Deck 1: What Is Organizational Behavior

Question 1

Lesley Torres is a project manager for the campaign "Action against Deforestation in Indonesia". She recently faced a glitch when the campaign could not be launched publicly according to schedule. Torres monitored the schedule to find the cause of the delay, before speeding up the implementation process by allocating more members for the implementation phase. By doing this, which of the following functions is she performing?

A) controlling
B) planning
C) formulating
D) leading
E) organizing

Answer 1

A

Question 2

________ are defined as people who oversee the activities of others and who are responsible for attaining goals in organizations.

A) Assistants
B) Managers
C) Secretaries
D) Interns
E) Apprentices

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to Henry Mintzberg, a factory supervisor giving a group of high school students a tour of the plant may be termed as a ________.

A) leader
B) figurehead
C) resource allocator
D) negotiator
E) disturbance handler

Answer 3

B

Question 4

According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, a(n) ________ searches the organization and its environment for opportunities and initiates projects to bring about change.

A) spokesperson
B) disturbance handler
C) entrepreneur
D) resource allocator
E) negotiator

Question 5

According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a(n) ________ is to transmit information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization.

A) entrepreneur
B) resource allocator
C) spokesperson
D) leader
E) disseminator

Question 6

Joann Hayes is currently working on a project to tackle climate change. During the project, she needs to find different options to replace the use of non-renewable energy and check the feasibility of different renewable energy options before choosing the most practical one. Which of the following skills does Hayes primarily need to use for these tasks?

A) human skills
B) interpersonal skills
C) conceptual skills
D) communication skills
E) interactive skills

Question 7

Which of the following is true of technical skills?

A) They can be learned only through formal education.
B) They encompass the ability to apply specialized knowledge.
C) They are not required at all kinds of jobs.
D) They are monopolized by professionals.
E) They comprise the ability to understand and motivate people.

Question 8

The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, may be defined as ________ .

A) human skills
B) technical skills
C) conceptual skills
D) cognitive skills
E) analytical skills

Question 9

The role of a ________ is a type of informational role according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles.

A) figurehead
B) disseminator
C) liaison
D) entrepreneur
E) negotiator

Question 10

Sally Mitchell works as a manager at an environmental organization. She is currently working on a global warming project and decides what tasks related to creating awareness about the issue need to be done. In addition, she is also deciding which members of her team will work on engaging with the public and which will work on lobbying with the government. She is also assigning people as team members to ensure that tasks are undertaken on time. Which of the following categories of functions is Mitchell undertaking?

A) planning
B) organizing
C) scrutinizing
D) controlling
E) envisioning

Question 11

Ellen Ortiz works as a sales manager at a telecom firm. The company has recently launched a new product in the market. Her work in the next few weeks involves sharing knowledge about the product with her team members. She will also need to inspire them to reach their sales targets, and clarify any doubts about the new product. Which of the following roles is Ortiz playing?

A) leader
B) liaison
C) disseminator
D) spokesperson
E) negotiator

Question 12

Melissa Woods was recently hired as the campaign manager at an environmental organization. She has a degree in environmental sustainability and possesses substantial knowledge about the issue of global warming. She has the knowledge to lead the public relations team of the organization. However, a few months later, the board of directors of the organization expressed dissatisfaction with Melissa's performance and asked her to resign. Which of the following, if true, best explains this situation?

A) Melissa had no prior experience in research and development.
B) Melissa had weak interpersonal and networking skills to run the project.
C) Melissa focused on the results her team achieved rather than how they achieved those results.
D) Melissa is not up-to-date about the feasibility of using different modes of renewable energy.
E) Melissa had a diverse network of contacts established from her previous job.

Question 13

Regina George works as a campaign manager in a not-for-profit organization in Hampshire. For the upcoming campaign against genetic engineering, she is networking with managers who are working on the issue of food safety. Through her network of contacts, she strives to gain information about the stakeholders in the food industry and other lobby groups. Which of the following roles is George most likely to be playing according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles?

A) figurehead
B) leader
C) liaison
D) entrepreneur
E) resource allocator

Question 14

According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, which of the following is a kind of decisional role?

A) negotiator
B) disseminator
C) liaison
D) spokesperson
E) monitor

Question 15

Johanna Reid, a campaign manager at a child rights organization, recently started working on an illiteracy project. During the project, she needs to motivate team members to attain their project milestones and direct them through different phases of the project. Which of the following kinds of functions will these tasks be covered under?

A) planning
B) organizing
C) scrutinizing
D) evaluating
E) leading

Question 16

According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a(n) ________ is to make or approve significant organizational decisions and assign human, physical, and monetary assets.

A) disseminator
B) liaison
C) entrepreneur
D) resource allocator
E) entrepreneur

Question 17

According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, which of the following is a kind of interpersonal role?

A) monitor
B) disseminator
C) spokesperson
D) entrepreneur
E) liaison

Question 18

Which of the following functions do managers undertake as part of planning functions?

A) defining an organization's goals
B) implementing strategies for achieving goals
C) executing plans to integrate activities
D) accomplishing goals of a project
E) employing strategies to coordinate tasks

Question 19

Annette Simpson works for a fashion house in Paris and is preparing for the company's upcoming line of winter clothing. She is currently researching online to know what is in vogue this season. In addition, she is also networking with contacts from the press and fashion magazine editors to understand the changing tastes of consumers. Which of the following roles is Simpson playing according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles?

A) figurehead
B) leader
C) symbol head
D) monitor
E) spokesperson

Question 20

The role of a(n) ________, according to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, is to transmit information to outsiders about an organization's plans, policies, actions, and results and one which serves as an expert in the organization's industry.

A) spokesperson
B) disturbance handler
C) entrepreneur
D) leader
E) liaison

Question 21

Which of the following is true of systematic study?

A) It attributes causes and effects based on intuition.
B) It involves supporting decisions based on gut feelings.
C) It analyzes relationships based on previous experiences.
D) It involves analyzing relationships based on scientific data.
E) It involves taking action based on instinct.

Question 22

________ refers to basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific proof.

A) Emergency management
B) Personal knowledge management
C) Property management
D) Evidence-based management
E) Knowledge management

Question 23

________ refers to a gut feeling not necessarily supported by research.

A) Intuition
B) Reasoning
C) Rationality
D) Logic
E) Inference

Question 24

In order to predict human behavior, it is best to supplement intuitive opinions with information derived from ________.

A) common sense
B) direct observation
C) systematic study
D) speculation
E) organizational theory

Question 25

Which of the following does systematic study use to look at relationships to attribute causes and effects?

A) intuitive data
B) feelings
C) scientific data
D) instinct
E) premonition

Question 26

You are bringing together faculty from different behavioral disciplines to author a new textbook in organizational behavior. Represented are professors from psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, political science, and industrial engineering.Which faculty member is most likely to furnish information about personality, learning, and motivation?

A) sociology
B) psychology
C) anthropology
D) political science
E) industrial engineering

Question 27

Which of the following best defines organizational behavior?

A) It involves the study of groups of people coming together for collective bargaining.
B) It involves the study of what people do in a company and how it affects the company's output.
C) It involves analyzing different people in an industry with independent profit-centered motives.
D) It involves developing exclusively the knowledge of managers and senior -level employees.
E) It is a field which is not influenced by factors in the external world.

Question 28

Which of the following disciplines blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on people's influence on one another?

A) social psychology
B) cosmology
C) parapsychology
D) lexicology
E) eschatology

Question 29

________ seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals.

A) Meteorology
B) Theology
C) Epistemology
D) Lexicology
E) Psychology

Question 30

According to Fred Luthans and his associates' study of 450 managers, ________ made the largest contribution to the success of managers in terms of speed of promotion within their organization.

A) networking
B) decision making
C) planning
D) controlling
E) staffing

Question 31

Which of the following fields of study is most likely to involve studying organizational culture, formal organization theory and structure?

A) sociology
B) deontology
C) epistemology
D) agnotology
E) dysteleology

Question 32

360.org, an organization working toward curbing climate change, recently conducted an interview with Jessica for the position of a public relations officer. However, the interviewers Brenda and Laura are divided over whether Jessica should be given the job. Brenda believes that Jessica does not have in-depth knowledge about the issue of global warming and its impact. On the other hand, Laura feels that Jessica would be perfect for the job because she has strong networking and interpersonal skills. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen Laura's argument?

A) Gaining the support of corporate giants would comprise a large part of the job.
B) Jessica will need to prepare extensive reports about the issue of climate change.
C) The role will require Jessica to give presentations to environmental experts on renewable modes of energy.
D) Jessica had negligible experience in research and development.
E) Jessica has weak analytical skills to solve problems associated with implementing options of renewable energy.

Question 33

Which of the following determinants of behavior does organizational behavior study?

A) profits
B) job satisfaction
C) perks
D) individuals
E) collective bargaining

Question 34

According to Fred Luthans and his associates, managers involved in traditional management activities undertook which of the following tasks?

A) motivating
B) socializing
C) decision making
D) training
E) politicking

Question 35

Which of the following is a difference between sociology and psychology?

A) Sociology studies humans and animals whereas psychology focuses exclusively on humans.
B) Sociology studies people in relation to their social culture whereas psychology focuses on the individual.
C) Sociology incorporates research from social sciences, philosophy, and natural sciences; psychology does not.
D) Sociology uses various methods of empirical investigation whereas psychology uses limited critical analyses.
E) Sociology uses only qualitative techniques whereas psychology uses both qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Question 36

Austin Reed is a graduate student helping to organize a study on individual job satisfaction. The study focuses on the top five causes of satisfaction or dissatisfaction on the job. His department is surveying 200 individuals in 100 different types of organizations. Austin is most likely a graduate student in the department of ________.

A) psychology
B) anthropology
C) political science
D) entomology
E) archaeology

Question 37

According to Fred Luthans and his associates, managers which are involved in networking activities are most likely to undertake which of the following?

A) planning
B) decision making
C) controlling
D) politicking
E) staffing

Question 38

360.org, an organization working toward curbing climate change, recently conducted an interview with Jessica for the position of a public relations officer. However, the interviewers Brenda and Laura are divided over whether Jessica should be given the job. Brenda believes that Jessica does not have in-depth knowledge about the issue of global warming and its impact. On the other hand, Laura feels that Jessica would be perfect for the job because she has strong interpersonal skills. Which of the following, if true, would weaken Laura's argument?

A) Jessica was unable to fare well in the written test which analyzed her conceptual skills.
B) Jessica listened intently to the interviewers' questions before answering them.
C) Jessica was unable to communicate clearly why she was right for the job.
D) Jessica was very friendly and courteous with the receptionist while greeting her.
E) Jessica was high on confidence about getting the job because of her strong networking skills.

Question 39

Analyzing relationships, determining causes and effects, and basing conclusions on scientific evidence, all constitute aspects of ________ study.

A) organizational
B) intuitive
C) theoretical
D) systematic
E) case-based

Question 40

________ is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.

A) Anthropology
B) Deontology
C) Epistemology
D) Agnotology
E) Dysteleology

Question 41

A common characteristic of service jobs is that they ________.

A) need substantial interaction with an organization's customers
B) offer much higher pay in comparison with other non-service jobs
C) have fewer working hours than other jobs
D) require very little job knowledge compared to other jobs
E) provide more perks and benefits to employees

Question 42

Raymond Mayer is conducting a study on discrimination against campaign activists based on gender. In his study, he noted that male executives who visited Indonesian villages to promote the use of renewable energy received a highly positive response. In contrast, women who visited the same villages, received an antagonistic response from them. However, Mayer stated that his findings only applied to villages. In this study, the presence of a village is considered a ________ variable.

A) global
B) general
C) dependent
D) non-reactive
E) contingency

Question 43

Josh Wallace, a sales executive, has recently been promoted to the position of sales manager at Synergy Corporation Bank. He has in the past gained a strong track record of making the highest number of sales in his branch. During his first few months as a manager, he regularly appreciated and acknowledged the team's efforts because he knew that it was the driving force behind high performance. However, the company has recently expressed its dissatisfaction with Josh's team as it has consistently failed to meet the sales targets of the branch. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this situation?

A) The bank had an existing list of contacts which was shared with the team.
B) The team was allotted areas with families from high income groups.
C) There has been a sharp rise in the country's citizens' purchasing power.
D) Josh had prior experience in leading large sales teams.
E) The team was motivated by extrinsic factors instead of intrinsic factors.

Question 44

Myriam is analyzing the gender roles of men and women in management in the United States and comparing them to the gender roles in management in Japan. She is surveying fifty male and fifty female managers in each country to compare their daily behavior. Myriam's study exemplifies how ________ contributes to OB.

A) anthropology
B) psychology
C) archaeology
D) political science
E) corporate strategy

Question 45

________ is a key independent variable in positive organizational behavior research.

A) Engagement
B) Apathy
C) Despair
D) Constraint
E) Pessimism

Question 46

Which of the following is true of positive organizational scholarship?

A) It involves monitoring negative practices in organizations and rectifying them.
B) It deals with how employees should analyze weaknesses and convert them into strengths.
C) It studies how organizations develop human strengths, foster vitality, and unlock potential.
D) It dwells on limitations that an organization faces and how it can turn them into opportunities.
E) It involves scrutinizing loopholes in organizational practices and filling gaps in processes.

Question 47

Which of the following is true of contingency variables?

A) They refer to situational factors that moderate the relationship between two or more variables.
B) They make simple, accurate, and sweeping generalizations about concepts in organizational behavior.
C) They indicate that everyone is motivated by money and financial perks.
D) They refer to scientific factors which are based on universal truths.
E) They remain constant irrespective of any change in the environment.

Question 48

Eighty percent of the employees in the United States work today in ________ jobs.

A) textile
B) military
C) mining
D) research
E) service

Question 49

Which of the following is a cause of work-life conflicts?

A) global organizations
B) sensemaking
C) privatization of essential industries
D) downshifting
E) use of self-managed teams

Question 50

One of the key challenges for managers in today's organizations is to ________.

A) be static in nature
B) conform to norms and practices
C) be resistant to change
D) follow age-old rules rigidly
E) stimulate tolerance for change

Question 51

Which of the following is the major challenge for managers in a fully networked organization?

A) eliminating the need for paper communication by relying entirely on e-mail, file transfers, and the like
B) retaining team members who can easily move to another employer when demand for their services changes
C) managing contract and temporary workers
D) maintaining a "virtual office" through the use of computers, interoffice networks, and the Internet
E) managing people who work together but are geographically separated

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of a position in a service job?

A) human resource executive
B) administrative executive
C) flight attendant
D) environmental campaigner
E) production line worker

Question 53

Christopher Richardson works as a graphic designer in Sydney. He often coordinates with colleagues working in Germany. In addition, he interacts with clients across the globe. Which of the following is most likely to facilitate his communications with clients and colleagues?

A) ergonomic cubicle
B) lateral thinking
C) sensemaking
D) systems thinking
E) networked organization

Question 54

________ refers to the heterogeneity of organizations in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and inclusion of other diverse groups.

A) Workforce associability
B) Workforce diversity
C) Cultural similarity
D) Organizational congruity
E) Operational homogeneity

Question 55

Which of the following terms best describes organizations that allow people to communicate and work together even though they may be thousands of miles apart?

A) networked organizations
B) hierarchical organizations
C) matrix organizations
D) stable organizations
E) flat organizations

Question 56

________ variables are variables that moderate the relationship between two or more variables.

A) Global
B) General
C) Dependent
D) Non-reactive
E) Contingency

Question 57

Which of the following should employees undertake to deal with "temporariness" in the modern work climate?

A) continually update their knowledge and skills to perform new job requirements
B) be prepared to work in the same position for longer periods of time
C) have closer connections with peers and subordinates
D) avoid unpredictable situations to avert taking risks
E) engage in organizational politicking

Question 58

Gould Furniture is one of the leading furniture companies in Indonesia. In the past, the company had a homogeneous workforce of Indonesian employees. The company is desperate to cut operating and manufacturing costs and hence is considering outsourcing part of the manufacturing process to low-cost Taiwan. However, local community leaders across the country are opposing this decision strongly. They believe that exporting jobs to other countries is detrimental to their country in every way possible. Which of the following, if true, is the flaw in the local community leaders' opinion?

A) The country has one of the lowest rates of employment in Asia.
B) Over 85 percent of Indonesia's revenue comes from agriculture.
C) The furniture market contributes to 20 percent of deforestation in the country.
D) The government of Indonesia provides substantial subsidies to start-up companies.
E) Gould Furniture has alliances with local furniture companies in Taiwan.

Question 59

Which of the following is a result of globalization?

A) organizations being bound by national borders
B) lower production of goods in developing nations
C) highly homogeneous workforce
D) shared social value among all cultures
E) jobs moving to nations with low-cost labor

Question 60

Managers who oversee the movement of jobs to countries with low-cost labor are most likely to ________.

A) provide poor customer service
B) face opposition from labor groups
C) manage a culturally homogeneous workforce
D) operate in niche markets
E) lose competitive advantage by exporting jobs

Question 61

Organizational behavior applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups, and the effect of structure on behavior in order to make organizations work more effectively.

Question 62

Group ________ is the extent to which members of a group support and validate one another at work.

A) affect
B) associability
C) think
D) cohesion
E) maturity

Question 63

In the current competitive workplace, technical skills are the only skills that managers require to be successful.

Question 64

The discretionary behavior that is not part of an employee's formal job requirements, and that contributes to the psychological and social environment of the workplace, is called ________ behavior.

A) withdrawal
B) associative
C) networked
D) citizenship
E) cohesive

Question 65

Which of the following is true of models?

A) Models propose five types of variables.
B) Models proceed from outcomes to processes.
C) Models are used only in manufacturing organizations.
D) Models proceed from processes to inputs.
E) Models show that outcomes can influence inputs in the future.

Question 66

An example of an input at an organizational level is ________.

A) motivation
B) conflict
C) power
D) communication
E) structure

Question 67

Which of the following is an example of an outcome at an individual level?

A) structure
B) culture
C) politics
D) power
E) attitude

Question 68

With reference to a basic OB model, ________ are determined in advance of the employment relationship and refer to variables like personality, group structure, and organizational culture that lead to processes.

A) actions
B) inputs
C) outcome
D) processes
E) goals

Question 69

The concept of "reflected best-self" involves ________.

A) focusing on eliminating shortcomings to bring out the best in oneself
B) making employees aware of their weaknesses and rectifying them
C) observing and monitoring drawbacks of a team and then increasing their efficiency with the help of adequate training
D) asking employees to think about when they were at their personal best in order to exploit their strengths.
E) studying industry-wide best practices and then implementing it

Question 70

A degree in architecture will provide a student with human skills required for a job.

Question 71

The planning function involves defining an organization's goals and establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals.

Question 72

An organization is a consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people.

Question 73

________ is an example of an outcome at the organizational level.

A) Productivity
B) Diversity
C) Personality
D) Mood
E) Culture

Question 74

Which of the following is an example of an ethical dilemma?

A) Should I work extra hours to complete my assignment?
B) Should I e-mail my manager about queries on the project?
C) Should I discuss with the management about perks being offered?
D) Should I ask my manager for leave during Christmas?
E) Should I play politics to advance my career?

Question 75

Which of the following is an example of a process at the organizational level?

A) attitudes and stress
B) withdrawal behavior
C) emotions and moods
D) change of practices
E) team responsibilities

Question 76

A(n) ________ is an abstraction of reality, a simplified representation of some real-world phenomenon.

A) model
B) input
C) process
D) outcome
E) objective

Question 77

Which of the following is one of the three variables proposed by a basic OB model which refers to actions that individuals, groups, and organizations engage in as a result of inputs?

A) processes
B) scrutinization
C) planning
D) association
E) evaluation

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of an input at an individual level?

A) motivation
B) moods
C) values
D) perception
E) emotions

Question 79

Which of the following is an example of a process at an individual level?

A) group cohesion
B) values
C) decision making
D) withdrawal behavior
E) power and politics

Question 80

An example of a process at a group level is ________.

A) diversity
B) communication
C) values
D) culture
E) emotions