Deck 5: The Diagnostic Process

Question 1

The state of quasi-stationary equilibrium is maintained by restraining forces and driving forces that work in opposite directions.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The performance gap between the actual and desired state of an organization is characterized by ineffective performance of one or more units of an organization.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Organization diagnosis is a critical element in the OD process as it identifies the specific interventions that the organization will undertake.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The differentiation-and-integration model can help the accounting department and the sales department within a company to understand why they have differences and can assist them to develop better ways of working together.

Question 5

Questionnaires are useful in gathering data for quantitative analysis.

Question 6

Sociograms indicate the interactions of isolates,cliques,and stars.

Question 7

The OD practitioner must consider the quantity and the accuracy of information as well as the cost and the time needed to collect that information.

Question 8

The interview method of gathering data has the advantage of allowing subjective material to be gathered.

Question 9

An advantage to using the performance gap in diagnosing organization problems is that the actual and desired performance is recognized immediately within the organization.

Question 10

Data is information that has form,structure,and meaning.

Question 11

The area of confidentiality or privileged communications between client and practitioner can be a critical problem.

Question 12

After collecting data,the second step is to define the objectives of the change program.

Question 13

In the Do-Nothing Corporation,the human resources department and the information services departments are having difficulty implementing a computerized employee services program.The Hawthorne diagnostic model can help the two departments evaluate their OD program.

Question 14

Organization development is a data-based activity.

Question 15

At any given moment,an organization is in a state of equilibrium.Put differently,it is balanced.

Question 16

The first and most obvious step in collecting data is to select a proper method.

Question 17

The Hawthorne effect in data collection is more often observed in the utilization of anonymous surveys and less likely observed in interviews.

Question 18

The use of interviews is a data-collection method that includes open-ended questions.

Question 19

Diagnosis is usually described as a dynamic and somewhat sporadic process.

Question 20

Data collection as a self-examination tool is a distraction to uncovering the "real" organization diagnosis.

Question 21

Highly chosen individuals in a sociogram are called _____.

A)a clique
B)mutual choices
C)stars
D)isolates
E)none of the above

Question 22

The data collected can include _____.

A)hard quantitative data
B)personal interpretations of observations
C)signals and clues
D)secondary sources and direct observation
E)all of the above

Question 23

Ineffective change programs are usually the result of _____.

A)hostility among employees
B)inaccurate diagnosis
C)lack of authority
D)inadequate leadership
E)answers a and c

Question 24

The organization often benefits indirectly from the data gathering phase in that _____.

A)members begin observing how things are currently being done
B)it promotes self-examination and assessment
C)members often decide that OD intervention is not needed
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 25

A preliminary diagnosis of possible problem areas _____.

A)allows the practitioner to gather relevant data
B)allows the practitioner to bypass determining the purpose of the data
C)alleviates the need for further data collection
D)none of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 26

The data-collecting phase is most useful in _____

A)evaluating symptoms that are causing the problem(s)
B)identifying the current state of the organization
C)determining what changes need to be made
D)indoctrinating the OD practitioner
E)answers c and d

Question 27

The threatening or overwhelming diagnosis refers to one that is beyond the OD practitioner's skills or level of expertise.

Question 28

A method used to gather a large number of quantitative responses is _____.

A)data gathering
B)surveys and questionnaires
C)direct observation
D)department meetings
E)interviews

Question 29

A secondary source of data would NOT include _____.

A)U.S.Census statistics
B)sales reports
C)employee surveys and questionnaires
D)accounting records
E)industry sales data released in trade publications

Question 30

The purpose of the diagnostic phase is _____.

A)to provide a basis for selecting change strategies
B)to specify the nature of the exact problem
C)to identify underlying causal forces
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 31

The diagnostic process is _____.

A)performed exclusively by the OD practitioner
B)completely free of conflicts if performed properly
C)a systematic approach to understand the organization
D)none of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 32

Questionnaires and surveys _____.

A)are a useful method of acquiring in-depth information
B)are often ambiguous,wordy,and redundant
C)will sometimes be answered falsely or not answered at all
D)must be followed by a survey to be effective
E)provide richness to the data that is missing in interviews

Question 33

Key factors relevant to the diagnosis are _____.

A)separating fact from fiction
B)separating causes from symptoms
C)searching for underlying casual forces
D)all of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 34

In the model of planned change discussed in the text,_____.

A)external OD practitioners are not used
B)the practitioner generates change strategies based on his or her expertise without input from organization members
C)institutionalizing the change is undesirable
D)a diagnostic step to define the problem is important
E)answers b and c

Question 35

A systematic and explicit approach to the data-collection process _____.

A)is normally not used in the problem-solving process
B)is an initial approach in the OD process
C)includes utilization of the inverse correlation model
D)will give a higher probability for success
E)none of the above

Question 36

The data-collection process involves _____.

A)an investigation to determine symptoms of ineffective performance
B)use of gap analysis to identify the steps in the OD program
C)beginning with an initial meeting with the client and continuing throughout the OD program
D)the application of sociograms to evaluate highly differentiated and integrated work units.
E)all of the above

Question 37

A systematic approach to understanding and describing the present state of the organization is _____.

A)information process
B)data collection
C)diagnosis
D)interviewing
E)surveys

Question 38

The purpose of the data-collection stage is _____.

A)taking a specific action
B)gaining more complete understanding so that corrective actions may be undertaken with greater confidence
C)to collect data that will lead to the right diagnosis and specific action to be taken
D)none of the above
E)answers b and c

Question 39

In addition to "hard" data,the OD practitioner wishes to examine _____.

A)communication links between departments
B)distribution of power and status
C)common understanding of organizational goals and objectives
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 40

The performance gap is the difference between _____.

A)actual and desired performance
B)employer and employee performance
C)present and past performance
D)present and anticipated performance
E)all of the above

Question 41

A general-purpose diagnostic technique that views organization behavior not as a static pattern but as a dynamic balance of forces working in opposite directions is the _____.

A)process model
B)force-field analysis model
C)collaborative analysis model
D)dynamic equilibrium systems model
E)diagnosis analysis model

Question 42

Criteria for consideration in the data-collecting phase include _____.

A)constraints of the organizational culture
B)timeliness in collecting
C)costs
D)all of the above
E)answers b and c

Question 43

In the force-field analysis model,the forces acting on the organization to put pressure on it not to change are called _____.

A)driving forces
B)quasi-stationary equilibrium
C)restraining forces
D)sociotechnical force
E)all of the above

Question 44

Based on the ideas of force-field analysis,_____.

A)one means of implementing a change is to increase the forces for change in the desired direction
B)change will occur when resistance forces are ignored
C)identifying and addressing forces for and against change can facilitate implementing the change
D)external change agents are ineffective
E)answers a and c

Question 45

In a nondirected interview _____.

A)specific questions are asked
B)specific questions are avoided
C)the interviewer gives little guidance
D)answers a and c
E)answers b and c

Question 46

Individual and group performance that is influenced by the presence of an investigator is termed the _____.

A)equilibrium effect
B)investigative effect
C)clique effect
D)Hawthorne effect
E)motivation effect

Question 47

Considerations for evaluation in force-field analysis are _____.

A)which forces can be modified
B)which restraining forces can be reduced with the least effort
C)which driving forces can be increased
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 48

Which of the following concepts is NOT part of a sociogram?

A)star
B)mutual choice
C)one-way choice
D)agent
E)isolate

Question 49

The change technique that views a problem as a product of forces working in different,often opposite,directions is _____.

A)action research
B)force-field analysis
C)transformational theory
D)none of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 50

When gathering information within an organization,_____.

A)a decision will be made as to how much data is needed and from whom
B)a questionnaire is always used first followed by personal interviews
C)personal observations by the OD practitioner are rarely used
D)it is important for the OD practitioner to know each employee so that the validity of the data can be measured
E)answers a and d

Question 51

Force-field analysis involves _____.

A)identifying factors acting on the change
B)finding ways of overcoming resistance to change
C)specifying alternative actions for implementing change
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 52

One of the most widely used data-gathering techniques in OD programs is _____.

A)nonobtrusive investigation of employee performance through such methods as cameras
B)interviewing
C)sociotechnical instruments
D)force-field surveys
E)differentiation-and-integration data gathering

Question 53

The differentiation-and-integration model was developed to study and understand _____.

A)the leadership of the organization
B)issues between businesses such as corporate power
C)interdepartmental issues
D)communication problems between individuals
E)none of the above

Question 54

The diagnostic model that considers factors that include degrees of cooperation and collaboration is _____.

A)the differentiation-and-integration model
B)the force-field analysis model
C)the management practitioner model
D)the sociotechnical-systems model
E)the social network analysis model

Question 55

The sociogram approach is useful in _____.

A)finding subgroups or cliques that are disruptive to organization efficiency
B)evaluating the social structure of an organization
C)drawing a diagram of the social and technological network of the organization
D)identifying individuals who are informal leaders so that they may be promoted to management
E)understanding communication patterns

Question 56

According to force-field analysis,_____.

A)change will occur when the sum of the opposing forces is zero
B)ignoring forces against change facilitates the change process
C)change occurs when forces in one direction exceed forces in the opposing direction
D)equilibrium occurs when there are no forces acting for or against change
E)answers a and d

Question 57

Highly differentiated organizational groups require _____.

A)a separate OD practitioner for each unit
B)classification by structure,goals,and location
C)techniques and practices to achieve integration
D)none of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 58

Which type of interview is given little guidance or direction by the interviewer?

A)nondirected
B)empirical
C)directed
D)closed
E)none of the above

Question 59

Forces that act on the organization to change it are called _____.

A)driving forces
B)quasi-stationary forces
C)restraining forces
D)equilibrium forces
E)answers b and d

Question 60

Sociogram techniques may be useful because the techniques _____.

A)provide understanding into the informal structure of a group
B)provide a way to analyze data about preferences within a group
C)are helpful in finding out if there is a lack of group cohesion
D)help point out possible operating problems
E)all of the above

Question 61

Comment on the significance of the diagnostic phase within an OD program.

Question 62

When an OD practitioner identifies and deals only with the immediate,short-term problems,missing important but less-visible problems,this is called _____.

A)the over-diagnosis
B)the crisis diagnosis
C)the threatening and overwhelming diagnosis
D)the practitioner's favorite diagnosis
E)none of the above

Question 63

Comment on the following potential problems areas in the diagnostic phase: over diagnosis,crisis diagnosis,practitioner's favorite diagnosis,diagnosis of symptoms,and threatening diagnosis.

Question 64

What criteria should be used to evaluate the data collected?
The following should be included in the

Question 65

Pitfall(s)in the diagnostic phase that should be avoided are:

A)sticking with a diagnosis that has been used often and successfully by the practitioner in the past
B)making a diagnosis that predominately considers the immediate needs of the organization
C)focusing on symptoms rather than causes
D)all of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 66

Explain the force-field analysis model of diagnosing problems and give an example of the use of the model.

Question 67

Explain what a sociogram is and how it can be used to collect data on a work group.

Question 68

List and explain the steps to be included in the data-collection process.

Question 69

There are several red flags or cautions in making a diagnosis.Which one is associated with the diagnoses becoming a ritual of continual analysis?

A)the over-diagnosis
B)the crisis diagnosis
C)the threatening and overwhelming diagnosis
D)the practitioner's favorite diagnosis
E)none of the above

Question 70

What is meant by "gap analysis"?