Deck 12: Power and Politics

Question 1

LearnIT creates multilingual interactive electronic dictionaries.Currently,the company is unable to launch its new product line because the products consume too much power,resulting in a very short battery life.Finding a new power source for its products is essential. A company that could provide the solution to this problem would have ______ over LearnIT.

A)dependency
B)power
C)management
D)leadership

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The difference between power and leadership rests on the leader's:

A)downward influence on followers.
B)lateral influence between leaders and followers.
C)reciprocal influence between the follower and leader.
D)upward influence between the follower and leader.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

________ requires some congruence between the goals of the leader and those being led.

A)Communication
B)Information
C)Power
D)Leadership

Answer 3

D

Question 4

________ research emphasises style,whereas research on ________ focuses on tactics for gaining compliance.

A)Power; persuasion
B)Leadership; power
C)Communication; politics
D)Politics; leadership

Question 5

Power is a function of dependency.

Question 6

Power,unlike leadership,focuses on downward influence patterns.

Question 7

The threat of writing somebody out of your will is a demonstration of politics in action.

Question 8

Leaders use power as:

A)counterproductive to goal achievement.
B)usually used by poor leaders.
C)an indicator of a good leader.
D)a means of achieving group goals.

Question 9

________ does NOT require goal compatibility,merely dependence.

A)Power
B)Leadership
C)Communication
D)Information

Question 10

Power refers to a capacity where A has to influence the behaviour of B so that B acts in accordance with C's wishes.

Question 11

Power is:

A)being rewarded by others.
B)the ability to influence others.
C)equal to sexual harassment.
D)a dependency upon others.

Question 12

Power,unlike leadership,does NOT require a significant degree of goal compatibility,merely dependence.

Question 13

A person can have power over you only if he or she controls something you desire.

Question 14

Which of the following is true concerning power?

A)A person can have power over you only if he or she controls something you desire.
B)The most important aspect of power is that it is a function of dependency.
C)The threat of writing family members out of the will is an example of power.
D)All of the above.

Question 15

The difference between power and leadership rests on the latter's:

A)focus on rules and regulations.
B)goal congruence between the leader and follower.
C)focus on dependant relationships.
D)vision alignment between the follower and the organisation.

Question 16

Which one of the following is NOT implied in the definition of power?

A)dependency
B)potential
C)influence
D)discretion

Question 17

The most important aspect of power is that it:

A)is counterproductive.
B)tends to corrupt people.
C)is a function of dependency.
D)is needed to get things done in an organisation.

Question 18

Good leaders influence all outcomes through the use of power,no matter what the cost.

Question 19

If your supervisor has the final decision on who will make the presentation,she has:

A)a means of reaching the groups goals.
B)tactics for gaining compliance.
C)power over you and your co-workers.
D)focused on lateral influence.

Question 20

________ focuses on the downward influence of one's followers.

A)Information
B)Leadership
C)Power
D)Communication

Question 21

Legitimate power is based on:

A)position.
B)fear.
C)knowledge.
D)rewards.

Question 22

________ is based on an individual's position in an organisation.

A)Informal power
B)Influence
C)Leadership
D)Formal power

Question 23

How is 'power' defined?

Question 24

Contrast leadership and power.

Question 25

________ power and ________ power are opposites of each other.

A)Coercive; expert
B)Referent; reward
C)Reward; coercive
D)Expert; reward

Question 26

The power a person receives as a result of a position on the organisational chart is known as ________ power.

A)coercive
B)reward
C)expert
D)legitimate

Question 27

A has ________ power over B if A can dismiss,suspend,or demote B,assuming that B values his or her job.

A)reward
B)legitimate
C)coercive
D)referent

Question 28

The control over recognition,interesting assignments and preferred work shifts are examples of ________ power.

A)positive reinforcement
B)coercive
C)reward
D)persuasive

Question 29

Ian is a manager within his organisation.When sending his staff on training courses,Ian always ensures that the training programs are compatible with the interests and career paths of his employees. In this scenario,Ian's actions would be most similar to:

A)power.
B)dependency.
C)leadership.
D)decision making.

Question 30

Tyler was very quiet during today's meeting: it is likely he is withholding information.This kind of power is known as:

A)position.
B)knowledge.
C)persuasive.
D)coercive.

Question 31

'Bases of power' refer to:

A)the elements of power.
B)power characteristics.
C)whether the power position has a good foundation.
D)sources of power.

Question 32

When your superior offers you a raise if you will perform additional work beyond the requirements of your job,he or she is exercising ________ power.

A)reward
B)referent
C)expert
D)coercive

Question 33

When your supervisor has a short temper and you are afraid of upsetting her,she is exhibiting what type of power?

A)coercive
B)referent
C)legitimate
D)reward

Question 34

________ power comes from an individual's unique characteristics.

A)Expert
B)Personal
C)Legitimate
D)Reward

Question 35

One reacts to ________ power out of fear of the negative ramifications that might result if one fails to comply.

A)knowledge
B)influence
C)persuasive
D)coercive

Question 36

LearnIT creates multilingual interactive electronic dictionaries.Currently,the company is unable to launch its new product line because the products consume too much power,resulting in a very short battery life.Finding a new power source for its products is essential. A way of reducing any dependency arising through a supplier of better power sources is to:

A)find multiple suppliers of similar power sources.
B)increase the importance of the power source to the overall design.
C)alert consumers to the availability of alternative power sources.
D)none of the above.

Question 37

________ power is broader than the power to coerce and reward.

A)Coercive
B)Legitimate
C)Expert
D)Reward

Question 38

The power that the dean has been granted by the University over the faculty is termed ________ power.

A)legitimate
B)coercive
C)reward
D)expert

Question 39

The opposite of coercive power is ________ power.

A)reward
B)referent
C)legitimate
D)coercive

Question 40

Formal power can come from:

A)formal authority.
B)the ability to coerce.
C)the ability to reward.
D)all of the above.

Question 41

For reward power to be effective,the rewards must be financial.

Question 42

Legitimate power represents the formal authority to control and use organisational resources based on structural position in the organisation.

Question 43

Your physician has advised you to take a series of medications.You comply because of her ________ power.

A)reward
B)coercive
C)expert
D)legitimate

Question 44

Legitimate power comes from an individual's unique characteristics.

Question 45

Both expert and referent power are positively related to employees' satisfaction with supervision,their organisational commitment and their performance,whereas reward and legitimate power seem to be unrelated to these outcomes.

Question 46

If A can assign B work activities that B finds unpleasant,or treat B in a manner that B finds embarrassing,A possesses expert power over B.

Question 47

Expert power is influence wielded as a result of special skill or knowledge.

Question 48

A famous AFL player's power to influence your buying behaviour through commercial endorsements is based on his expertise at leading a football team and his ability to kick a football.

Question 49

You must have a formal position in an organisation to have power.

Question 50

'Expert power' refers to influence that derives from:

A)politics.
B)position.
C)educational institutions.
D)special skills or knowledge.

Question 51

Coercive power is a source of formal power.

Question 52

Some people who are not in formal leadership positions nonetheless have referent power and exert influence over others because of their:

A)charismatic dynamism.
B)emotional effects.
C)likability.
D)all of the above.

Question 53

Reward power rests on the allocation of things others view as valuable.

Question 54

If I like,respect and admire you,you have referent power over me.

Question 55

Referent power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits.

Question 56

Celebrities are paid millions of dollars to endorse products in commercials because the advertisers believe the celebrities have ________ power.

A)reward
B)coercive
C)referent
D)expert

Question 57

If A can assign B tasks that A knows is unpleasant,A possesses coercive power over B.

Question 58

________ power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits.

A)Legitimate
B)Coercive
C)Expert
D)Referent

Question 59

Jake has been promoted to Senior Vice President,a position that gives him legitimate power.

Question 60

Charismatic dynamism is an extension of referent power.

Question 61

List and discuss the bases of formal power.

Question 62

Your colleagues at work are constantly talking about the company's vice president.He is feared throughout the organisation as a ruthless man who is not to be antagonised.It is necessary for you to bring him a report and you are very nervous about having to deal with him. One of the vice president's major bases of power seems to be:

A)reward.
B)coercive.
C)expert.
D)referent.

Question 63

A product which is difficult to replace is:

A)scarce.
B)non-substitutable.
C)valuable.
D)important.

Question 64

Your colleagues at work are constantly talking about the company's vice president.He is feared throughout the organisation as a ruthless man who is not to be antagonised.It is necessary for you to bring him a report and you are very nervous about having to deal with him. You know that the vice president has the authority to accept or reject your report.This is part of his ________ power.

A)legitimate
B)expert
C)reward
D)coercive

Question 65

The greater B's dependence on A,the greater is B's power in the relationship.

Question 66

Power is increased by possession of something that is plentiful and easily available.

Question 67

Shellie is avoiding ________ by developing relationships with multiple suppliers rather than give her business to only one.

A)knowledge
B)power
C)dependency
D)independence

Question 68

A product that is in high demand but is difficult to supply is:

A)scarce.
B)non-substitutable.
C)valuable.
D)important.

Question 69

Dependency explains why organisations use single suppliers.

Question 70

Dependency is decreased when the resource you control is:

A)scarce.
B)highly substitutable.
C)perceived as non-substitutable.
D)important.

Question 71

The ________ relationship can be seen in the power of occupational categories.In occupations where supply is low relative to demand,compensation is more attractive.

A)referent power
B)scarcity-dependency
C)importance-dependency
D)substitutability

Question 72

Your colleagues at work are constantly talking about the company's vice president.He is feared throughout the organisation as a ruthless man who is not to be antagonised.It is necessary for you to bring him a report and you are very nervous about having to deal with him. The one base of power that the vice president does NOT seem to have is:

A)legitimate.
B)coercive.
C)referent.
D)reward.

Question 73

Dependency can be limited by:

A)exerting power over others.
B)establishing a knowledge source.
C)creating alternative sources of supply.
D)spending financial resources.

Question 74

Organisations have people with charismatic qualities endorse products; they are able to exert influence over others due to their celebrity status.

Question 75

Which of the following variables create dependency?

A)non-substitutability
B)importance
C)scarcity
D)all of the above

Question 76

Research suggests that the reward sources of power are the most effective.

Question 77

If you can make people dependent upon you,your power is increased.

Question 78

List and discuss the bases of personal power.

Question 79

To create dependency,the thing you control must be perceived as being important.

Question 80

An understanding of dependency is central to understanding power.