Deck 16: Organizational Culture

Question 1

Jean works for HJC publishing which is a publisher of scientific journals. The company is dominated by low risk taking and high attention to detail. Jean's department is also committed to high team orientation and provides many team-building activities in which Jean and other department members work together and socialize. Which of the following statements best describes Jean's department?

A) It represents the dominant culture.
B) It does not include core values.
C) It is a subculture sharing core values.
D) The organizational culture is undefined.
E) It has low stability.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

________ orientation is the characteristic of organizational culture that addresses the degree to which management decisions take into consideration the effect of outcomes on people within the organization.

A) Humanistic
B) Community
C) Team
D) People
E) Relationship

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The key characteristic of organizational culture that addresses the degree to which people are competitive rather than easygoing is termed ________.

A) assertiveness
B) competitiveness
C) aversiveness
D) risk taking
E) aggressiveness

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The unanimity of a strong culture contributes to all of the following except ________.

A) cohesiveness
B) loyalty
C) higher product quality
D) organizational commitment
E) close ties between workers within the organization

Question 5

Cultures within an organization that are defined by departmental designations are often called ________.

A) micro-cultures
B) subcultures
C) divisional cultures
D) microcosms
E) counter cultures

Question 6

The macro view of culture that gives an organization its distinct personality is its ________ culture.

A) dominant
B) sub-
C) strong
D) national
E) marginal

Question 7

As organizations have widened spans of control, flattened structures, introduced teams, reduced formalization, and empowered employees, the ________ provided by a strong culture ensures that everyone is pointed in the same direction.

A) rules and regulations
B) shared meaning
C) rituals
D) socialization
E) rigid hierarchy

Question 8

Alessio's boss doesn't care whether Alessio works at home, at the office, or from his beach house. All he cares about is that the project is completed on time, on budget, and with exemplary quality. Which characteristic of organizational culture best describes this aspect of Alessio's job?

A) low risk taking
B) high outcome orientation
C) high attention to detail
D) low aggressiveness
E) high stability

Question 9

The primary or dominant values that are accepted throughout the organization are known as ________.

A) foundational values
B) core values
C) shared values
D) institutional traits
E) manifestos

Question 10

Culture performs all the following functions except ________.

A) displaying the dominance of particular organizations
B) enhancing social system stability
C) conveying a sense of identity for organization members
D) facilitating commitment to something larger than individual self-interest
E) defining boundaries

Question 11

A strong culture can act as a substitute for which of the following?

A) institutionalization
B) formalization
C) socialization
D) organizational rules
E) social support

Question 12

Janice works for a pet store in which everyone is absolutely committed to the happiness of the animals. Often employees, bosses and hourly workers alike, come into the store "off the clock" and spend time socializing and training the animals. Everyone loves the store, the animals, and their jobs. According to the information provided, Janice encounters a ________ in her job.

A) positive safety climate
B) positive performance climate
C) negative safety climate
D) positive diversity climate
E) negative performance climate

Question 13

Jose is a manager for a manufacturing company in which managers are expected to fully document all decisions, and it is important to provide detailed data to support any recommendations. Which characteristic of organizational culture best describes this aspect of Jose's job?

A) low team orientation
B) high aggressiveness
C) low risk taking
D) high stability
E) high people orientation

Question 14

High formalization in an organization creates all of the following except ________.

A) predictability
B) cohesiveness
C) orderliness
D) consistency
E) none of the above

Question 15

Which characteristic is not reflective of subcultures?

A) includes core values of the organization
B) typically defined by department designations
C) includes values shared only within the organization
D) can influence individuals behavior
E) includes values unique to members of a department or group

Question 16

In contrasting organizational culture with job satisfaction, organizational culture is a(n) ________ term, while job satisfaction is a(n) ________ term.

A) predictive; reactive
B) implied; stated
C) reflective; affective
D) descriptive; evaluative
E) inductive; deductive

Question 17

Which of the following is not a characteristic of organizational culture?

A) attention to detail
B) innovation
C) formality orientation
D) team orientation
E) outcome orientation

Question 18

Which of the following is most likely to result from a strong organizational culture?

A) low employee turnover
B) low employee satisfaction
C) high employee turnover
D) high absenteeism
E) none of the above

Question 19

Which of the following terms is part of the definition of a strong culture?

A) little influence over members' behavior
B) low behavioral controls
C) narrowly shared values
D) intensely held values
E) weakly held values

Question 20

________ are indicators of a strong organizational culture.

A) High levels of dissension
B) Weak managers
C) Completely horizontal organizational charts
D) Narrowly defined roles
E) Widely shared values

Question 21

The time when a new employee sees what the organization is really like and realizes that expectations and reality may diverge is called the ________ stage.

A) encounter
B) exploration
C) establishment
D) metamorphosis
E) mirroring

Question 22

Jennifer is opening a new clothing boutique and she wants to cultivate a positive, hip, culture at the store. Which of the following is not something that Jennifer could do to create the culture that she desires?

A) Hire sales staff that wears the style of clothing that she intends to promote.
B) Dress in very modern and hip fashions for her staff interviews.
C) Offer the staff flexible schedules that coordinate with their hobbies or studies.
D) Establish firm rules and dress codes during the staff orientation session.
E) Clearly express in a mission statement the type of service desired at the store.

Question 23

Institutionalization can be an asset and a liability. In which of the following situations is it a liability?

A) It doesn't go out of business when a leader is changed.
B) Acceptable modes of behavior are self evident to all.
C) Maintaining the organization becomes an end in itself.
D) The organization is valued for itself.
E) The organization has a life apart from the founders.

Question 24

Culture creation occurs in all of the following ways except when ________.

A) founders hire and keep employees who think and feel the way they do
B) founders indoctrinate and socialize employees to their way of thinking and feeling
C) founders develop their vision covertly
D) founders' behavior acts as a role model
E) founders refuse to be constrained by previous ideologies

Question 25

New employees are usually comfortable with their organizations by the end of the ________ stage of socialization.

A) encounter
B) exploration
C) establishment
D) metamorphosis
E) adaptation

Question 26

If there is a basic conflict between the individual's expectations and the reality of working in an organization, the employee is most likely to be disillusioned and quit during which stage of socialization?

A) prearrival
B) ritual
C) encounter
D) metamorphosis
E) reflection

Question 27

The selection process helps candidates learn about an organization. If employees perceive a conflict between their values and those of the organization, this gives them a chance to ________.

A) work to change the organization
B) express their concerns
C) inform the organization of appropriate changes
D) self-select out of the applicant pool
E) rectify their cognitive dissonance

Question 28

All of the following are factors that serve to sustain organizational cultures except ________.

A) selection
B) orientation
C) socialization
D) top management
E) frugality

Question 29

The ultimate source of an organization's culture is ________.

A) top management
B) the environment
C) the country in which the organization operates
D) the organization's founders
E) the belief systems of it employees

Question 30

In recent years, ________ has become the primary concern in acquisitions and mergers.

A) cultural compatibility
B) cultural synergy
C) financial advantages
D) product synergy
E) value dominance

Question 31

The correct order for the stages of the socialization process is ________.

A) prearrival, metamorphosis, encounter
B) prearrival, encounter, ritual
C) prearrival, ritual, encounter
D) prearrival, encounter, metamorphosis
E) prearrival, ritual, arrival

Question 32

The selection process helps sustain the organization's culture by ________.

A) establishing and enforcing norms
B) ensuring that candidates fit well within the organization
C) socializing the applicant
D) identifying individuals who have the skills to perform certain jobs
E) rewarding conformity

Question 33

Top management has a major impact on the organization's culture through ________.

A) establishing norms that filter down through the organization
B) ensuring a proper match of personal and organizational values
C) socializing new applicants in the pre-hiring phase
D) providing a framework for metamorphosis of new hires
E) properly rewarding management's initiatives

Question 34

The employee compares her expectations to organizational reality in which stage of socialization?

A) prearrival
B) encounter
C) metamorphosis
D) ritual
E) analysis

Question 35

The process through which employees are adapted to an organization's culture is called ________.

A) personalization
B) mentoring
C) socialization
D) institutionalization
E) intimidation

Question 36

Elsa joined her new law firm expecting to have a part in exciting environmental law cases, and cutting edge research. After one month at the firm she still hasn't been assigned a case and spends most of her time filing standardized appeals for title disputes with insurance companies. In which stage of the socialization process is Elsa?

A) prearrival
B) encounter
C) metamorphosis
D) ritual
E) systemic

Question 37

Javier is starting a job for an advertising agency as a graphic designer. He is highly creative. Which of the following socialization options would be least effective in Javier's cultural socialization process?

A) Javier in allowed to begin designing a small portion of a project without any formal training.
B) Javier's boss feels that Javier's skills and experience require little training.
C) Javier is not expected to advance to taking on his own project until he's ready
D) Javier is appointed a mentor and is told he must follow his mentor's directions.
E) Javier is socialized through lunches with each of his team members.

Question 38

Culture is most likely to be a liability when ________.

A) it increases the consistency of behavior
B) the organization's environment is dynamic
C) the organization's management is ineffectual
D) it reduces ambiguity
E) countercultures are integrated into the dominant cultures

Question 39

Consistency of behavior is an asset to an organization when it faces ________.

A) a dynamic environment
B) an unknown environment
C) social upheaval
D) massive changes
E) a stable environment

Question 40

Which of the following is not a means of transmitting culture within an organization?

A) stories
B) aversion therapy
C) rituals
D) language
E) material symbols

Question 41

Which of the following is not a message conveyed by material symbols?

A) who is important
B) top management's egalitarianism
C) who is going to be hired or fired
D) appropriate risk-taking behavior
E) appropriate authoritarian behavior

Question 42

Which of the following is not an example of stories?

A) how the new standard operating procedures will be implemented
B) how the founders started the company
C) how the workforce grew from three to three hundred in one year
D) how the company had to cut one thousand employees last year
E) how the company redesigned their product after near bankruptcy

Question 43

All of the following are examples of material symbols except ________.

A) top executives' use of the company jet
B) a swimming pool for the employees to use
C) new employee orientations
D) luxury cars for executives
E) private parking spots

Question 44

Which of the following is not a common cultural characteristic evident in a spiritual organization?

A) strong sense of purpose
B) trust and respect
C) material symbols
D) humanistic work practices
E) toleration of employee expression

Question 45

A corporation that makes sure that all of their products are purchased directly from the producers, effectively eliminating the middle-man, and striving for fair trade practices is engaging in ________, a common element of a spiritual organization.

A) strong sense of purpose
B) trust and respect
C) material symbols
D) humanistic work practices
E) toleration of employee expression

Question 46

Larry has an employee that is amazing at clearly seeing rules and enforcing them. He has recently promoted her to the lead position in quality assurance. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Larry utilizing?

A) rewarding more than punishing
B) building on organization strengths
C) emphasize individual growth
D) building on employee strengths
E) emphasizing organizational vitality and growth

Question 47

An organizational culture most likely to shape high ethical standards is one that ________.

A) is high in risk tolerance
B) is low-to-moderate in aggressiveness
C) focuses on means as well as outcomes
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 48

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture ________.

A) have organized religious practices
B) adopt a corporate religion
C) recognize that people have both a mind and a spirit
D) de-emphasize community in the work place
E) tend to downplay the importance of employee satisfaction

Question 49

All of the following are examples of rituals except ________.

A) anniversary parties honoring long-time employees
B) annual award meetings
C) fraternity initiations
D) the placement of offices within corporate headquarters
E) singing company songs

Question 50

To create a more ethical culture, management should do all of the following except ________.

A) serve as a visible role model
B) cover up unethical acts
C) provide ethical training
D) communicate ethical expectations
E) provide protective mechanisms

Question 51

Phil is new at JPS Corp, but after a week he already knows that the founder of the corporation started the business in his garage with only $10,000 and one client. This information was most likely transmitted to Phil by way of ________.

A) stories
B) material symbols
C) rituals
D) language
E) reflections

Question 52

Phyllis works for a corporation that recently fired three top managers who were caught using the company credit cards to lavishly furnish their offices and even purchase "office" furniture that was found in their personal homes. Which method of maintaining an ethical culture is Phyllis's company pursuing?

A) serve as a visible role model
B) communicate ethical expectations
C) provide ethical training
D) visibly punish unethical acts
E) provide protective mechanisms

Question 53

When looking at an e-mail from one of her project managers, Patricia noticed that the e-mail was sent at nine-thirty in the evening. The next day she personally went to the employee's cubicle and told him how much she appreciated him staying late to get the project to the client on time. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Patricia utilizing?

A) rewarding more than punishing
B) building on organization strengths
C) emphasize individual growth
D) building on employee strengths
E) emphasizing organizational vitality and growth

Question 54

Which one of the following terms is not a component of rituals?

A) material symbols
B) sequenced activities
C) repetition
D) key values
E) reinforcement

Question 55

Rituals perform all of the following functions except that of ________.

A) reinforcing the key values of the organization
B) emphasizing the organization's goals
C) revealing the company's bottom line in terms of net profit
D) reinforcing the company's perspective on which people are important
E) revealing the company's view of which people are expendable

Question 56

What does a positive organizational culture do?

A) uses negative reinforcement and punishment
B) rarely uses rewards
C) emphasizes individual growth
D) emphasizes building on the organization's strengths
E) emphasizes organizational vitality

Question 57

________ help(s) employees understand the history and past actions of an organization, and make the current organizational culture more legitimate.

A) Stories
B) Material symbols
C) Rituals
D) Language
E) Reflections

Question 58

________ typically contain(s) a narrative of events about the organization's founders, rule breaking, or reactions to past mistakes.

A) Stories
B) Material symbols
C) Rituals
D) Language
E) Reflections

Question 59

HUP corporation discussed the economic downturn with all of the employees and offered them the option to have the entire corporation reduce their hours to a part time status, or force management to reduce the staff by fifteen percent. Management allowed the employees to vote on the best method, and they chose to go part time. HUP is engaging in ________, a common element of a spiritual organization.

A) strong sense of purpose
B) trust and respect
C) material symbols
D) humanistic work practices
E) toleration of employee expression

Question 60

Barbara is the lead editor for a small, city newspaper. One of her advertising sales representatives is pulling in a lot of restaurant clients. Barbara realizes that the representative is quite knowledgeable about food and speaks quite elegantly when describing different dishes. She has begun discussing with the representative the possibility of collaborating with a writer to include a weekly restaurant review, which includes the representative on the by-line. After the first couple of reviews, the representative is able to increase ad sizes and sales. He is very happy with his new job diversification. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Barbara utilizing?

A) rewarding more than punishing
B) building on organization strengths
C) emphasize individual growth
D) creating loose management oversight
E) emphasizing organizational vitality and growth

Question 61

Organizational cultures often reflect national cultures.

Question 62

The success of a merger depends most strongly upon the example set by the top management of the merged organizations.

Question 63

The stage of socialization where an individual confronts the possible dichotomy between her expectations and reality is the encounter stage.

Question 64

Which of the following is not a criticism of the idea of the spiritual organizational culture?

A) there is very little research
B) work and religion should be separate
C) spirituality and profits aren't compatible
D) it helps people find purpose in work
E) there is no scientific foundation

Question 65

Research demonstrates that subcultures act to undermine the dominant culture.

Question 66

Material symbols convey to employees the degree of egalitarianism that is desired by top management.

Question 67

A strong company that encourages pushing the limits can be a powerful force in shaping unethical behavior.

Question 68

How might U.S. managers be culturally sensitive?

A) discuss religion more
B) discuss politics frequently
C) listen more
D) speak quickly
E) talk in a high tone of voice

Question 69

The commitment to finding employment for graduates is part of the ________.

A) subculture of the business department
B) management culture
C) dominant culture
D) mission statement
E) none of the above

Question 70

Individuals with different backgrounds in an organization will tend to describe the organization's culture in similar terms.

Question 71

All organizations within an industry use the terminology designated by the industry so that their employees can move freely from organization to organization.

Question 72

A strong culture can be a liability for an organization.

Question 73

Which of the following is not a general perception that the international business community has of U.S. managers?

A) arrogant
B) loud
C) self-absorbed
D) capitalist
E) unethical

Question 74

The belief in a liberal arts education is part of the ________ of the college.

A) subculture of the business department

Question 75

The most potent means of transmitting culture to employees are stories, rituals, related symbols, and language.

Question 76

Management can create more ethical cultures through the following means: acting as visible role models, communicating ethical expectations, providing ethical training, visibly rewarding ethical acts and punishing unethical ones, and providing protective mechanisms.

Question 77

Evidence shows that spirituality and profits may be compatible objectives.

Question 78

Senior executives establish norms that filter down through the organization as to whether risk taking is desirable.

Question 79

The degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks is termed aggressiveness.

Question 80

In the socialization process, the period of learning that occurs before a new employee joins an organization is termed the encounter stage.