Deck 11: Power and Political Behaviour

Question 1

Which term is best described as the ability to influence the employee with legitimate requests and will be acted on without a great deal of thought?

A) principal/agent relationship
B) congruency
C) zone of indifference
D) agency theory

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Fatima wants to encourage employee empowerment,which she knows is highly valued by the organization.Which power bases generally support empowerment?

A) expert,referent
B) reward,coercive
C) personal,manipulative
D) legitimate,coercive

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which type of power is characterized as the power base of the future because it has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction?

A) referent power
B) reward power
C) legitimate power
D) expert power

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What type of power are you developing as a student?

A) personal
B) legitimate
C) reward
D) expert

Question 5

What type of power is characterized by the ability to alter behaviour due to its intensity?

A) legitimate
B) expert
C) referent
D) reward

Question 6

What is an example of inappropriate use of power demonstrated by the former CEO of American Airlines?

A) taking more than $240 million,which he spent on art,houses,and yachts
B) expanding into a variety of other businesses that were not profitable
C) using company funds for a $2 million party for his wife
D) providing special pension trust funding and huge retention bonuses for executives

Question 7

What type of power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction?

A) legitimate
B) reward
C) expert
D) referent

Question 8

What is the relationship between reward power and coercive power?

A) Both lead to compliance.
B) Both lead to influence.
C) Both lead to power.
D) Both lead to authority.

Question 9

Dave wants his colleague to keep his secret of stealing products from the organization.What type of power is Dave most likely to exercise?

A) referent
B) normative
C) personal
D) coercive

Question 10

What is the term for the ability to influence another person?

A) power
B) dominance
C) control
D) authority

Question 11

As a management trainee,you are assigned to a mentor and you gain considerable insight into the nature of management and how to behave in different managerial situations.What type of power is your relationship with your mentor based on?

A) legitimate
B) reward
C) expert
D) referent

Question 12

What type of power is least likely to be available to a non-supervisory,technical employee?

A) referent
B) expert
C) knowledge
D) legitimate

Question 13

Which statement is a guideline for using expert power effectively?

A) Verify compliance.
B) Keep informed.
C) Follow the proper channels.
D) Be confident.

Question 14

When a firm is preparing for bankruptcy,its accountants as a group may become unduly powerful.What explains this situation?

A) the accountants' operational knowledge of the firm
B) the accountants' ability to better cope with change
C) the accountants' nonsubstitutability
D) the accountants' high centrality

Question 15

What can enlarge an employee's zone of indifference?

A) using power
B) using effective communication techniques
C) eliminating cognitive dissonance
D) using authority

Question 16

Your manager asks you to purchase a gift for his wife.Which statement would most likely characterize your feelings?

A) It falls outside your zone of indifference.
B) It is in conflict with your value system.
C) It should be based on the manager's authority base.
D) It falls within your zone of indifference.

Question 17

According to the strategic contingency perspective,what is an example of factors that can assist with group control?

A) certainty,low degree of centrality,and suitability
B) nonsubstitutability of the group's function,amount of formal authority,and low degree of centrality
C) nonsubstitutability of the group's function,amount of informal authority,and low degree of centrality
D) ability to cope with uncertainty,high degree of centrality,and nonsubstitutability

Question 18

In the strategic contingency model,what is the key element behind the factors used to explain power differences among groups?

A) dependence
B) independence
C) synergy
D) interdependency

Question 19

Assume you are a senior accounting major.A friend who is taking an accounting course seeks you out for tutorial assistance.What is this is an example of?

A) reward power
B) legitimate power
C) referent power
D) expert power

Question 20

Dora has an impact on Cory's thoughts,behaviour,and feelings.What is occurring?

A) dominance
B) authority
C) power
D) influence

Question 21

An employee is granted one day's vacation during a busy week.The other workers struggle to cover for the absent employee.What does this show a lack of?

A) procedural justice
B) individual rights
C) distributive justice
D) utilitarian outcome

Question 22

At the first-line supervisory level,which of the following indicates a symptom that contributes to powerlessness?

A) punishing others
B) overly close supervision
C) protecting one's turf
D) resistance to change

Question 23

The authors of your text suggest an additional source of power to French and Raven's five sources of power.What is this additional source of power?

A) information power
B) gatekeepers' power
C) position power
D) network centrality

Question 24

What are defining characteristics of Korda's symbols of power?

A) size of office,time power,and level of organization
B) level of organization,time power,and standing by
C) office furnishings,time power,and standing by
D) office furnishings,size of office,and time power

Question 25

A manager withholds information to make a colleague look bad by making an incorrect decision.What type of power is the manager using?

A) coercive
B) reward
C) personal
D) social

Question 26

According to Kanter,what is characteristic of powerful people?

A) charismatic and being liked by others
B) inclination to be coercive and exercise personal power
C) expertise in accomplishing job tasks and reaching production objectives
D) ability to exercise power and do things for others,particularly persons in need

Question 27

"Does the manager treat all employees equitably and fairly?" Which of the following is this statement referring to?

A) distributive justice
B) procedural justice
C) individual rights
D) utilitarian outcomes

Question 28

According to McClelland,how many power-oriented characteristics does a manager possess?

A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6

Question 29

According to Kanter,what is the key to overcoming powerlessness in organizations?

A) developing relationships with individuals who have influence within the organization
B) delegating decision-making and sharing power
C) recruiting strong-willed individuals
D) identifying strategic contingencies and reducing uncertainty

Question 30

What type of power is displayed by an individual who seems to always have a full calendar and is frequently going to meetings?

A) legitimate
B) time
C) expert
D) top-down

Question 31

What three concepts should a manager consider to ensure ethical use of power?

A) distributive justice,utilitarian outcomes,and individual rights
B) procedural justice,utilitarian outcomes,and individual rights
C) individual efforts,utilitarian outcomes,and procedural justice
D) procedural justice,distributive justice,and individual rights

Question 32

What are McClelland's two faces of power?

A) coercive and social
B) legitimate and personal
C) personal and social
D) legitimate and social

Question 33

A manager treats others as objects to be used to get ahead and views situations as win-lose.According to McClelland,what type of power is this an example of?

A) legitimate power
B) social power
C) expert power
D) personal power

Question 34

According to Korda,which of the following applies to status?

A) one's relative standing in a group based on prestige
B) one's position within the hierarchy
C) one's ability to help others
D) one's access to information

Question 35

Which statement is an example of McClelland's perspective of power?

A) It is not so much how power is used but rather the base of power that is important.
B) All managers should receive training in the effective use of power.
C) Power and the use of politics to increase power inevitably will have negative effects on the organization.
D) When power is used for the good of a group,it is positive.

Question 36

Which term best exemplifies the power used by a manager who is considered Machiavellian?

A) referent
B) reward
C) social
D) personal

Question 37

According to McClelland,what is characteristic of the best managers?

A) a high need for social power and a high need for affiliation
B) a low need for social power and a high need for affiliation
C) a high need for social power and a high need for justice
D) a high need for affiliation and a low need for social power

Question 38

What is McClelland's positive face of power?

A) personal power
B) social power
C) referent power
D) expert power

Question 39

Which of the following people would describe their power theory as the situation in which there are more people who inconvenience themselves on your behalf than there are people on whose behalf you would inconvenience yourself?

A) Kanter
B) Korda
C) McClelland
D) Etzioni

Question 40

A salesperson significantly discounts the price of a product in order to make a sale that would win a contest.Which ethical principle has the employee breached?

A) utilitarian principle
B) individual rights
C) distributive justice
D) procedural justice

Question 41

You are up for a promotion and hope to positively influence the decision.What are you careful to avoid?

A) inspirational appeal
B) ingratiation
C) pressure
D) consultation

Question 42

What is the term for the fit between the work role and the employee's values and beliefs?

A) self-determination
B) meaning
C) competence
D) impact

Question 43

Your new boss has several years of managerial experience in your firm's industry but,as someone hired from outside the firm,he doesn't have specific knowledge of operational matters for your company.You want to develop an effective work relationship with him.What should you do?

A) Provide information on performance deficiencies in the organization.
B) Try to encourage a better match between his management style and those he supervises.
C) Limit his time with other employees.
D) Share information and keep him informed.

Question 44

According to research,which influence tactic is the least effective?

A) ingratiation
B) coalition
C) pressure
D) exchange

Question 45

What is a defining characteristic of empowerment?

A) removing tight controls from the employee
B) creating meaningful goals for the employee
C) creating opportunities for the employee
D) expressing confidence in the employee

Question 46

Which of the following tactics applies to the statement "how can we make it more acceptable"?

A) pressure
B) inspirational appeal
C) ingratiation
D) consultation

Question 47

Your colleagues says,"I will take you to lunch if you support me." What does this exemplify?

A) ingratiation
B) an inspirational appeal
C) consultation
D) an exchange

Question 48

Which influence tactic can be summarized as a desire to seek participation in making a decision?

A) pressure
B) exchange
C) consultation
D) ingratiation

Question 49

Which influence tactic would you use if your boss exhibits a participatory style of managing?

A) ingratiation approach
B) rational persuasion
C) inspirational appeals
D) coalition building

Question 50

What is one way to reduce political activity?

A) determining a performance appraisal process
B) providing a range of uncertainty
C) setting unclear goals
D) managing scarce resources

Question 51

What term describes the ability to get things done through positive interpersonal relationships outside the formal organization?

A) informal authority
B) political skill
C) the use of power
D) the use of expert knowledge

Question 52

Which of the following research findings indicates the outcome when men and women witness political behaviour in which the agent is of their gender and the target is of the opposite gender?

A) Men will view the political behaviour more negatively than women.
B) Women will view the political behaviour more negatively than men.
C) Men and women will view the political behaviour as negative.
D) Men and women will view the political behaviour more positively.

Question 53

Phillipe made a decision not officially sanctioned by the organization in order to influence others to meet his sales goal.What is Phillipe engaging in?

A) illegitimate power
B) utilitarian power
C) coercion behaviour
D) political behaviour

Question 54

Which statement would be an example of what an employee might say if he/she wishes to get you in a good mood?

A) If you don't do this,you are fired.
B) You owe me.
C) Only you can do this job right.
D) Everyone agrees with me.

Question 55

Which of the following applies to someone who is subtle,influential,and effective in getting things done?

A) interpersonal influence
B) networking ability
C) social astuteness
D) low self-monitoring

Question 56

What influence tactic is least effective,regardless of the circumstance of the situation?

A) pressure
B) upward appeals
C) consultation
D) ingratiation

Question 57

Julia is a new manager and would like to hire her own assistant.Her boss speaks to Human Resources,requesting that the former assistant be moved to another manager so Julia can hire a new individual.If Human Resources agrees with Julia's boss and Julia is permitted to hire a new assistant,what type influence does the boss possess?

A) ability to get placements for favoured employees
B) ability to intercede on behalf of others
C) getting items on the agenda at meetings
D) access to early information

Question 58

Which of the following would have the least influence on the ability to minimize the negative aspects of organizational politics?

A) maintaining open communication channels
B) clarifying goals and performance objectives
C) disregarding the informal organization
D) encouraging participative management

Question 59

Why might women have fewer opportunities to develop political skills?

A) Women avoid the use of power more than men.
B) Women aren't in as many power positions.
C) Women don't have as many mentors in senior positions.
D) Women are excluded from formal networks in senior positions.

Question 60

Which influence tactic is more likely to result in a higher performance evaluation?

A) rational persuasion
B) upward appeals
C) consultation approach
D) pressure approach

Question 61

The strategic contingency model suggests that groups will have more power when their functioning is central to the organization's success.

Question 62

Referent power is linked with organizational effectiveness.

Question 63

Groups have power to the extent that they control strategic contingencies.

Question 64

Which statement best summarizes Merck's view of empowerment?

A) It is most successful when you have control over job content and context.
B) It is embodied by giving employees control over problem identification for both context and content.
C) It carries with it a risk of failure.
D) It is most successful when organizations allow the union to decide whether jobs could be done better by an outside vendor.

Question 65

Groups seen as powerful tend to be given more resources from top management.

Question 66

Referent power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction.

Question 67

What organizational rewards result from using the four empowerment dimensions discussed in your text?

A) increased effectiveness,efficiency,and higher job satisfaction
B) lower turnover,less absenteeism,and higher job satisfaction
C) increased effectiveness,less stress,and higher job satisfaction
D) higher organizational commitment,increased effectiveness,and efficiency

Question 68

You begin a new job where you have low problem identification decision-making authority over your job content and job context.What is your position on the employee empowerment grid?

A) no discretion
B) mission definition
C) self-management
D) task setting

Question 69

When a supervisor denies your request to be considered for a job transfer because you have a unique expertise,he is exercising expert power.

Question 70

What is Gucci CEO Robert Polet's approach to performance improvement?

A) managing up
B) empowerment
C) positive face of power
D) utilitarian power

Question 71

What is "competence" in regard to the essence of empowerment?

A) the fit between the work role and employees' values and beliefs
B) the belief that one's job makes a difference within the organization
C) the degree to which one has control over his or her work
D) the belief that one has the ability to do the job well

Question 72

What set of dimensions comprises the essence of empowerment?

A) teamwork,delegation,trust,and autonomy
B) meaning,competence,self-determination,and impact
C) delegation,trust,competence,and autonomy
D) meaning,teamwork,competence,and trust

Question 73

The least effective power bases,which include legitimate power,are the ones most likely to be used by managers.

Question 74

Your boss asks that you buy a birthday present for his wife while you are on your lunch hour because he doesn't have time.This probably falls within your zone of indifference.

Question 75

A police officer exercises both legitimate and coercive power when she subdues a criminal.

Question 76

In which environment would an attempt at employee empowerment be least appropriate?

A) bank
B) quality control lab
C) prison
D) hospital

Question 77

Authority is legitimate power.

Question 78

Referent power is the most dangerous interpersonal form of power.

Question 79

Expert power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction in comparison to the other forms of power.

Question 80

Which of the following is represented by self-management,or the highest level of empowerment?

A) shared decision-making control over job content
B) shared decision-making control over job context
C) decision-making control over internal critical psychological processes
D) decision-making control over job content and job context