Deck 5: Managing Diversity

Question 1

The concept of workforce diversity expanded from compliance to an issue of business survival during the early 1980s.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Which of the following was a feature of the period from the late 1980s to the late 1990s in terms of workplace diversity?

A)shifting from compliance and focusing only on women and minorities to including everyone
B)focusing on complying with laws and regulations,such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
C)seeing workplace diversity as a core business issue,important to achieve business success,profitability,and growth
D)developing corporate programs to help improve self-confidence and qualifications of diverse individuals so they can "fit in"

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Ben is selecting members for a problem-solving team.Which of the following team compositions is most likely to result in better team performance?

A)employees with at least ten years of seniority
B)employees from the quality department
C)employees from a variety of ethnic and gender backgrounds
D)an all-male or all-female team

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In the process of getting acquainted,John and his new co-worker Bill have discovered they have different tastes in music and books,that one is extroverted and the other introverted,that one prefers working in teams and the other works best alone.They are exploring ________.

A)surface-level diversity
B)deep-level diversity
C)stereotypes
D)biases

Question 5

Soon after Jeff was hired as a company accountant,his company developed corporate programs to help improve self-confidence and qualifications of diverse employees so they could "fit in." During which period of time did Jeff start working for his employers?

A)new millennium
B)1960s to 1970s
C)early 1980s
D)late 1980s to late 1990s

Question 6

People are going to be different.The focus of managers should be ________.

A)to find ways to keep various groups within the workforce from creating conflict
B)to find ways to develop strong relationships with and engage the entire workforce
C)to make sure the practices within their departments comply with the letter of the laws governing discrimination in employment
D)to find commonalities among various groups displaying surface-level diversity

Question 7

Which of the following people management benefits arises from workplace diversity?

A)improved system flexibility
B)potential to increase market share
C)increased understanding of the marketplace
D)better use of employee talent

Question 8

In his exit interview,James,a member of a minority group,mentioned that he had been passed over for promotions in favor of less qualified internal candidates.This situation relates to ________.

A)people management
B)organizational performance
C)organizational strategy
D)deep-level diversity

Question 9

The ways in which people in an organization are different from and similar to one another is known as ________.

A)business etiquette
B)work culture
C)workplace diversity
D)organizational democracy

Question 10

The period of time between the 1960s to 1970s focused on ________.

A)assimilating minorities and women into the corporate setting
B)making employees more aware and sensitive to the needs and differences of others
C)diversity and inclusion for business success,profitability,and growth
D)complying with laws and regulations through affirmative action policies and programs

Question 11

When the VP of marketing selected the new product development team members,he made sure there was a mix of ages,genders,and ethnicities on the team.This VP was most concerned with ________.

A)people management
B)organization performance
C)organization strategy
D)legal compliance

Question 12

Which of the following benefits of workplace diversity contributes to organizational performance?

A)reduced costs associated with high turnover and absenteeism
B)potential source of competitive advantage from improved innovation efforts
C)increased understanding of the marketplace and improved ability to better market to diverse customers
D)ability to attract and retain employees of diverse backgrounds

Question 13

During which era was the term "workforce diversity" first used?

A)new millennium
B)late 1980s
C)1960s to 1970s
D)early 1980s

Question 14

How does surface-level diversity differ from deep-level diversity?

A)Surface-level diversity is reflected by differences in personality and values,while deep-level diversity is influenced by age and ethnic differences.
B)Surface-level diversity can affect the way people view organizational rewards and their communication with others,while deep-level diversity does not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel.
C)Surface-level diversity can affect the way people perceive others,especially in terms of assumptions or stereotyping,while deep-level diversity may affect general behavior of people at work.
D)Surface-level diversity becomes more important as people get to know each other,while deep-level diversity becomes less relevant with increasing familiarity between people.

Question 15

In terms of workplace diversity,the New Millennium has witnessed increased focus on ________.

A)complying with laws and regulations laid down by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
B)assimilating minorities and women employees into the corporate setting
C)shifting from compliance to include everyone in diversification efforts
D)diversity and inclusion for business success,profitability,and growth

Question 16

Which of the following benefits of workplace diversity is categorized as strategic?

A)better use of talent
B)improved system flexibility
C)potential to improve market share
D)reduced costs associated with high turnover

Question 17

Amanda works as a technical support executive at ColorWare Systems.Which of the following factors,if true,could trigger certain stereotypes about Amanda among her co-workers,though not necessarily reflecting the way they feel or think about her?

A)Amanda does not believe in engaging in gossip about her coworkers.
B)Amanda prefers working late every evening to working over the weekend.
C)Amanda has a Swedish mother and an African American father.
D)Amanda tends to dominate discussions among her co-workers.

Question 18

Which of the following demographic characteristics reflects surface-level diversity?

A)differences in values
B)ethnicity
C)personality
D)work preferences

Question 19

Differences arising from which of the following factors becomes more important to people as they get to know each other?

A)gender
B)ethnicity
C)sexual orientation
D)personality

Question 20

Jack and Jill are discussing the new hire in their department: her hair color,skin tone,manner of dress,and accent.Jack and Jill are focusing on ________.

A)surface level diversity
B)deep-level diversity
C)stereotypes
D)biases

Question 21

How is workplace diversity beneficial to organizations from an ethical perspective?

Question 22

Workplace diversity refers exclusively to the differences between employee characteristics.

Question 23

According to projections of the U.S.population,the ethnic groups that will exhibit the most change are the Hispanic and African American populations.

Question 24

Deep-level diversity refers to easily perceived differences that may trigger certain stereotypes,but that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel.

Question 25

Which of the following trends has been observed in the world population in terms of aging?

A)People aged 65 and older will soon outnumber children under age 5 for the first time in history.
B)The world's population aged 80 and over is projected to decrease 233% by 2040.
C)The world's population is growing older,but at a slower rate than it did in comparison with the previous two centuries.
D)As nations have advanced economically,birthrates have increased in proportion to the growing world population.

Question 26

An important impact that workplace diversity has on organizational performance is through the increase in employee turnover.

Question 27

Give a brief description of the people management benefits derived from workplace diversity.

Question 28

As chief of new product development for a U.S.consumer goods firm,Carmen should be very aware that ________ is likely to have the greatest influence on consumer preferences for the next few decades.

A)changes in religion
B)the aging of the population
C)declining birth rates
D)increasing inflation

Question 29

The main reason for the predicted stabilization of world population growth by 2050 is the decline in birthrates as nations advance economically.

Question 30

Trends observed in the shifting world population indicate that people aged 65 or more will soon outnumber those aged 5 or less.Also,the world's population aged over 80 is expected to more than double by the year 2040.Which of the following is a likely implication of such population trends?

A)decreasing demands on social entitlement programs
B)increasing global savings rates
C)dwindling labor supply
D)decreasing preference for white-collar occupations

Question 31

Define "workplace diversity." Provide a brief description of the evolution of workplace diversity over the last five decades.

Question 32

The total world population is forecasted to hit 9 billion by 2050,at which point the United Nations predicts the total population will either stabilize or peak after growing for centuries at an ever-accelerating rate.The main reason for this major shift is ________.

A)the unprecedented rate at which world population is aging
B)the decline in birthrates as nations advance economically
C)the high level of mobility of the international workforce across national borders
D)the alarming rate of depletion of natural resources necessary for sustaining the population

Question 33

Briefly explain the demographic characteristics that affect workforce diversity.

Question 34

Worldwide population trends indicate that we will witness dwindling labor supply and increasing total global savings rates.

Question 35

One of the strategic benefits of workplace diversity is that it can be viewed as the "right" thing to do.

Question 36

Demographic characteristics such as differences in age,gender,race,etc.reflect surface-level diversity among employees.

Question 37

People aged 65 and older are expected to soon outnumber children under age 5 for the first time in history.

Question 38

Which of the following correctly reflects the characteristics of the current U.S.population?

A)Nearly one in five Americans today is an immigrant.
B)The median age of the U.S.population has risen significantly over the last decade.
C)The Asian population in the United States is presently the largest ethnic group.
D)The Hispanic community represents nearly one-third of the total U.S.population.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is true of the changing trends in U.S.workplaces?

A)The surge in immigration,especially over the last two decades,has flooded the United States with low-wage foreign labor.
B)Organizations must recognize that they can't expect employees to assimilate into the organization by adopting similar attitudes and values.
C)In most U.S.metropolitan cities,more immigrants are employed in low-wage jobs like construction,cleaning,or manufacturing,than in white-collar occupations.
D)People now entering the workforce are significantly older,less ethnically diverse and/or native-born.

Question 40

What benefits does workplace diversity afford an organization in terms of its performance?

Question 41

Employee A prefers to work flexible hours and to work from home as often as practical.According to research,Employee A is likely to be ________.

A)a minority
B)disabled
C)female
D)older

Question 42

________ refers to the social traits that are shared by a human population.

A)Race
B)Ancestry
C)Nationality
D)Ethnicity

Question 43

In which of the following areas are consistent male-female differences observed?

A)problem-solving ability
B)sociability
C)work schedule preferences
D)competitive drive

Question 44

________ is the biological heritage (including physical characteristics such as one's skin color and associated traits)that people use to identify themselves.

A)Nationality
B)Ethnicity
C)Culture
D)Race

Question 45

Which of the following statements is true of the findings of studies on race and ethnicity in the workplace?

A)Whites favor affirmative action programs and policies to a far greater degree than do African Americans.
B)African Americans generally do worse than Whites in decisions related to the workplace.
C)Individuals in workplaces tend to favor colleagues of a race other than their own in performance evaluations,promotion decisions,and pay raises.
D)Whites and African-Americans display statistically significant and consistent differences in absenteeism rates,applied social skills at work,and accident rates.

Question 46

U.S.federal law does not prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of ________.

A)race
B)religion
C)age
D)sexual orientation

Question 47

Which of the following managerial styles is traditionally considered to be masculine?

A)agreeable
B)leading by example
C)collaborative
D)inclusive

Question 48

Lulumelon owns a chain of fashion stores that serve men's,women's,and children's clothing categories.Jay,a motor accident victim with an amputated leg,applies for a position at one of the stores in an upmarket location.Which of the following assumptions by Lulumelon would prevent them from hiring him?

A)Most workers with disabilities require no accommodation but for those who do,more than half of the workplace modifications cost $500 or less.
B)A person with a disability for whom workplace accommodations have been provided has the same obligations and rights as far as job performance is concerned.
C)There is no set of guidelines on how to take any potential disciplinary action with disabled employees.
D)Absentee rates for sick time are virtually equal between employees with and without disabilities.

Question 49

Which of the following perceptions do employers typically have of older employees?

A)lack of sound judgment
B)resistant to new technology
C)weak work ethic
D)better attendance

Question 50

Which of the following diversity factors has been called the "last acceptable bias"?

A)sexual orientation
B)gender identity
C)religious belief
D)ethnic origin

Question 51

Which of the following statements is true of gender diversity in workplaces?

A)No consistent male-female differences exist in problem-solving ability,analytical skills,competitive drive,motivation,sociability,or learning ability.
B)Today,men make up nearly two-thirds of the workforce,while women account for the remaining third.
C)Affirmative action policies have resulted in women,generally,starting their careers at higher levels than men.
D)Despite the disparity in representation in the workforce,women earn nearly as much as men do on a median basis.

Question 52

What positive perception do employers typically have of older employees?

A)enthusiastic towards new technology
B)open to change
C)strong work ethic
D)flexible and adaptable

Question 53

Which of the following racial groups have been the focus of most race and ethnographic studies of workplace diversity in the United States?

A)Hispanics and Whites
B)Whites and Native Americans
C)African Americans and Whites
D)Asians and African Americans

Question 54

One big challenge for managers of diverse workforces is ________.

A)to provide accommodations for disabilities and religious beliefs that other employees don't view as special treatment
B)to assure that employees do not discuss their religious beliefs with other workers
C)to provide accommodations for disabled workers that don't carry excessive costs
D)to treat all employees identically despite individual differences

Question 55

If my workplace goals included getting high scores on a performance evaluation,I would prefer that my supervisor be ________.

A)the same gender as me
B)female
C)of an older generation than me
D)of my own race

Question 56

Bruce will be making a presentation to the senior management team to encourage them to support efforts to improve the company's diversity policies and practices.One of the more compelling arguments he can use is ________.

A)companies with exclusive practices experienced higher profits
B)companies with inclusive practices outperformed both the DJIA and NASDAQ and had much higher returns on equity
C)Federal law requires all companies to make accommodations for LBGT employees
D)the company will likely lose market share if it does not improve its practices

Question 57

Which of the following managerial styles is traditionally considered to be feminine?

A)authoritative
B)leading by example
C)inclusive
D)being directive

Question 58

What are the significant trends occurring in the composition of the global workforce? What are the likely repercussions of such trends?

Question 59

Given a choice between Jane,a 50-something internal candidate,and Jenny,a 20-something internal candidate,Joe selected Jane.Joe would probably say it was because ________.

A)he thought Jane would be more flexible in meeting the needs of the new position
B)he thought Jenny would be uncomfortable with the technology in the new position
C)he expected Jenny would ask for more time off
D)he expected the quality of Jane's work would be better than Jenny's

Question 60

Which of the following statements is true of employing disabled employees?

A)Hiring people with disabilities leads to higher employment costs and lower profit margins.
B)Workers with disabilities lack job skills and experience necessary to perform as well as their abled counterparts.
C)Employees with disabilities are exempt from potential disciplinary action,and there are high costs associated with accommodating disabled employees.
D)A person with a disability for whom workplace accommodations have been provided has the same obligations and rights as far as job performance.

Question 61

In workplace jargon,the term "glass ceiling" refers to ________.

A)the perceived difference in cognitive abilities between male and female employees
B)the theoretical organizational level beyond which no discrimination exists
C)the cumulative difference between opportunities and rewards offered to male and female employees
D)the invisible barrier that separates women and minorities from top management positions

Question 62

What type of discrimination are older workers in an organization subjected to if they are laid off for being highly paid and having lucrative benefits?

A)incivility
B)intimidation
C)discriminatory practices
D)exclusion

Question 63

What are some of the fears held by employers regarding employment of disabled persons? Describe the actual realities associated with such fears.

Question 64

Discrimination refers to ________.

A)a preconceived belief,opinion,or judgment toward a person or a group of people
B)a tendency or preference toward a particular perspective or ideology
C)judging a person based on a perception of a group to which that person belongs
D)someone acting out their prejudicial attitudes toward people who are the targets of their prejudice

Question 65

________ is a term that describes a tendency or preference toward a particular perspective or ideology.

A)Bias
B)Prejudice
C)Impartiality
D)Reasoning

Question 66

Employers are justified if they do not hire workers with disabilities as they lack job skills and experience necessary to perform as well as their abled counterparts.

Question 67

________ refers to a preconceived belief,opinion,or judgment toward a person or a group of people.

A)Prejudice
B)Impartiality
C)Equanimity
D)Bias

Question 68

Men are found to follow a nurturing,inclusive,and collaborative style of leadership,in contrast to women.

Question 69

What type of discrimination usually involves jokes or negative stereotypes being perpetrated about fellow employees?

A)mockery and insults
B)discriminatory policies
C)exclusion
D)intimidation

Question 70

What type of discrimination is said to have occurred when certain actions taken by representatives of an organization deny equal opportunity to perform or unequal rewards for performance?

A)exclusion
B)discriminatory practices or policies
C)incivility
D)intimidation

Question 71

Women and men now each make up almost half of the workforce in the United States.

Question 72

Which of the following is an example of workplace discrimination in the form of exclusion?

A)Older workers may be targeted for layoffs because they are highly paid and have lucrative benefits.
B)African American employees at some companies have found racist graffiti in their work areas.
C)Female lawyers note that male attorneys frequently cut them off or do not adequately address their comments.
D)Many women in finance claim they are assigned to marginal job roles or are given light workloads that don't lead to promotion.

Question 73

Judging a person on the basis of one's perception of a group to which he or she belongs is known as ________.

A)integration
B)assimilation
C)stereotyping
D)prejudice

Question 74

U.S.federal law does not prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation.

Question 75

Kathleen likes cats.She believes people who own cats are independent and free spirits.She finds out Linda has a cat.Therefore,Linda is independent and free-spirited.In order,what is happening here?

A)prejudice,stereotyping,bias
B)stereotyping,bias,prejudice
C)bias,stereotyping,discrimination
D)bias,prejudice,stereotyping

Question 76

In the job setting,African Americans are found to receive lower job performance ratings,be paid less,and be promoted less frequently than their white counterparts.

Question 77

As a form of discrimination,incivility is said to occur when ________.

A)an employee is excluded from job opportunities or social events
B)an employee belonging to a specific group is overtly threatened or bullied
C)an employee's opinions are consciously ignored
D)an employee is denied equal opportunity to perform

Question 78

Which of the following examples would be considered appropriate stereotyping?

A)assuming women to be particularly bad drivers
B)bracketing working mothers as not being committed fully to their jobs
C)assuming red-haired people have rather nasty tempers
D)asking someone from accounting to help with a budgeting problem

Question 79

Employers generally tend to view older workers as not being flexible or adaptable and being more resistant to new technology.

Question 80

Research indicates that men tend to prefer jobs that encourage work-life balance more than women do.