Question 1

Discuss the criticisms of workplace spirituality.

Accepted Answer

Workplace spirituality is a culture in which organizational values promote a sense of purpose through meaningful work taking place in the context of community. Organizations with a spiritual culture recognize that people have a mind and a spirit, seek to find meaning and purpose in their work, and desire to connect with other human beings and be part of a community.
Critics of the spirituality movement have focused on two issues: legitimacy (Do organizations have the right to impose spiritual values on their employees?) and economics (Are spirituality and profits compatible?).
An emphasis on spirituality clearly has the potential to make some employees uneasy. Critics might argue that secular institutions, especially businesses, have no business imposing spiritual values on employees. This criticism is probably valid when spirituality is defined as bringing religion into the workplace. However, it's less valid when the goal is helping employees find meaning in their work.
The issue of whether spirituality and profits are compatible is certainly important. Limited evidence suggests that the two may be compatible. One study found that companies that introduced spiritually based techniques improved productivity and significantly reduced turnover. Another found that organizations that provided their employees with opportunities for spiritual development outperformed those that didn't. Others reported that spirituality in organizations was positively related to creativity, ethics, employee satisfaction, job involvement, team performance, and organizational commitment.

Question 2

The term ________ refers to repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the important values and goals of the organization.

Accepted Answer

A)  organizational culture 
B)  corporate rituals 
C)  corporate rites 
D)  employee mentoring 
A)  organizational culture 
B)  corporate rituals 
C)  corporate rites 
D)  employee mentoring B

Question 3

An organization's culture can be perpetuated by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  selecting candidates for employment who share the organizations values 
B)  displaying artifacts that exemplify the culture 
C)  taking advantage of employees' suggestions for improvement 
D)  expecting managers to produce results 
A)  selecting candidates for employment who share the organizations values 
B)  displaying artifacts that exemplify the culture 
C)  taking advantage of employees' suggestions for improvement 
D)  expecting managers to produce results A

Question 4

In the symbolic view of management, managers are seen as directly responsible for an organization's success or failure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

________ often act(s) as a common denominator that bonds an organization's members.

Accepted Answer

A)  Rituals 
B)  Symbols 
C)  Artifacts 
D)  Language 
A)  Rituals 
B)  Symbols 
C)  Artifacts 
D)  Language

Question 6

Companies that wish to establish a culture of sustainability can ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  expect new hires to observe the actions of others and act in a similar fashion 
B)  casually mention occasionally that the company is concerned about sustainability 
C)  vary the type and timing of its sustainability activities 
D)  create rituals to demonstrate the company's efforts to support sustainability actions 
A)  expect new hires to observe the actions of others and act in a similar fashion 
B)  casually mention occasionally that the company is concerned about sustainability 
C)  vary the type and timing of its sustainability activities 
D)  create rituals to demonstrate the company's efforts to support sustainability actions

Question 7

In a short essay, differentiate between the symbolic view and the omnipotent view of management. Include specific examples of each view to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

a. In the omnipotent view, differences i

Question 8

Wendell notices that the company's top executives share a belief that managers are directly responsible for the organization's success or failure. This belief reflects a(n) ________ view of management.

Accepted Answer

A)  traditional 
B)  omnipotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic 
A)  traditional 
B)  omnipotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic

Question 9

The dominant view in management theory suggests that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  an organization's success or failure is due to external forces outside managers' control 
B)  managers' roles are increasingly becoming peripheral and staff manage their own areas of expertise 
C)  managers are directly responsible for an organization's success or failure 
D)  managers cannot significantly affect an organization's performance because they are constrained by the abilities of their employees 
A)  an organization's success or failure is due to external forces outside managers' control 
B)  managers' roles are increasingly becoming peripheral and staff manage their own areas of expertise 
C)  managers are directly responsible for an organization's success or failure 
D)  managers cannot significantly affect an organization's performance because they are constrained by the abilities of their employees

Question 10

The symbolic view of management impact is useful in explaining the high turnover among sports coaches, who can be considered the "managers" of their teams.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which one of the following represents the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mario's restaurant competes against 325 others in the city; the city's ethnic mix is constantly changing. 
B)  Maria's is still the only restaurant in a small town. She took it over from her mother and still uses the same equipment. 
C)  Millie's customers expect to see new menu items regularly and want Millie to install Wi-Fi. 
D)  Marty has to deal with the local council, the health department, the franchisor, the zoning commission-the list keeps growing. He is grateful there are no new competitors moving in. 
A)  Mario's restaurant competes against 325 others in the city; the city's ethnic mix is constantly changing. 
B)  Maria's is still the only restaurant in a small town. She took it over from her mother and still uses the same equipment. 
C)  Millie's customers expect to see new menu items regularly and want Millie to install Wi-Fi. 
D)  Marty has to deal with the local council, the health department, the franchisor, the zoning commission-the list keeps growing. He is grateful there are no new competitors moving in.

Question 12

Wendell interviews many middle-level managers and discovers that these individuals believe that external factors constrain managers' influence over outcomes. The mid-level managers have a(n) ________ view of management.

Accepted Answer

A)  traditional 
B)  omnipotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic 
A)  traditional 
B)  omnipotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic

Question 13

A valid criticism of workplace spirituality is that secular institutions, especially businesses, have no right to impose spiritual values on employees, if spirituality means bringing religion into the workplace.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In a short essay, explain the reasons behind the increasing importance of workplace spirituality in recent years.

Accepted Answer

Workplace spirituality is a culture in w

Question 15

People's beliefs about conditions of economic inequality illustrate how societal attitudes can constrain managers' decisions and actions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following factors is a demographic component of an organization's external environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  lifestyles and behavior 
B)  political stability 
C)  geographic location 
D)  stock market fluctuations 
A)  lifestyles and behavior 
B)  political stability 
C)  geographic location 
D)  stock market fluctuations

Question 17

The ________ view of management is consistent with the stereotypical picture of the take-charge business executive who can overcome any obstacle in carrying out the organization's objectives.

Accepted Answer

A)  omnipotent 
B)  impotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic 
A)  omnipotent 
B)  impotent 
C)  omniscient 
D)  symbolic

Question 18

Which of the following environments is characterized by the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Accepted Answer

A)  a stable and complex environment 
B)  a dynamic and simple environment 
C)  a stable and simple environment 
D)  a dynamic and complex environment 
A)  a stable and complex environment 
B)  a dynamic and simple environment 
C)  a stable and simple environment 
D)  a dynamic and complex environment

Question 19

D&B Designs has been in the landscape design business in Pleasantville for the past twenty years. As the "first mover" in the market, the company has built a strong market share over the years and is the best-known firm in the area. The company strength increased steadily, and now stands at fifty employees. Which of the following, if true, would make the company's business environment more uncertain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Homeowners in the area take pride in their gardens and are avid do-it-yourself gardeners. 
B)  Demand for landscaping services dips every autumn and winter. 
C)  A long-time competitor quit the landscape design business last year. 
D)  Zoning laws in the area change as each new city council comes into power. 
A)  Homeowners in the area take pride in their gardens and are avid do-it-yourself gardeners. 
B)  Demand for landscaping services dips every autumn and winter. 
C)  A long-time competitor quit the landscape design business last year. 
D)  Zoning laws in the area change as each new city council comes into power.

Question 20

Marriott hotels are noted for their fantastic service. Their motto is "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen." To build and maintain this level of service, which of the following guidelines should managers follow?

Accepted Answer

A)  precisely defining employees' normal job requirements and ensuring they perform those actions 
B)  giving service-contact employees continual training on product knowledge, listening, and other behavioral skills 
C)  designing jobs with rigid rules and procedure that employees should stick to in order to satisfy customers 
D)  preserving the discretion to make day-to-day decisions on job-related activities at the top level of management 
A)  precisely defining employees' normal job requirements and ensuring they perform those actions 
B)  giving service-contact employees continual training on product knowledge, listening, and other behavioral skills 
C)  designing jobs with rigid rules and procedure that employees should stick to in order to satisfy customers 
D)  preserving the discretion to make day-to-day decisions on job-related activities at the top level of management

Discuss the criticisms of workplace spirituality.

The term ________ refers to repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the important values and goals of the organization.

An organization's culture can be perpetuated by ________.

In the symbolic view of management, managers are seen as directly responsible for an organization's success or failure.

________ often act(s) as a common denominator that bonds an organization's members.

Companies that wish to establish a culture of sustainability can ________.

In a short essay, differentiate between the symbolic view and the omnipotent view of management. Include specific examples of each view to support your answer.

Wendell notices that the company's top executives share a belief that managers are directly responsible for the organization's success or failure. This belief reflects a(n) ________ view of management.

The dominant view in management theory suggests that ________.

The symbolic view of management impact is useful in explaining the high turnover among sports coaches, who can be considered the "managers" of their teams.

Which one of the following represents the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Wendell interviews many middle-level managers and discovers that these individuals believe that external factors constrain managers' influence over outcomes. The mid-level managers have a(n) ________ view of management.

A valid criticism of workplace spirituality is that secular institutions, especially businesses, have no right to impose spiritual values on employees, if spirituality means bringing religion into the workplace.

In a short essay, explain the reasons behind the increasing importance of workplace spirituality in recent years.

People's beliefs about conditions of economic inequality illustrate how societal attitudes can constrain managers' decisions and actions.

Which of the following factors is a demographic component of an organization's external environment?

The ________ view of management is consistent with the stereotypical picture of the take-charge business executive who can overcome any obstacle in carrying out the organization's objectives.

Which of the following environments is characterized by the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Marriott hotels are noted for their fantastic service. Their motto is "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen." To build and maintain this level of service, which of the following guidelines should managers follow?

Managers and You in the Workplace

Making Decisions

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing Social Responsibility and Ethics

Managing Change and Innovation

Planning Work Activities

Managing Strategy

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Designing Organizational Structure

Managing Human Resources

Creating and Managing Teams

Managing Communication

Understanding and Managing Individual Behavior

Motivating Employees

Being an Effective Leader

Monitoring and Controlling

Filters

Exam 3: Managing the External Environment and the Organizations Culture

Discuss the criticisms of workplace spirituality.

The term ________ refers to repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the important values and goals of the organization.

An organization's culture can be perpetuated by ________.

In the symbolic view of management, managers are seen as directly responsible for an organization's success or failure.

________ often act(s) as a common denominator that bonds an organization's members.

Companies that wish to establish a culture of sustainability can ________.

In a short essay, differentiate between the symbolic view and the omnipotent view of management. Include specific examples of each view to support your answer.

Wendell notices that the company's top executives share a belief that managers are directly responsible for the organization's success or failure. This belief reflects a(n) ________ view of management.

The dominant view in management theory suggests that ________.

The symbolic view of management impact is useful in explaining the high turnover among sports coaches, who can be considered the "managers" of their teams.

Which one of the following represents the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Wendell interviews many middle-level managers and discovers that these individuals believe that external factors constrain managers' influence over outcomes. The mid-level managers have a(n) ________ view of management.

A valid criticism of workplace spirituality is that secular institutions, especially businesses, have no right to impose spiritual values on employees, if spirituality means bringing religion into the workplace.

In a short essay, explain the reasons behind the increasing importance of workplace spirituality in recent years.

People's beliefs about conditions of economic inequality illustrate how societal attitudes can constrain managers' decisions and actions.

Which of the following factors is a demographic component of an organization's external environment?

The ________ view of management is consistent with the stereotypical picture of the take-charge business executive who can overcome any obstacle in carrying out the organization's objectives.

Which of the following environments is characterized by the highest level of environmental uncertainty?

Marriott hotels are noted for their fantastic service. Their motto is "Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen." To build and maintain this level of service, which of the following guidelines should managers follow?

Managers and You in the Workplace

Making Decisions

Managing in a Global Environment

Managing Diversity

Managing Social Responsibility and Ethics

Managing Change and Innovation

Planning Work Activities

Managing Strategy

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Designing Organizational Structure

Managing Human Resources

Creating and Managing Teams

Managing Communication

Understanding and Managing Individual Behavior

Motivating Employees

Being an Effective Leader

Monitoring and Controlling

Filters