Deck 1: Organizational Behavior

Question 1

Job redesign processes are intended to make jobs more routine and predictable.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Job redesign processes have been found to increase job productivity by over 50%.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

In goal setting programs, targets should be set so that they are easy to attain.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Goal setting programs have been found to increase job productivity by about 15 - 20%.

Question 5

In contingent pay systems, employees are paid on the basis of the skills they have mastered.

Question 6

Contingent pay systems reduce the amount of total wages paid to employees.

Question 7

Allowing employees to participate in decision making increases their sense of belonging or ownership.

Question 8

Contingent pay programs are more effective at raising productivity than goal setting programs.

Question 9

Contingent pay systems have been found to increase productivity by about 30%.

Question 10

Participative decision-making programs increase employee productivity by about 20%.

Question 11

Participation has no effect on productivity problems caused by poor motivation.

Question 12

Employee participation programs are likely to improve motivation but not performance.

Question 13

Employee participation programs are likely to improve motivation and performance only when combined with other motivational programs.

Question 14

"People problems" has been cited by many experts as an organization's primary source of competitive advantage.

Question 15

The management of people through the application of knowledge from the field of organizational behavior is a primary means through which competitive advantage can be created and sustained.

Question 16

In organizational behavior, we directly observe the mental states of employees.

Question 17

The field of organizational behavior is derived from the study of history.

Question 18

The field of organizational behavior was born in the 1980's.

Question 19

The subfield of organizational behavior that focuses mainly on groups and teams is called "micro" organizational behavior.

Question 20

The subfield of "macro" organizational behavior is based in part on sociology.

Question 21

Management is becoming more of a process relying on top-down control.

Question 22

The shift from mass production to small batches requires organizations to be less flexible than previously.

Question 23

A manager should diagnose a problem before trying to solve it.

Question 24

The current trend in increasing productivity can be traced to technological innovations in ___________________.

A) information systems
B) manufacturing processes
C) service delivery techniques
D) all of the above

Question 25

The process of making your employees' jobs more complex, stimulating, and fulfilling is called _________________.

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 26

The process of setting clear, challenging targets for performance is called _________________.

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 27

The process of paying employees according to their performance is called _________________.

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 28

The process of allowing employees to have input into what management plans to do is called _____________________.

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 29

Job redesign is ____________.

A) allowing employees to have input into decisions.
B) paying employees for performance, not seniority.
C) setting targets for employees.
D) changing an employee's job to increase intrinsic motivation.

Question 30

Goal setting is ____________.

A) allowing employees to have input into decisions
B) paying for performance, not seniority
C) setting targets
D) changing jobs to increase intrinsic motivation

Question 31

Contingency pay is ____________.

A) allowing employees to have input into decisions.
B) paying employees for performance, not seniority.
C) setting targets for employees.
D) changing an employee's job to increase intrinsic motivation.

Question 32

Contingency pay involves paying employees for their _____________.

A) skills
B) attitudes
C) teamwork
D) performance
E) seniority

Question 33

According to research, using job redesign processes is likely to raise a company's productivity by ___________________.

A) more than 40 percent
B) between 20 - 40 percent
C) between 0 - 20 percent
D) not at all

Question 34

According to research, using goal setting processes is likely to raise a company's productivity by _________________.

A) more than 40 percent
B) between 20 - 40 percent
C) between 0 - 20 percent
D) not at all

Question 35

Suppose you are a manager in a company with weak productivity. Of the following suggestions a consultant might make, which is likely to be the most effective in raising your productivity?

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 36

Suppose you are a manager in a company with weak productivity. Of the following suggestions a consultant might make, which is likely to be the least effective in raising your productivity?

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 37

Which is the correct rank order of managerial interventions in their likely effectiveness, from most to least?

A) participation, goal setting, job redesign, contingency pay
B) contingency pay, goal setting, job redesign, participation
C) goal setting, contingency pay, job redesign, participation
D) goal setting, job redesign, participation, contingency pay

Question 38

Of the following suggestions a consultant might make, which is likely to be the most effective in raising your productivity when coupled with one of the other programs?

A) job redesign
B) goal setting
C) contingent pay
D) employee participation in decision making

Question 39

Research analysts have found that using contingent pay programs is likely to raise a company's productivity by _______________.

A) more than 40 percent
B) between 20 - 40 percent
C) between 0 - 10 percent
D) not at all

Question 40

Research analysts have found that using participating programs is likely to raise a company's productivity by __________________.

A) more than 40 percent
B) between 20 - 40 percent
C) between 0 - 10 percent
D) not at all

Question 41

Most experts suggest that an organization's employees are the ___ source of competitive advantage.

A) number 1
B) number 2
C) number 3
D) number 4

Question 42

The field of organizational behavior is derived from all of the following EXCEPT ____________:

A) psychology
B) sociology
C) history
D) economics

Question 43

To retain present employees New York Presbyterian Hospital did which of the following things?

A) increased tuition reimbursement and increased merit raises
B) increased tuition reimbursement and increased flextime
C) increased merit pay and increased flextime
D) increased flextime and added a childcare center

Question 44

Organizational behavior will provide insight needed to __________ and __________ highly prized workers.

A) attract, retain
B) motivate, pay
C) motivate, retain
D) retain, pay

Question 45

The portion of organizational behavior that is mainly concerned with the behavior of individuals working alone is _____________.

A) micro
B) meso
C) macro
D) psychology

Question 46

The portion of organizational behavior that is mainly concerned with people working in groups or teams is ___________.

A) micro
B) meso
C) macro
D) psychology

Question 47

The portion of organizational behavior that is mainly concerned with the "behaviors" of the entire organization is __________.

A) micro
B) meso
C) macro
D) psychology

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT one of the four contemporary issues that challenge managers of today?

A) workforce diversity
B) career issues for managers
C) team productivity
D) organizational adaptability
E) statelessness and globalization

Question 49

The delegation of authority to make significant decisions regarding their jobs to non-managers is called ________________.

A) reengineering
B) continuous improvement
C) self-actualization
D) empowerment

Question 50

In today's business world, in general, emphasis is shifting ____________.

A) toward the production of high-quality goods and services.
B) away from mass production.
C) toward customization of goods and services for individual or small groups of customers.
D) all of the above.

Question 51

To understand management issues in organizational adaptability, one should draw upon _______________.

A) micro OB
B) meso OB
C) macro OB
D) all of the above

Question 52

To understand management issues in workforce diversity, one should draw upon ________________.

A) micro OB
B) meso OB
C) micro and meso OB
D) macro OB

Question 53

To understand management issues in team productivity, one should draw upon _______________.

A) micro OB
B) meso OB
C) macro OB
D) micro OB and macro OB

Question 54

To understand management issues in statelessness, one should draw upon ______________.

A) micro OB
B) meso OB
C) macro OB
D) all of the above

Question 55

All of the following are stages of problem solving EXCEPT ____________.

A) evaluation
B) action
C) team development
D) solution
E) diagnosis

Question 56

The process of gathering information about a troublesome situation and then summarizing it is called _______________.

A) diagnosis
B) solution
C) action
D) evaluation

Question 57

The stage of problem solving that is most like a doctor's consideration of a patient's symptoms is _____________.

A) evaluation
B) action
C) solution
D) diagnosis

Question 58

"Management by Wandering Around" helps in problem solving because it ____________.

A) aids in ordering subordinates to implement actions.
B) helps in measuring success or failure.
C) provides first-hand information about the problem.
D) helps to satisfice.

Question 59

In order to put theoretical knowledge about the field of OB to practical use, it is most important for managers to ________________.

A) develop skills
B) learn concepts and definitions
C) rely on their personalities
D) construct theories of management

Question 60

The correct ordering of the stages of problem solving is

A) diagnosis, action, solution, evaluation.
B) solution, action, evaluation, diagnosis.
C) diagnosis, solution, action, evaluation.
D) diagnosis, solution, evaluation, action.

Question 61

The process of identifying ways to resolve the problem is called ____________.

A) diagnosis
B) solution
C) action
D) evaluation

Question 62

The process of implementing a set of activities is called _____________.

A) diagnosis
B) solution
C) action
D) evaluation

Question 63

The process of determining whether activities had their intended effect is called ________________.

A) diagnosis
B) solution
C) action
D) evaluation

Question 64

In the diagnosis stage of problem solving, one is most likely to be ____________.

A) administering surveys to employees.
B) generating alternative ways to reduce or eliminate the problem.
C) laying out specific activities that must be undertaken.
D) measuring the actual results on the job.

Question 65

In the solution stage of problem solving, one is most likely to be ____________.

A) administering surveys to employees.
B) generating alternative ways to reduce or eliminate the problem.
C) laying out specific activities that must be undertaken.
D) measuring the actual results on the job.

Question 66

In the action stage of problem solving, one is most likely to be ____________.

A) administering surveys to employees.
B) generating alternative ways to reduce or eliminate the problem.
C) laying out specific activities that must be undertaken.
D) measuring the actual results on the job.

Question 67

In the evaluation stage of problem solving, one is most likely to be ____________.

A) administering surveys to employees.
B) generating alternative ways to reduce or eliminate the problem.
C) laying out specific activities that must be undertaken.
D) measuring the actual results on the job.

Question 68

The evaluation stage of problem solving is likely to lead to ________________.

A) further problem solving activities
B) optimal performance
C) minimal performance
D) satisficing

Question 69

"Satisfice" means to ____________.

A) satisfy fully an individual's needs.
B) choose the first alternative that seems workable.
C) terminate employees that are not happy with the company.
D) work to improve morale.

Question 70

IBM forced developers of its first personal computer to work isolated from the rest of the company. This type of approach is likely to support

A) building upon solutions used by the organization in its past.
B) coming up with new ideas.
C) implementing new plans.
D) motivating employees.

Question 71

A group of employees that are isolated from the rest of the organization in order to come up with new ideas is called a ________________.

A) "skunkworks"
B) "leper colony"
C) "tag team"
D) "bullpen"

Question 72

Managers should identify the measures they will use to quantify the success of a problem-solving plan ____________.

A) before the plan is implemented.
B) during the plan's execution.
C) after the plan has been implemented.
D) before or after the plan has been implemented.

Question 73

Socially accepted standards of responsibility and conduct are often called __________.

A) goals
B) norms
C) ethics
D) theories

Question 74

Training in ethical behavior should begin with __________ and be continued by __________.

A) formal education, experience
B) formal education, employer
C) employer, real life ethical challenges
D) real life ethical challenges, formal education

Question 75

Identify and briefly describe four possible programs that organizations frequently implement to improve productivity. What are the likely improvements each of these is likely to result in?

Question 76

Define "Organizational Behavior" and describe (a) what it focuses on, (b) what it analyzes.

Question 77

The text says, "Neither groups nor organizations 'behave' in the same sense that people do." Explain this statement.

Question 78

Describe the historical roots of Organizational Behavior, and the major subfields within the field.

Question 79

Describe the major contemporary issues managers face.

Question 80

Explain how workforce diversity affects managing.