Deck 8: Managing a New and Diverse Workforce

Question 1

The average age of U.S.workers is gradually decreasing.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Managing a diverse organization effectively involves:

A) acknowledging differences among people.
B) ethnocentric staffing strategies.
C) assigning organizational roles based on group identity.
D) mandatory inclusion of minorities into the workforce.
E) reduced integration of its informal network.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Equitable treatment of employees in an organization primarily involves:

A) preventing harassment.
B) accommodating differences.
C) compensation issues.
D) identical treatment.
E) accommodating employee demands.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Diversity is a potential source of conflict in organizations.

Question 5

A glass ceiling is best described as a(n) _____.

A) gender-related problem
B) race-specific issue
C) program in diversity training
D) specific organizational culture
E) process in knowledge management

Question 6

The marketing argument for diversity assumes that diverse companies will have a better understanding of their different market segments.

Question 7

Language training forms a part of diversity training.

Question 8

The contemporary perspective on workforce diversity states that:

A) ​equitable treatment of employees is simpler and cost less in the short run.
B) diversity seldom becomes a source of conflict in organizations.
C) it is difficult to achieve high levels of productivity in organizations that have a diverse workforce.
D) it is appropriate toacknowledge differences among people as long as peopleare treated fairly.
E) equal treatment makes an organization too informal to be a desirable place to work.

Question 9

Understanding fundamental cultural differences increases one's tolerance in a diverse workforce.

Question 10

Growing birthrates among the post-baby boom generations thataccount for larger percentagesof new entrants into the labor force have changed the average age of U.S.workers.

Question 11

Liz is talking to her friend about the existence of a glass ceiling in her organization.Liz is referring to discrimination due to _____.

A) age
B) gender
C) race
D) nationality
E) disability

Question 12

The major policy through which a company can present its position on diversity is its mission statement.

Question 13

Prison inmates are not paid for their labor.

Question 14

Glass ceiling refers to the obstacles faced by people with disabilities at the workplace.

Question 15

Which of the following legislations requires employers to treat all people fairly in the workplace?

A) The Equal Pay Act
B) The Civil Rights Act
C) The Americans with Disabilities Act
D) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act
E) The Wagner Act

Question 16

Which of the following is true of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

A) It mandates that organizations must provide all the accommodations requested by employees with disabilities
B) It specifies different criteria for dealing with disabilities in men and women.
C) It focuses only on those disabilities that are permanent in nature.
D) It states that organizations should provide the accommodation requested by a disabled person only if other employees agree to it.
E) It presents a challenge to managers when attempting to treat all employees equitably.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of equitable treatment of employees?

A) It is less preferred by employees as compared to identical treatment.
B) It is not significant unless an organization is completely diverse.
C) It gives everyone a better chance to contribute and advance in an organization.
D) It may not always be fair to employees.
E) It is much less complicated than identical treatment of employees.

Question 18

Pam works as a floor supervisor in a garment manufacturing company.She has been in this position for the last six years and is unable to move to the next level because of her superiors' reluctance to promote her.Pam is most likely unable to advance to a higher level because of:

A) poor evaluations
B) career tracking
C) reverse discrimination
D) a glass ceiling
E) the mother syndrome

Question 19

Which of the following is true of the workforce diversity in the United States?

A) The number of women in the workforce has steadily declined over the years.
B) Ethnocentricity has been actively endorsed in diverse organizations.
C) Organizations are making efforts to reduce diversity in organizations.
D) Legislations have restricted employment opportunities of the disabled.
E) The average age of the workforce has increased over the years.

Question 20

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act considers it appropriate toacknowledge differences among people as long as peopleare treated fairly.

Question 21

_____ training is offered in organizations to help individuals function better in a multicultural organization.

A) Diversity
B) Technical
C) Integration
D) Academic
E) Structural

Question 22

Charles, a manager in a multinational company, leads a team with people from various countries.Although he does not like certain behaviors shown by these people, he accepts them as fundamental cultural differences between him and the members of his team.Therefore, Charles is dealing with diversity in his team by means of _____.

A) pluralism
B) integration
C) empathy
D) tolerance
E) altruism

Question 23

Managing diversity in an organization starts with:

A) increasing the recruitment of diverse employees.
B) designing a rigid organizational system.
C) framing appropriate organizational practices.
D) restricting the hiring of minorities.
E) treating all employees identically.

Question 24

When every group in a company strives to understand other groups, the company is said to be characterized by _____.

A) pluralism
B) full structural integration
C) stereotypes
D) low levels of intergroup conflict
E) xenocentrism

Question 25

The process by which a company adapts to its environment is called _____.

A) organizational pluralism
B) organizational memory
C) organizational diversification
D) organizational synergy
E) organizational learning

Question 26

Which of the following is the best description of empathy?

A) Understanding that differences exist among people
B) Tolerating behavior of others even though you do not understand it
C) Openly discussing problems that you have with others
D) Understanding the perspectives of others who are different
E) Treating people fairly and equitably

Question 27

The creativity argument for diversity suggests that more diverse organizations will be more competitive because they tend to:

A) be better able to understand different market segments.
B) be characterized by multiple perspectives and ways of thinking.
C) be better able to respond to changes in environment.
D) become known among women and minorities as good places to work.
E) have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism.

Question 28

Employees who add value to a firm simply because of what they know are called _____ workers.

A) knowledge
B) probationary
C) special
D) executive
E) communication

Question 29

Which of the following arguments for diversity considers diversity in organizations as an opportunity to attract the right talent from minority groups?

A) The systems flexibility argument
B) The problem-solving argument
C) The cost argument
D) The marketing argument
E) The resource acquisition argument

Question 30

Which of the following best describes a multicultural organization?

A) A corporation that does business in many different countries
B) A company that hires people of all races
C) A company where the top managers are all male
D) A business that does not discriminate in providing services to its customers
E) A firm that capitalizes on diversity and has no identifiable minority groups

Question 31

If the diversity within an organization is NOT anaccurate reflection of the organization's external labormarket, which of the following has the organization failed to achieve?

A) Pluralism
B) Low levels of internal conflict
C) Full integration of the informal network within the organization
D) Absence of discrimination
E) Full structural integration

Question 32

Who among the following is most likely to encounter a glass ceiling at work?

A) Men
B) Older workers
C) Expatriates
D) Knowledge workers
E) Women

Question 33

The problem-solving argument for diversity suggests that more diverse organizations will be more competitive because they tend to:

A) easily understand different markets.
B) have a larger pool of unique information.
C) be better able to respond to changes in its environment.
D) become known among women and minorities as good places to work.
E) have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism.

Question 34

The systems flexibility argument for diversitysuggests that diverse organizations are better able to face competition because they will:

A) be better able to understand different market segments.
B) be characterized by multiple perspectives and ways of thinking.
C) be better equipped to respond to changes in its environment.
D) become known among women and minorities as good places to work.
E) have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism.

Question 35

The _____ argument for diversity suggests that organizations that do a poor jobof managing diversity will sufferfrom problems of lower productivity and higher levelsof turnover and absenteeism.

A) resource acquisition
B) problem-solving
C) cost
D) creativity
E) systems flexibility

Question 36

Offering foreign language courses to employees in a multicultural organization is an example of _____.

A) organizational learning
B) behavior modification
C) knowledge management
D) diversity training
E) equitable treatment

Question 37

Which of the following is true of the strategies for dealing with diversity?

A) Offensive behavior by a person should be pointed out in a friendly low-key manner.
B) Tolerance of unique behaviors implies endorsing those behaviors.
C) Rigid organizational practices are the solution to effective diversity management.
D) Understanding individual differences involves accommodating all types of behaviors.
E) Empathy can lead to prejudice and discrimination.

Question 38

Shine Institute provides vocational training to underprivileged women.The institute also helps them find jobs, thereby making them financially independent.Which of the following best describes the activities of Shine Institute?

A) Corporate social responsibility
B) Affirmative action
C) Corporate entrepreneurship
D) Social entrepreneurship
E) Diversity training

Question 39

AB Inc.is a multicultural software company.The employees form several groups for extracurricular activities.Employees are free to join these groups irrespective of their age, gender, or ethnicity.Which of the following characteristics of a multicultural organization is seen in AB Inc.?

A) Pluralism
B) Full structural integration
C) Xenocentrism
D) Low levels of intergroup conflict
E) Integration of informal networks

Question 40

Which of the following involves making allowances for differences in opinion, approach or behavior even without having to accept or agree with them?

A) Understanding
B) Communication
C) Empathy
D) Tolerance
E) Training

Question 41

Scenario 8.1
Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm.The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group.Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement.A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds.Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them.He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.
Refer to Scenario 8.1.Which of the following arguments can Ray NOT use for justifying the contribution of diversity to competitiveness?

A) Diversity leads to higher levels of productivity and lower levels of absenteeism.
B) Diversity creates a better understanding of different market segments and how to market products to them.
C) Diversity is likely to generate new ideas and better ways of doing things.
D) Diversity creates a larger pool of unique information that can be brought to bear on problems.
E) Diversity narrows the perspective of organizations, permitting them to make decisions more quickly.

Question 42

Scenario 8.1
Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm.The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group.Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement.A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds.Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them.He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.
Refer to Scenario 8.1.Ray understands that an increase in diversity will require certain individual strategies for dealing with multiculturalism.Which of the following is NOT such a strategy?

A) Understanding
B) Separation
C) Empathy
D) Tolerance
E) Communication

Question 43

What are the fundamental similarities and differences among people at work?

Question 44

Scenario 8.1
Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm.The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group.Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement.A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds.Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them.He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.
Refer to Scenario 8.1.Ray is concerned that if he hires female managers, they may not be given opportunities to advance to top management positions in the firm.Therefore, Ray is concerned about:

A) racial discrimination.
B) accommodations that might be legally required.
C) glass ceiling.
D) diversity training.
E) communication barriers.

Question 45

What are the factors that have led to increased diversity of workforce?

Question 46

Scenario 8.1
Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm.The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group.Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement.A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds.Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them.He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.
Refer to Scenario 8.1.If Ray decides to make the organization truly diverse, it is most likely that the organization would be:

A) free of conflict.
B) short of initiatives.
C) divided on a cultural basis.
D) composed of several subgroups.
E) less integrated at informal levels.

Question 47

Discuss the characteristics of a multicultural organization.

Question 48

Summarize the six arguments that are used to describe how diversity contributes to competitiveness.

Question 49

Explain the contemporary perspective on workforce diversity with an example.

Question 50

Scenario 8.1
Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm.The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group.Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement.A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds.Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them.He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.
Refer to Scenario 8.1.Ray wants to find a good example of an organization that is truly multicultural.Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of such an organization?

A) Equal influence on organizational culture and fundamental norms by all groups
B) Low levels of internal conflict
C) Absence of barriers for entry and participation in any organizational activity
D) Identification of organizational roles with particular cultural groups
E) Accurate reflection of the market in the diversity of the organization