Deck 3: Environment and Organisational Culture: the Constraints

Question 1

Which of the following most accurately reflects the symbolic view of management?

A)Managers are directly responsible for an organisation's success or failure.
B)Managers have little or no responsibility for an organisation's success or failure.
C)External forces are directly responsible for an organisation's success or failure.
D)Employees are directly responsible for an organisation's success or failure.
E)Success or failure is dependent on the strength of the organisations culture.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The dominant view in management theory and society in general is the ________ view of management.

A)symbolic
B)omnipotent
C)generalist
D)autocratic
E)dynamic

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an example of management's symbolic role?

A)Management can create meaning out of confusion.
B)Management can create the illusion of control.
C)Management can create profitability for the organisation.
D)Management is someone to praise when things go right in the organisation.
E)Management is someone to blame when things go wrong in the organisation.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to which of the following views of managerial impact is it external forces, not management, that determines outcomes?

A)symbolic view of management
B)autocratic view of management
C)omnipotent view of management
D)linear view of management
E)quality view of management

Question 5

Which of the following statements best represents the symbolic view of management?

A)Outside forces have most of the influence on organisational outcomes.
B)Effective managers are viewed as role models that employees emulate.
C)Upper management's proper role is that of organisational figurehead.
D)Managers are one of the three significant forces that determine organisational outcomes.
E)Managers are directly responsible for the success or failure of the organisation.

Question 6

Following the symbolic view, managers have a ________ effect on substantive organisational outcomes.

A)substantial
B)moderate
C)limited
D)unlimited
E)undetermined

Question 7

Which of the following views of managerial impact is useful in explaining the high turnover among professional sport coaches who can be considered the 'managers' of their teams?

A)symbolic
B)omnipotent
C)generalist
D)autocratic
E)dynamic

Question 8

The current dominant assumption in management theory suggests managers are omnipotent.

Question 9

The symbolic view of managerial impact is useful in explaining the high turnover among senior sports coaches, who are considered the 'managers' of their teams.

Question 10

What are the two views of managerial impact on the success or failure of the organisation?

A)omnipotent and symbolic
B)omnipotent and reflective
C)symbolic and interactive
D)reflective and interactive
E)dynamic and static

Question 11

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

A)symbolic
B)omnipotent
C)generalist
D)autocratic
E)dynamic

Question 12

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

Question 13

What view suggests that managers are directly responsible for an organisation's success or failure?

A)symbolic view of management
B)autocratic view of management
C)omnipotent view of management
D)linear view of management
E)quality view of management

Question 14

When a Japanese firm is involved in a disaster or scandal and their CEO typically resigns, this would be an example of the CEO taking an omnipotent view of their management role.

Question 15

In which of the views of managerial impact is the actual part that managers play in organisational success organisation failure minimal?

A)generalist
B)omnipotent
C)symbolic
D)autocratic
E)dynamic

Question 16

A manager's role in the omnipotent view of management is to create meaning out of randomness, confusion and ambiguity.

Question 17

The view of managers as omnipotent is consistent with the stereotypical picture of the take-charge business executive who can overcome any obstacle in carrying out the organisation's objectives.

Question 18

The current dominant assumption in management theory ________.

A)suggests a balanced view of managers as symbolic and omnipotent
B)suggests managers are symbolic
C)suggests managers are omnipotent
D)is that both the symbolic and omnipotent views are fading
E)is that neither symbolic nor omnipotent views are relevant

Question 19

If an organisation subscribes to the symbolic view of managers, it is unreasonable to expect managers to have a significant effect on the organisation's performance.

Question 20

In the omnipotent view of management, much of an organisation's success or failure is due to forces outside management's control.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT true regarding managers?

A)Internal constraints that restrict a manager's decision options exist within every organisation.
B)External constraints restrict managerial freedom to influence.
C)External constraints come from the organisation's environment.
D)Internal constraints arise from the organisation's culture.
E)Managers are either helpless or all-powerful.

Question 22

Voters represent what factor in the specific environment of governmental organisations?

A)special-interest group
B)competitor
C)supplier
D)customer
E)government agency

Question 23

The Greenpeace Organisation is an example of what factor in the specific external environment?

A)competitor
B)pressure group
C)customer
D)government agency
E)supplier

Question 24

For a company such as Shell drilling for oil and gas in Bass Strait, a bank would be an example of what kind of factor in their specific environment?

A)competitor
B)supplier
C)special interest group
D)government agency
E)customer

Question 25

The general environment refers to everything inside the organisation.

Question 26

External constraints on managers arise from ________.

A)the organisation's environment
B)the organisation's culture
C)the founder
D)other managers
E)the ineptitude of subordinates

Question 27

The 'Baby Boomers' are a population group born between 1912 and 1921.

Question 28

According to the textbook, the ________ environment includes those constituencies that have a direct and immediate impact on managers' decisions and actions, and are directly relevant to the achievement of the organisation's goals.

A)general
B)specific
C)secondary
D)forward
E)reverse

Question 29

To a national network such as Channel 9, your home video player is considered a ________.

A)customer
B)supplier
C)special-interest group
D)competitor
E)regulator

Question 30

In Australia the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 is an example of a sociocultural condition.

Question 31

According to your textbook, workers seeking more balance in their lives is a sociocultural condition firms should respond to.

Question 32

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.

Question 33

Compared to the specific environment, which of the following is an accurate statement about the general environment of an organisation?

A)They have less impact on the organisation's operations.
B)They have more impact on the organisation's operations.
C)They have an indirect impact on an organisation's operations.
D)It is the concern of upper management.
E)It is generally considered an unimportant environmental factor.

Question 34

Private courier services represent what factor to the Australian General Post Office in its specific environment?

A)competitor
B)supplier
C)customer
D)special-interest group
E)government agency

Question 35

The term suppliers includes providers of financial and labour inputs.

Question 36

For an organisation such as a hospital that needs nurses, the labour union and the local labour market are examples of what kinds of factors in their specific environment?

A)special-interest group and supplier
B)customer and special-interest group
C)both are examples of suppliers
D)government agency and competitor
E)special interest group and competitor

Question 37

Typically, the specific organisational environment includes which of the following?

A)economic factors
B)political conditions
C)technological factors
D)globalisation issues
E)competitors

Question 38

Economic conditions are part of the organisation's specific environment.

Question 39

According to the textbook, ________ is having an impact on who an organisation's competitors are because it has virtually eliminated the geographic boundaries.

A)local area network
B)the intranet
C)the internet
D)video conferencing
E)proprietary networks

Question 40

The part of the environment directly related to achievement of an organisation's goals is the specific environment.

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT an example of a specific environmental factor?

A)suppliers
B)political conditions
C)customers
D)governmental agencies
E)special-interest pressure groups

Question 42

Increasing fear of crime and violence is a societal change affecting Australian businesses.

Question 43

A change in the way an organisation does business because of employees' pursuit of healthy lifestyles is an example of which factor of an organisation's general environment?

A)demographic
B)economic
C)competitive
D)technological
E)sociocultural

Question 44

According to the textbook, the members of which of the following groups are learning, working, shopping and playing in fundamentally different ways that are likely to greatly impact organisations and managers?

A)the Depression group
B)the World War II group
C)the baby boomers
D)Generation X
E)Generation Y and iGen

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT an example of a constituency that makes up the specific environment?

A)customers
B)sociocultural factors
C)suppliers
D)competitors
E)pressure groups

Question 46

A downturn in the contributions from the public to the Salvation Army charity is an example of the impact from what factor in its general environment?

A)political
B)social
C)technological
D)economic
E)global

Question 47

The enhanced speed and quality of managerial decision making due to an integrated office system is an example of the impact of which general environmental factor?

A)global
B)social
C)political
D)economic
E)technological

Question 48

Which legislation forbids discrimination in all areas of employer-employee relations?

A)Work Health and Safety Act 2011
B)Companies Act 1981
C)Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987
D)Workplace Relations Act 1996
E)Freedom of Information Act 1982

Question 49

Which of the following groups are often described as the digital or internet generation because of their immersion into and acceptance of computers and all things digital?

A)the Depression group
B)the World War II group
C)iGen
D)Generation X
E)the baby boomers

Question 50

According to the textbook, which of the following groups includes individuals who were born between the years 1945-1960?

A)the Depression group
B)the World War 11 group
C)the baby boomers
D)Generation X
E)Generation Y

Question 51

The impact of future population trends, such as birth rates in developing countries, is an example of what general environmental factor for the movie industry?

A)social
B)technological
C)economic
D)demographic
E)competitive

Question 52

Which factor has been the most rapidly changing component in an organisation's general environment in the past quarter century?

A)global
B)economic
C)social
D)technological
E)political

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT true of the impact of government regulations on an organisation?

A)Organisations spend a great deal of time with them.
B)Organisations spend a great deal of money with them.
C)They limit managerial choices.
D)They increase managerial discretion.
E)They may determine what an organisation can sell.

Question 54

Which legislation requires an employer to provide a working environment free from hazards to health?

A)Work Health and Safety Act 2011
B)Companies Act 1981
C)Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987
D)Workplace Relations Act 1996
E)Freedom of Information Act 1982

Question 55

Typically, the general organisational environment includes which of the following?

A)political conditions
B)issues directly relevant to achieving organisational goals
C)stakeholders
D)suppliers
E)government agencies

Question 56

Non-profit organisations are not generally affected by economic conditions.

Question 57

In a short essay, discuss the importance of the various population groups known as baby boomers, Generation Y and the iGen to organisations and managers.Include how these groups are defined.

Question 58

Interest rates, inflation rates and stock market indexes are all examples of what factor in an organisation's general environment?

A)economic
B)political
C)social
D)technological
E)global

Question 59

Because certainty is a threat to the organisation's effectiveness, managers try to minimise it.

Question 60

Environmental uncertainty can be divided into two dimensions: degree of trust and degree of integration.

Question 61

Management researchers considering stakeholder relationship management have found that high-performing companies are principally concerned with external stakeholders.

Question 62

Compensation is mentioned in the textbook as a dimension of organisation culture.

Question 63

Computer manufacturers operate in an environment that is best described as ________.

A)stable
B)static
C)dynamic
D)fixed
E)open

Question 64

In your textbook, a company's computer hardware and software supplier would NOT be considered a critical stakeholder.

Question 65

To a firm like BHP Billiton, large institutional investors like mutual funds would be considered a critical stakeholder.

Question 66

In a short essay, identify seven external stakeholders with whom managers may have to deal.

Question 67

Organisational culture is similar to an individual's ________.

A)skills
B)personality
C)motivation
D)ability
E)knowledge

Question 68

Presently, there is no method for analysing or appraising organisational culture.

Question 69

Which of the following are the two dimensions of environmental uncertainty?

A)degree of change and degree of complexity
B)degree of change and degree of volume
C)degree of complexity and degree of impact
D)degree of impact and degree of timing
E)degree of timing and degree of complexity

Question 70

The ________ the stakeholder and the ________ the environment, the more managers can rely on simple scanning and monitoring the environment for trends and forces that may be changing.

A)less critical; more uncertain
B)less critical; more certain
C)more critical; more uncertain
D)more critical; more certain
E)less critical; less uncertain

Question 71

________ are any constituencies in the organisation's external environment that are affected by the organisation's decisions and actions.

A)Stockholders
B)Baby Boomers
C)Stakeholders
D)Generation X
E)Generation Y

Question 72

An organisational culture refers to a system of shared values, principles, traditions and practices.

Question 73

The ________ the stakeholder and the ________ the environment, the more managers need to rely on establishing explicit stakeholder partnerships.

A)less critical; more uncertain
B)less critical; more certain
C)more critical; more uncertain
D)more critical; more certain
E)less critical; less uncertain

Question 74

The internal constraints within every organisation that are placed on management are derived from what factor?

A)the organisation structure
B)their positional power within the organisation
C)laws and regulations
D)the organisational culture
E)the economic well-being of the organisation

Question 75

Organisational culture is a perception, not a physical reality.

Question 76

An increasing body of evidence suggests that strong cultures are associated with high organisational performance.

Question 77

Most organisations have very weak cultures.

Question 78

According to the textbook, the ________ refers to the number of components in an organisation's environment and the extent of the knowledge that the organisation has about these components.

A)degree of stability
B)openness
C)complexity
D)change
E)theory Y

Question 79

The first step of managing external stakeholder relationships is to identify who the stakeholders are.The second step is to ________.

A)determine what specific approach should be used to manage the stakeholder relationship
B)determine what the courts might do when a stakeholder files a claim against the organisation
C)determine what particular interests or concerns these stakeholders might have
D)determine how many stakeholders there are in each stakeholder group
E)establish explicit stakeholder partnerships

Question 80

Strong cultures have more influence on employees than weak ones.