Deck 2: The Changing Environment of Organisations

Question 1

Advances in information technology have resulted in communication at work that is less personal in nature.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Culture helps a group understand which actions are acceptable and which are unacceptable.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

More and more organisations are moving back to domestic markets to control costs, especially to reduce labour costs.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

In 2014, the volume of international trade in current dollars was more than 50 times greater than the amount in 1960.

Question 5

Workforce diversity is mostly occurring in the United States, rather than in other countries around the world.

Question 6

The most effective service organisations produce intangible outcomes for their customers.

Question 7

A culture low in masculinity is not aggressive and is not concerned with the acquisition of money and other possessions.

Question 8

Workforce diversity refers to the important similarities and differences among the employees of the organisation.

Question 9

The environment of business is expected to continue changing in the future.

Question 10

An employee in a collectivistic culture would be much more concerned about her work than about her relationships with others.

Question 11

In Mexico, people prefer to be in a situation in which authority is not emphasized and lines of authority are overlooked or deemphasized.

Question 12

Businesses have found that they can be more competitive if they can greatly decrease cycle times.

Question 13

Differences in age, gender, ethnicity and physical ability are all considered to be components of diversity.

Question 14

Valuing diversity means appreciating the varying ideas and perspectives that are provided by a heterogeneous workforce.

Question 15

Today, the workplace in South Africa might be regarded as more of a 'tossed salad' made up of a mosaic of different flavours, colours and textures.

Question 16

Protea Hotels is an example of a manufacturing organisation.

Question 17

Board independence is an issue when a board of directors includes members from related or partner organisations.

Question 18

Some of the growth of international business can be attributed to communication and transportation advances.

Question 19

Cultural diversity can enhance synergy in an organisation.

Question 20

A prejudice is a generalisation about a person or a group of persons based on certain characteristics or traits.

Question 21

Rapid change in business relationships, organizational structures and financial systems has made it easier to keep accurate track of a company's financial position.

Question 22

Stereotypes can best be defined as

A) favouring people similar to you.
B) focusing on differences among people.
C) grouping people into different categories.
D) judgements about others that reinforce beliefs about superiority and inferiority.
E) making generalisations about groups of people.

Question 23

All of the following are true about stereotypes EXCEPT that they

A) lead to an appreciation of individual differences.
B) are based on certain characteristics or traits.
C) ignore the specific person.
D) are generalisations.
E) ignore the current situation.

Question 24

The culture of the United States has a more long-term orientation than that of Japan or Germany.

Question 25

Which of the following is a cultural dimension identified by Hofstede?

A) Ethical idealism
B) Groupthink
C) Power distance
D) Workforce diversity
E) Consumer behaviour

Question 26

The most significant source of change impacting many organisations today is increasing

A) cultural change.
B) corporate governance.
C) globalisation.
D) business ethics.
E) technological knowledge.

Question 27

Which of the following is true about employees working in the same company but in different locations?

A) Their behaviours may differ within and across countries.
B) Their behaviours will be the same regardless of their location.
C) Their behaviours at work are not important.
D) Their behaviours will have nothing to do with their locations.
E) Their behaviours will be the same within single countries but may differ from one country to the next.

Question 28

Which of the following statements regarding cross-cultural differences and similarities is not true?

A) Cultures and national boundaries always coincide.
B) Culture is a set of values that is often taken for granted.
C) A manager behaves differently in different cultural settings.
D) There are profound cultural differences between Gauteng and the Western Cape.
E) Japanese and US workers are likely to have different attitudes towards work.

Question 29

Globalisation is one of the most significant sources of change for organisations today.

Question 30

Knowledge workers include scientists, engineers, product designers and video game developers.

Question 31

It is not realistic to claim or to pursue an 'I'm totally unbiased' stance with regard to diversity.

Question 32

Regardless of differences in religion, language, or politics, countries that are located near one another tend to have similar societal cultures.

Question 33

All of the following are considered cultural dimensions EXCEPT

A) individualism/collectivism.
B) uncertainty avoidance.
C) power distance.
D) masculinity.
E) open-mindedness.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is NOT true about individualistic cultures?

A) It is important to stand out in the crowd.
B) It is important to fit in with the group.
C) Tasks are more important than relationships.
D) Promotion is based on skills and rules.
E) People are more concerned with themselves than with their work groups.

Question 35

Understanding and addressing the environment of a business has traditionally been the purview of

A) supervisors.
B) shareholders.
C) workers and line managers.
D) stakeholders.
E) top managers.

Question 36

Masculinity

A) gives employees a sense of autonomy.
B) is the extent to which workers focus on the future.
C) enhances organisational effectiveness.
D) emphasises assertiveness.
E) is the extent to which workers prefer clear situations.

Question 37

The environment of all organisations is changing at a(n) __________ rate.

A) decreased
B) slowing
C) unprecedented
D) moderate
E) inelastic

Question 38

Another term for power distance is

A) deontology.
B) teleology.
C) individualism.
D) orientation to authority.
E) collectivism.

Question 39

Diversity training and diversity education need to communicate that bias is not a part of being human.

Question 40

The dimension of uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which

A) workers prefer unambiguous situations.
B) workers focus on the future.
C) acquisition of money and things is emphasized.
D) women are allowed to work in society.
E) men maintain a glass ceiling.

Question 41

Which statement accurately describes a downside of information technology?

A) It has increased personal communication.
B) It has increased a sense of urgency vis-à-vis decision-making.
C) It has increased ethical decision-making for managers.
D) It has resulted in more downtime for managers.
E) It has created inflexible worksites.

Question 42

Which of the following is a component of deep-level diversity?

A) Physical abilities
B) Goals
C) Age
D) Gender
E) Ethnicity

Question 43

The oversight of a public corporation by its board of directors is called

A) board isolation.
B) deontological overview.
C) corporate governance.
D) pricing policy.
E) profit maximisation.

Question 44

The duty of the board of directors of a public corporation is to

A) audit the company's financial statements for accuracy.
B) recommend new products and services.
C) control the day-to-day operations of the organisation.
D) protect the company from harsh overseas competition and lower labour costs.
E) ensure decisions by senior managers are in the best interests of the shareholders.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of valuing diversity?

A) Access to more perspectives on a problem
B) Fresh perspectives
C) Less interpersonal conflict
D) Greater homogeneity
E) Richer ideas

Question 46

Car makers design and produce new model cars much more quickly now than they did in the past.This is an example of

A) effective leadership.
B) decreased cycle time.
C) increased employee morale.
D) valued diversity.
E) low-cost production.

Question 47

Which of the following statements about information technology is NOT true?

A) It has resulted in leaner organisations.
B) It provides more flexible operations.
C) It has provided more downtime for employees.
D) It has increased collaboration among employees.
E) It has improved management processes.

Question 48

A knowledge worker's career path may run parallel to a management career path.The benefit of this path for the worker is

A) the chance to take on substantial management responsibilities.
B) more frequent training in management tasks.
C) less highly specialised training.
D) compensation that is equivalent to that available to management.
E) freedom from specialised technical work.

Question 49

AMD makes computer chips that are installed in various computers.AMD is an example of a(n)

A) manufacturing organisation.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organisation.
E) hybrid organisation.

Question 50

Not paying attention to diversity can be costly to organisations in all of the following ways EXCEPT that it can

A) decrease turnover.
B) lower productivity.
C) block minority involvement in decision making.
D) increase tensions among workers.
E) increase lawsuits.

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT an example of a dimension of diversity?

A) Age
B) Gender
C) Sexual orientation
D) Mental abilities
E) Marital status

Question 52

Which of the following statements about knowledge workers is NOT true?

A) Knowledge workers include computer scientists.
B) Knowledge workers require highly specialised training.
C) Compensation is specially tailored for the knowledge worker.
D) Knowledge workers do not add value to the organisation.
E) Knowledge workers include video game developers.

Question 53

Which of the following is a component of surface-level diversity?

A) Ethnicity
B) Pay differences
C) Knowledge
D) Work experience
E) Personality

Question 54

A form of business that combines and transforms resources into tangible outcomes that are then sold to others is called a(n)

A) manufacturing organisation.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organisation.
E) hybrid organisation.

Question 55

One way to address privacy concerns on the Internet is to

A) keep all information collected confidential.
B) publicly display any information collected by the company.
C) post a privacy policy on the company's website.
D) avoid collecting any private information.
E) share collected information with respectable organisations only.

Question 56

__________ refers to the variety of observable and unobservable similarities and differences among people.

A) Diversity
B) Race
C) Ethnocentrism
D) Ethnicity
E) Stereotyping

Question 57

Approximately ________ per cent of youth in South Africa under the age of 35 have never worked.

A) 40
B) 50
C) 35
D) 25
E) 30

Question 58

A form of business that transforms resources into an intangible output and creates time or place utility for its customers is called a(n)

A) manufacturing organisation.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organisation.
E) hybrid organisation.

Question 59

An ice cream maker requires approximately two months from the time a new flavour is decided on in the corporate boardroom to the time it is produced and available to consumers in stores.This time is called

A) competitive advantage time.
B) information technology time.
C) cycle time.
D) production time.
E) made-to-order time.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about technology is NOT true?

A) Technology is a major driver for organisational change.
B) It has widespread effects on the behaviour of people in the organisation.
C) Technology provides a competitive advantage.
D) It combines and transforms resources into outcomes.
E) It is causing a shift towards a service-based economy.

Question 61

__________ workers are hired because of what they know.

A) Contingent
B) Tiered
C) Knowledge
D) Offshore
E) Outsourced

Question 62

Statistics South Africa indicates that the unemployment rate of individuals aged between 15 and 24 is five times more than individuals aged.

A) 16-20
B) 20-30
C) 30-40
D) 40-50
E) 55-64

Question 63

Stereotypes can be based on all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

A) race.
B) religion.
C) disability.
D) nationality.
E) ethics.

Question 64

Psychological contracts create __________ promises and obligations between employees and the employer.

A) ethical
B) unethical
C) implicit
D) explicit
E) absolute

Question 65

The defining characteristic of a tiered workforce is that different employees are paid __________ wages for doing __________ work.

A) different, the same
B) different, different
C) the same, different
D) the same, the same
E) some of the, all of the

Question 66

Which term refers to employer and employee expectations of the employment relationship that operate over and above the formal contract of employment?

A) Psychological contract
B) Informed consent
C) Emotional intelligence
D) Emotional contract
E) Prenuptial agreement

Question 67

What is the most important element of effectively leveraging the positive potential of diversity?

A) A clearly written policy manual
B) Support from lower-level managers
C) Affirmative action
D) Top management support
E) Labour unions

Question 68

__________ declares that 'no person may unfairly discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee, in any employment policy or practice on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth'.

A) The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act
B) The Basic Conditions of Employment Act
C) The South African Constitution
D) The Unemployment Insurance Act
E) The Employment Equity Act

Question 69

Employees who feel the need to protect their own career prospects by impeding the prospects of others are experiencing

A) the 'like me' bias.
B) prejudices.
C) ethnocentrism.
D) perceived threat of loss.
E) unequal access to organisational networks.

Question 70

In the past, Karson Photography Studios directly hired and managed its own custodial staff.Now, Karson contracts this work to a cleaning company.This is an example of

A) corporate governance.
B) offshoring.
C) outsourcing.
D) nearshoring.
E) insourcing.

Question 71

As the age diversity of workgroups increases, it becomes increasingly likely that

A) a non-minority will be the supervisor of a minority.
B) a minority will be the supervisor of a non-minority.
C) there will be conflicts because of age differences.
D) a younger employee will report to an older supervisor.
E) an older employee will report to a younger supervisor.

Question 72

Which of the following is the most important workplace anti-discrimination Act in South Arica?

A) The Employment Equity Act
B) The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act
C) The Basic Conditions of Employment Act
D) The South African Constitution
E) The Unemployment Insurance Act

Question 73

Examples of organisational functions to outsource include all of the following EXCEPT the organisation's

A) payroll function.
B) human resource training programme.
C) corporate governance programme.
D) facility maintenance programme.
E) food service facility.

Question 74

A(n) __________ worker is employed in a company on an impermanent or part-time basis.

A) tiered
B) knowledge
C) contingent
D) offshore
E) illegal

Question 75

Which level of the corporate ladder is least diverse?

A) Lowest level
B) Assembly line workers
C) Lower management
D) Middle management
E) Top management (e.g.CEO)

Question 76

Which of the following was NOT a South African finalist in the Diversity Awards in 2017?

A) DG Store SA
B) Dolphin Coast Landfill Management
C) Vodacom
D) Empire Technology
E) Isilumko Staffing Solutions

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major factors that account for much of the current growth in international trade?

A) Communication and transportation have improved dramatically over the past several decades.
B) Businesses have expanded internationally to increase their markets.
C) More and more organisations are moving into international markets to control costs, especially to reduce labour costs.
D) Many organisations have become international in response to competition.
E) There has been a decline in offshoring.

Question 78

Marcos believes that men make better managers than women.Marcos's attitude is an example of

A) stereotyping.
B) prejudice.
C) cultural competence.
D) ethnocentrism.
E) the 'like me' bias.

Question 79

Mismanaging diversity is likely to result in all of the following EXCEPT

A) reduced innovation.
B) reduced motivation.
C) increased absenteeism.
D) costly lawsuits.
E) reduced turnover.

Question 80

The oversight of a public corporation by its board of directors is called corporate

A) ethics.
B) malfeasance.
C) lollygagging.
D) responsibility.
E) governance.