The tremendous increase in transnational corporations over the past 30 years has been made possible by the:

Among those listed here,a worker would most likely be dissatisfied as a:

Groups of 5 to 20 workers who meet regularly to resolve production problems are called:

Theodore works for a marketing company and travels regularly for his job.His work schedule is flexible,and he works on his own projects.This company uses the type of managerial system known as:

Wal-Mart designs very little of what it sells and produces next to nothing.

Why did union density increase in most developed countries between 1950 and 1980 and then decline?

With respect to the future of work,the following statement that is true is that:

Taylorism resulted in:

According to the text,one of the reasons for the decrease in unionization is the labor union itself.In 2005,seven leading unions broke from the AfL-CIO and formed their own,known as Change to Win.A significant change in their attempts to unionize workers is:

Work has become divided into a number of different occupations in which people specialize.Sociologists refer to this as:

What is fordism? How is it connected to unions and collective bargaining agreements through a "virtuous circle"? Why do most sociologists think it broke down in the 1970s?

The "race to the bottom" in relation to the global economy means that:

What are the characteristics of post-fordism? Discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

The transnational corporation that has revolutionized the field of supply chain management,giving it a supreme edge in competing for products,is:

The global shopping mall has affordable products from around the world,and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds make their purchases there.

What Is Sociology?

Asking And Answering Sociological Questions

Culture And Society

Socialization And The Life Cycle

Social Interaction And Everyday Life In The Age Of The Internet

Groups, networks, and Organizations

Conformity, deviance, and Crime

Stratification, class, and Inequality

Global Inequality

Gender Inequality

Ethnicity And Race

Aging

Government, political Power, and Social Movements

Families and Intimate Relations

Education

Religion In Modern Society

The Sociology Of The Body: Health,illness,and Sexuality

Urbanization, population, and The Environment

Globalization In A Changing World

Filters

Exam 14: Work And Economic Life

In a 1983 review of the literature on "the skill debate," Spenner found that:

The system developed by _______________,in which mass production is tied to the cultivation of mass markets,is known as _______________.

Being a private secretary was once a very prestigious male occupation but lost its prestige because:

The tremendous increase in transnational corporations over the past 30 years has been made possible by the:

Among those listed here,a worker would most likely be dissatisfied as a:

Groups of 5 to 20 workers who meet regularly to resolve production problems are called:

Theodore works for a marketing company and travels regularly for his job.His work schedule is flexible,and he works on his own projects.This company uses the type of managerial system known as:

Wal-Mart designs very little of what it sells and produces next to nothing.

Why did union density increase in most developed countries between 1950 and 1980 and then decline?

With respect to the future of work,the following statement that is true is that:

Taylorism resulted in:

According to the text,one of the reasons for the decrease in unionization is the labor union itself.In 2005,seven leading unions broke from the AfL-CIO and formed their own,known as Change to Win.A significant change in their attempts to unionize workers is:

Work has become divided into a number of different occupations in which people specialize.Sociologists refer to this as:

What is fordism? How is it connected to unions and collective bargaining agreements through a "virtuous circle"? Why do most sociologists think it broke down in the 1970s?

The "race to the bottom" in relation to the global economy means that:

What are the characteristics of post-fordism? Discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

The transnational corporation that has revolutionized the field of supply chain management,giving it a supreme edge in competing for products,is:

The global shopping mall has affordable products from around the world,and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds make their purchases there.

What Is Sociology?

Asking And Answering Sociological Questions

Culture And Society

Socialization And The Life Cycle

Social Interaction And Everyday Life In The Age Of The Internet

Groups, networks, and Organizations

Conformity, deviance, and Crime

Stratification, class, and Inequality

Global Inequality

Gender Inequality

Ethnicity And Race

Aging

Government, political Power, and Social Movements

Families and Intimate Relations

Education

Religion In Modern Society

The Sociology Of The Body: Health,illness,and Sexuality

Urbanization, population, and The Environment

Globalization In A Changing World

Filters

The system developed by _,in which mass production is tied to the cultivation of mass markets,is known as _.