Deck 8: Markets, Organizations, and Work

Question 1

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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 2

A

Question 3

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

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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 5

__________ among workers tends to __________.

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

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

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 8

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 9

The landmark 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 the __________.

A) Civil Rights Act of 1964
B) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
C) National Advisory Commission on Disabilities Act of 1991
D) National Disabilities Act of 1990

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

The rational-choice perspective of markets assumes that __________.

A) individuals have perfect knowledge about market exchanges
B) individuals make decisions that they think will improve their well-being
C) individuals almost always act in ways that advance the common good
D) individuals believe there is no need for altruistic behavior

Question 12

The better an organization matches its initial environment, __________.

A) the weaker its resistance to change
B) the weaker its resistance to environmental demands
C) the stronger its resistance to environmental demands
D) the stronger its structural inertia

Question 13

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 14

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 behavior
C) knowledge of market exchanges
D) knowledge of exchanges between people who know each other

Question 15

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 16

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

A) New York University and Miami-Dade Community College
B) Miami-Dade Community College and the University of Southern California
C) Harvard University and Yale University
D) Ohio State University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary

Question 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

Socialism is __________.

A) an economic system based on private property and market exchange
B) an economic system where 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 where buyers, sellers, and producers engage in the exchange of commodities and services

Question 21

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 22

In comparison with other countries with advanced economies, the United States has __________.

A) less workplace regulation and weaker labor unions
B) less workplace regulation and stronger labor unions
C) more workplace regulation and weaker labor unions
D) more workplace regulation and stronger labor unions

Question 23

Unionization rates reached their peak in the United States in the __________.

A) 1940s
B) 1950s
C) 1960s
D) 1970s

Question 24

After running her own successful pet-grooming business in Northern California, Caitlyn left family and friends and moved to Southern California, 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 25

A Southwestern U.S. fast-food chain has opened an outlet in New Orleans. The new outlet's manager is familiar with the myriad federal, state, 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 New Orleans 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 26

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 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

__________ refers to how much a particular job allows workers to control their activity.

A) Autonomy
B) Security
C) Status
D) Trust

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

In terms of job satisfaction, people tend to rate jobs as better when they __________.

A) are stress free
B) involve conformity and sameness
C) feel trusted by their employer
D) involve little self-expression

Question 31

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 32

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 in 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 33

Julie opened a bookstore in 1992 and was pleased that it soon became a favorite gathering spot for local college 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 34

Which of the following consequences of lean production has been more consistently harmful to workers than the others listed?

A) the elimination of health and pension benefits
B) the introduction of new technologies
C) the reduction of waste in the production process
D) continual identification of and reduction in the costs of production

Question 35

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. This scenario conforms to the sociological definition of which term?

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

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 of its sense of purpose and commitment. What kind of a group is it?

A) a company
B) an industry
C) an organization
D) a union

Question 37

Satisfaction in work performed is invariably lower when __________.

A) actions are tightly controlled or monitored
B) levels of autonomy and discretion are high
C) jobs require supervision of others
D) workers have the freedom to pick and choose how they structure their days

Question 38

American workers are increasingly reliant on employers for __________, whereas workers in other rich countries are not.

A) Social Security
B) retirement benefits
C) investment income
D) education

Question 39

The overall pattern of job growth over time suggests that there has been a long-term shift towards 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

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 41

What is autonomy and why is it such an important component of job satisfaction?

Question 42

One might argue that the decline of __________ in the United States encouraged __________.

A) unionization; the use of lean production methods
B) socialism; the division of labor
C) the precariat; the assembly line
D) scientific management; deskilling

Question 43

How does serving a niche help organizations survive?

Question 44

The __________ is a product of __________.

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

Question 45

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

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

Question 46

The use of __________ in the production process can be both negative and positive for workers.

A) technology
B) isomorphism
C) the precariat
D) central planning

Question 47

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

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

Question 48

Janet works multiple part-time jobs. Both jobs require her to work a different schedule of hours each week and pay just above minimum wage. She receives no nonwage benefits from either employer. How would a sociologist classify a worker like Janet?

A) as a member of a union
B) as a member of the precariat
C) as an assembly line worker
D) as a socialist

Question 49

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 50

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

Question 51

Bureaucracies often stifle __________, but improve __________.

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

Question 52

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 53

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