Deck 8: Markets, organizations, and Work

Question 1

When the March of Dimes changed its mission from fighting polio to fighting birth defects,it exhibited which common organizational feature?

A)persistence
B)bureaucracy
C)isomorphism
D)loose coupling

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Legislation that declared that citizens with disabilities should have the same access to physical spaces such as buildings and bathrooms as their nondisabled peers is called __________.

A)Disability Rights legislation
B)Human Rights legislation
C)National Advisory Commission on Disabilities Act of 1991
D)National Disabilities Act of 1990

Answer 2

B

Question 3

__________ among workers tends to __________.

A)Productivity;reduce resistance
B)Cooperation;increase productivity
C)Specialization;increase unionization
D)Unionization;reduce productivity

Answer 3

B

Question 4

__________ is an economic system based on private property and market exchange.

A)Capitalism
B)Communism
C)Entrepreneurship
D)Socialism

Question 5

Why do markets need social ties?

A)to maintain alliances of kinship and friendship
B)to maintain levels of trust necessary to carry out economic transactions
C)to facilitate repeated transactions
D)to diminish the influence of random,one-shot transactions on market exchanges

Question 6

The sociological study of markets focuses on which factor,or which combination of factors,to explain how markets work?

A)social networks
B)social networks and power
C)social networks and culture
D)social networks,power,and culture

Question 7

Insider trading is an example of a(n)__________.

A)formal market rule
B)informal market rule
C)cultural norm about who can participate in markets
D)insurance industry regulation

Question 8

__________ provided the most influential description and analysis of bureaucratic organizations.

A)Max Weber
B)Karl Marx
C)Mark Granovetter
D)Malcolm Gladwell

Question 9

Auditing firms often face problems of conflict of interest and resource dependency because __________.

A)auditing firms do what is called due diligence
B)auditing firms treat all potential clients simply on the basis of merit
C)auditors are affected by absolute,not relative,power
D)auditors are paid by the very companies whose books they are required to validate

Question 10

Of the following higher education institutions,which two are most likely to be in the same niche market?

A)University of Alberta and Red Deer College
B)Humber College and the University of British Columbia
C)University of Toronto and York University
D)Memorial University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary

Question 11

According to sociologists,what does the rational-choice perspective of markets overlook?

A)concerns and considerations about social forces
B)concerns and considerations about constrained behaviour
C)knowledge of market exchanges
D)knowledge of exchanges between people who know each other

Question 12

Organizational isomorphism is a concept used by sociologists to explain why organizations in the same field tend to become __________ over time.

A)decreasingly similar
B)increasingly similar
C)decreasingly competitive
D)increasingly competitive

Question 13

The rational-choice perspective of markets assumes that __________.

A)individuals have perfect knowledge about market exchanges
B)individuals make decisions that they think will leave them better off
C)individuals almost always act in ways that advance the common good
D)individuals believe there is no need for altruistic behaviour

Question 14

Organizational isomorphism is the result of __________.

A)organizations competing against each other in the market
B)coercive capitalism
C)the structural inertia processes
D)findings from research,such as the Hawthorne studies

Question 15

Which of the following is the clearest example of the pervasiveness of markets in the intimate spaces of people's lives?

A)the market for adventure travel to the South Pole
B)the market for doggie day care
C)the market for restaurant takeout
D)the market for help naming children

Question 16

Growth of specialization in the kinds of jobs people hold __________.

A)has slowed dramatically since the 1970s,along with the decline in manufacturing jobs
B)has gradually slacked off since the 1970s,along with the decline in manufacturing jobs
C)has gradually slacked off since the mid-1990s,as globalization has taken off
D)has continued right up to the present

Question 17

The primary difference between capitalism and socialism is __________.

A)a difference in how property is owned and controlled
B)that one is a more oppressive system than the other
C)that one is an economic system and one is a philosophy for social life
D)that socialism is a more common system than capitalism in our current world

Question 18

An organization that has created an internal culture that is a good match to its environment will_________.

A)resist pressure to change from the external environment
B)adapt when the internal environment is stronger than the external environment
C)demand adherence to company policy and standards even when ineffective
D)adapt and survive when the external environment evolves

Question 19

Socialism is __________.

A)an economic system based on private property and market exchange
B)an economic system in which the government owns property and controls production
C)an economic system organized without private property and based on the principle that individuals should be able to consume societal resources based on their needs,not their ability
D)an economic system in which buyers,sellers,and producers engage in the exchange of commodities and services

Question 20

Alpha Corporation,which has developed an impermeable shell that protects it from environmental demands,strongly resists change and thus is said to exhibit __________.

A)structural inertia
B)structural adaptation
C)organizational closure
D)organizational solidity

Question 21

Bill believes that he needs to keep his employees focused on precise tasks and that he,not his employees,needs to decide on how things need to be done.Which of the following is Bill engaged in?

A)Scientific management
B)Assembly line management
C)Deskilling management
D)Braverman's style of management

Question 22

Increasingly,the large assembly-line factories,in which an individual worker performs a single task (or set of tasks),is being replaced by workplaces where cooperation among workers is encouraged and __________.

A)jobs are more interchangeable and interconnected
B)jobs are less interchangeable and interconnected
C)jobs require individuals to become true craftsmen
D)managers attempt to squeeze as much out of workers as possible

Question 23

Employers often have expectations learned in schools or from professional associations about what the organization should do.This is known as which of the following?

A)normative isomorphism
B)mimetic isomorphism
C)coercive isomorphism
D)organizational isomorphism

Question 24

A British Columbia fast-food chain has opened an outlet in Southern Ontario.The new outlet's manager is familiar with the myriad federal,provincial,and local regulations that govern the operation of eating establishments.The restaurant chain also has a long list of its own rules and guidelines.Knowing the distinct preferences of Southern Ontario diners,the manager decides to bypass some of the specifics of all of these regulations,while complying with health standards for storing,handling,preparing,and serving food to ensure repeat business.What action is the manager engaging in?

A)bureaucratic overloading
B)central planning
C)loose coupling
D)outsourcing

Question 25

Julie opened a bookstore in 1992 and was pleased that it soon became a favourite gathering spot for local college and university students.As technology rapidly advanced all around her,demanding major adaptations at all the larger bookstore chains in her area,Julie exhibited structural inertia.Which of the following decisions is confirmation of Julie's structurally inert bookstore business?

A)Julie offers discounts on children's books at the end of each season.
B)Julie extends her hours of operation for the duration of the summer.
C)Julie takes on a business partner with no prior selling experience.
D)Julie resists selling e-books even though her customers have asked her to do so.

Question 26

___________is a term developed to describe how jobs are organized and controlled by managers from above.

A)The division of labour
B)The labour process
C)Scientific management
D)The management process

Question 27

What is the chief characteristic of the assembly line system of production?

A)Workers continually face pressure from management.
B)Every task workers perform is completely scripted for them.
C)Work is done by skilled craftspeople capable of producing finished products more or less by themselves.
D)Managers are easily replaceable and have a weak position relative to that of workers.

Question 28

A series of experiments conducted in the 1920s and 1930s with different teams of workers to see what factors might induce them to produce more output were called the __________.

A)Braverman studies
B)Hawthorne studies
C)Milgram obedience studies
D)Whitehall challenge

Question 29

Which of the following job skills is more easily measured than the others?

A)managing a negotiation
B)working effectively in teams
C)measuring a manufacturing process
D)coping with change

Question 30

During a break at the company that employs them both,Liz and Phil discuss what they dislike about their jobs.Liz is eager to implement some innovative ideas,but her boss is neither enthusiastic about her suggestions nor hopeful that upper management would adopt them.Phil is new to the company,but is already bored with the tedious routine of his job.They both dream about a more exciting,innovative workplace.Liz and Phil's complaints are indicative of the negative aspects of __________.

A)a bureaucracy
B)an open market
C)an organization
D)outsourcing

Question 31

Alana is enrolled in a university-level business strategy course.She is required to submit an in-depth case analysis of a business affected by coercive isomorphism.Of the following businesses,which do you think represents the most fruitful subject for her analysis?

A)a sporting goods retailer
B)a pharmaceuticals firm
C)a 24-hour fitness facility
D)an Internet marketing services firm

Question 32

When an organization imitates or mimes the practices of other organizations,it is engaged in which of the following?

A)mimetic isomorphism
B)coercive isomorphism
C)normative isomorphism
D)organizational isomorphism

Question 33

In __________,jobs are made ever more simple and workers become more interchangeable.

A)the assembly line
B)deskilling
C)division of labour
D)simplification

Question 34

After running her own successful pet-grooming business in Southern Ontario,Caitlyn left family and friends and moved to Northern Ontario,where she knew no one.Upon arrival,she immediately set up business in her new environment but became frustrated when no one seemed to notice her pet-grooming shop,much less patronize it.Caitlyn's situation exemplifies the importance of __________ in establishing how market exchanges happen.

A)classic economic theories
B)culture
C)power
D)social networks

Question 35

__________ describe the government deciding what kinds of goods and services would be produced and how much they would cost.

A)Central planning
B)Capitalism
C)Socialism
D)Central markets

Question 36

For 23 years,a group of 12 men and women has been operating a successful charity for families impacted by AIDS.The group has seen many changes over the years,regarding personnel,community needs,medical advances,and economic climate.The charity has endured throughout the years because it established operating principles and procedures.Which term best describes this group?

A)loose coupling
B)high-tech industry
C)bureaucratic organization
D)labour union

Question 37

Amir,like most people in his community,makes weekly trips to the village square where local vendors sell their goods.Everyone in the area is familiar with what will be available to purchase and how transactions are to be conducted.Although the exchanges between buyers and sellers may seem frenetic to outsiders,the locals adhere to a set of regulations and norms that satisfies the needs of all involved.Which term best defines this scenario?

A)central planning
B)entrepreneurship
C)rational choice
D)market

Question 38

How did the industrial revolution revolutionize the nature of work?

A)It created well-paying jobs for people.
B)It created poorly paying jobs for people.
C)It lead to the development of factories.
D)It lead to the development of unions.

Question 39

The overall pattern of job growth over time suggests that there has been a long-term shift toward jobs that require __________.

A)less skill and less education
B)more skill and more education
C)more skill but less education
D)less skill but more education

Question 40

Enrique took pride in his ability to handcraft furniture,enjoying each step in the construction,assembly,and finishing of each piece.When his business failed,he began working at a furniture manufacturing plant,where he was responsible for nailing upholstery to sofa and chair frames.Enrique's experience is an example of __________.

A)autonomy
B)bureaucracy
C)deskilling
D)structural inertia

Question 41

Janet is always inventing new products and creating businesses to sell these products.Janet is a ___________.

A)Engineer
B)Entrepreneur
C)Socialist
D)Technology specialist

Question 42

__________ is when the government decided what kinds of goods and services would be produced and how much they would cost.

A)Central planning
B)Capitalism
C)Socialism
D)Central markets

Question 43

Many managers within bureaucratic organizations try to disentangle themselves and their department from irrational rules and regulations or implement those rules in creative ways that make sense.This is called which of the following?

A)loose coupling
B)isomorphism
C)bureaucratic decision-making
D)central planning

Question 44

__________ is when jobs are made ever more simple and workers become more interchangeable.

A)assembly line
B)deskilling
C)division of labour
D)simplification

Question 45

Bill believes that he needs to keep his employees focused on precise tasks and that he needs to decide on how things need to be done,not his employees.Which of the following is Bill engaged in?

A)Scientific management
B)Assembly line management
C)Deskilling management
D)Braverman's style of management

Question 46

Employers often have expectations learned in schools or from professional associations about what the organization should do.This is know as which of the following?

A)normative isomorphism
B)mimetic isomorphism
C)coercive isomorphism
D)organizational isomorphism

Question 47

The __________ is a product of __________.

A)precariat;unionization
B)assembly line;scientific management
C)Industrial Revolution;bureaucratization
D)division of labour;loose coupling

Question 48

According to Weber,what was the hallmark of a bureaucracy?

A)the existence of formal procedures and rules
B)the division of labour
C)to create stifling routines and boring jobs
D)to be effective at responding to change

Question 49

Why are entrepreneurs important to market economies?

Question 50

A company named Worldwide Widget Distributors is conducting a job search for a new regional sales manager.Based on what researchers have documented about how power influences hiring decisions,which of the following applicants is most likely to get the job?

A)a white male who is a couple of years away from retirement
B)a middle-aged Latina who is reentering the workforce after time away to raise a family
C)a young white male who recently graduated from a top-tier university
D)a young black male who has relevant work experience,but has been unemployed for several years

Question 51

Of the following higher education institutions,which two are most likely to be in the same niche market?

A)University of Alberta and Red Deer College
B)Humber College and the University of British Columbia
C)University of Toronto and York University
D)Memorial University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary

Question 52

According to Weber,what was the hallmark of a bureaucracy?

A)The existence of formal procedures and rules.
B)The division of labour
C)To create stifling routines and boring jobs.
D)To be effective at responding to change.

Question 53

Janet is always inventing new products and creating businesses to sell these products.Janet is a/an ___________.

A)engineer
B)entrepreneur
C)socialist
D)technology specialist

Question 54

Bureaucracies often stifle __________,but improve __________.

A)isomorphism;hierarchies
B)lean production;markets
C)autonomy;unionization
D)creativity;efficiency

Question 55

At the time of its uprising,the Industrial Revolution changed the nature of __________ in society.

A)structural inertia
B)socialism
C)the division of labour
D)isomorphism

Question 56

In a bureaucracy,the __________ a position is,the more __________ that position has.

A)higher up;authority
B)higher up;social networks
C)lower;authority
D)lower;organization

Question 57

When an organization imitates or mimes the practices of other organizations it is engaged in which of the following?

A)mimetic isomorphism
B)coercive isomorphism
C)normative isomorphism
D)organizational isomorphism

Question 58

When new government regulations are passed,an organization will mostly likely engage in __________ isomorphism to meet regulatory standards,and they may use __________ isomorphism to go about making specific changes.

A)coercive;mimetic
B)normative;coercive
C)mimetic;normative
D)mimetic;coercive

Question 59

Teacher,physical therapist,machine operator,and desk attendant are all examples of __________.

A)entrepreneurs
B)bureaucracies
C)occupations
D)autonomy

Question 60

___________is a term developed to describe how jobs are organized and controlled by managers from above.

A)The division of labour
B)The labour process
C)Scientific Management
D)The Management Process

Question 61

How has the organization known as Apple Computer changed and survived over time?

Question 62

Explain the concept of scientific management and how it has influenced workplaces in North America.

Question 63

Explain the concept of scientific management and how it has influenced workplaces in North America.

Question 64

How does serving a niche help organizations survive?

Question 65

Explain how the Industrial Revolution led to both an increase in job specialization and an increase in managerial and professional occupations.