Deck 13: Organizational Culture

Question 1

Masterson College is a small liberal arts women's college in the state of North Carolina, in the United States. The founders of the college were committed to the idea that a liberal arts education was the best preparation for life-long learning. The college has continued to support this orientation towards liberal arts education and has actually moved to strengthen that commitment recently. Within the last two decades, the business department has become one of the larger departments on campus. The faculty of the business department are also committed to finding employment for their graduates and believe that two things are critical for this to happen: 1) their students must have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of their discipline; and 2) internships are an important method of establishing the connections and opportunities for employment.

-The commitment to finding employment for graduates is part of the_______ .

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

Answer 1

subculture of the business department

Question 2

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.
Your supervisor arranges for you to become involved in an apprenticeship program to learn the ins and outs of your job from an experienced employee. What effect is this apprenticeship program likely to have on your assimilation into the company?

A) It is likely to have a negative effect, because serial and random socialization processes only benefit employees at later stages in their tenure with an organization.
B) It is likely to have an insignificant effect, because serial socialization is not correlated with helping employees to adjust to a company's values and norms.
C) It is likely to have a negative effect, because random socialization works more effectively than serial socialization in helping new employees to adjust to a company's culture.
D) It is likely to have a positive effect, because random socialization is most critical at the time of an employee's entry into an organization.
E) It is likely to have a positive effect, because serial socialization works more effectively than random socialization in helping new employees to accept a company's culture.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Narik is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. At the beginning of each quarterly executive meeting, employees are reminded that the founders were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. Employees are allowed to dress in blue jeans and can set their own working hours.

-The regular distribution of lollipops, toys, or treats every Friday is an example of a _______that helps reinforce Narik's culture.

A) story
B) tool
C) ritual
D) material symbol
E) symbolism

Answer 3

ritual

Question 4

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) metamorphosis
C) exploration
D) mirroring
E) establishment

Question 5

Masterson College is a small liberal arts women's college in the state of North Carolina, in the United States. The founders of the college were committed to the idea that a liberal arts education was the best preparation for life-long learning. The college has continued to support this orientation towards liberal arts education and has actually moved to strengthen that commitment recently. Within the last two decades, the business department has become one of the larger departments on campus. The faculty of the business department are also committed to finding employment for their graduates and believe that two things are critical for this to happen: 1) their students must have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of their discipline; and 2) internships are an important method of establishing the connections and opportunities for employment.

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

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

Question 6

A dominant culture is _______.

A) usually a strong culture
B) likely to be a weak culture
C) the sum of an organization's subcultures
D) synonymous with an organization's culture
E) defined by the leader of an organization

Question 7

Which of the following is not a stage of the socialization process?

A) encounter
B) metamorphosis
C) prearrival
D) ritual
E) none of the above

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

Narik is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. At the beginning of each quarterly executive meeting, employees are reminded that the founders were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. Employees are allowed to dress in blue jeans and can set their own working hours.

-The dress code worn by Narik employees is an example of a_______ through which organization culture is transmitted.

A) symbolic act
B) material symbol
C) story
D) tool
E) ritual

Question 10

Which characteristic is not reflective of subcultures?

A) includes values unique to members of a department or group
B) includes core values of the organization
C) usually defined by geographical separation
D) includes values shared only within the organization
E) typically defined by department designations

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

The correct order for the stages of the socialization process is_______ .

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

Question 13

Rituals perform all of the following functions except that of_______ .

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

Question 14

The socialization stage that encompasses the learning that occurs before a new member joins an organization is known as_______ socialization.

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

Question 15

Employee attitudes and behavior change during the _______ stage of socialization.

A) metamorphosis
B) transformation
C) cocoon
D) encounter
E) establishment

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.

-When you begin to notice things that are not as you expected, you are in the_______ stage of socialization.

A) prearrival
B) encounter
C) orientation
D) metamorphosis
E) none of the above

Question 19

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

Question 20

The ultimate source of an organization's culture is_______ .

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

Question 21

When an organization takes on a life of its own, we can say that it has _______ .

A) evolved
B) acquired a culture
C) become institutionalized
D) become immortal
E) developed subcultures

Question 22

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

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

What does a positive organizational culture do?

A) uses positive reinforcement as well as punishment
B) rarely uses rewards
C) focuses on removing weaker employees
D) emphasizes building on the organization's strengths
E) emphasizes individual growth

Question 25

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

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

Question 26

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.

-When you start to work through the problems that you discover about the organization, you move into the _______stage of socialization.

A) prearrival
B) metamorphosis
C) encounter
D) acceptance
E) none of the above

Question 27

All of the following are examples of material symbols except .

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

Question 28

_______is a shared system of meaning held by the organization's members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.

A) Corporate image
B) Institutionalization
C) Socialization
D) Formalization
E) Organizational culture

Question 29

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.

-Your first day at work is part of _______the stage of socialization.

A) encounter
B) orientation
C) metamorphosis
D) prearrival
E) none of the above

Question 30

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

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

Question 31

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

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

Question 32

_______are indicators of a strong organizational culture.

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

Question 33

Consistency of behavior is an asset to an organization when it faces_______ .

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

Question 34

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture _ _.

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

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

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) encounter
C) metamorphosis
D) ritual
E) reflection

Question 37

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

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

Question 38

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

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

Question 39

Strong cultures have all of the following characteristics excep_______t .

A) If it becomes mismatched to its environment, it is easily adapted.
B) They are difficult for managers to change.
C) They should be treated as relatively fixed by managers.
D) Employee "misfits" have higher turnover rates than employees who perceive a good fit with their own values.
E) They are stable over time.

Question 40

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

Question 41

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

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

Question 42

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

A) all of A, B and C
B) none of a, b or c
C) is low-to-moderate in aggressiveness
D) is high in risk tolerance
E) focuses on means as well as outcomes

Question 43

Culture is most likely to be a liability when_______ .

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

Question 44

Narik is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. At the beginning of each quarterly executive meeting, employees are reminded that the founders were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. Employees are allowed to dress in blue jeans and can set their own working hours.
Reminding employees about the founders at each quarterly meeting is an example of which technique for transmitting culture?

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

Question 45

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

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

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

Culture performs all the following functions except .

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

Question 48

A strong culture provides a supportive atmosphere for diversity.

Question 49

Culture may be a liability because it is a barrier to _______.

A) diversity
B) mergers and acquisitions
C) change
D) all of A, B and C
E) none of A, B or C

Question 50

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

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

Question 51

Which of the following is not true about institutionalization?

A) It means the organization has acquired immortality.
B) The organization becomes valued for itself.
C) It operates to produce common understandings about appropriate behavior.
D) The organization's mission becomes stable.
E) Acceptable modes of behavior become largely self-evident to its members.

Question 52

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.
Which of the following steps could your supervisor take to best help you develop a commitment to your new company?

A) discourage you from putting too much weight on your initial expectations
B) encourage you to work independently at first to learn the ropes
C) encourage you to look carefully at your own assumptions, which may be biased
D) discourage you from putting too much emphasis on your perception of the organization
E) encourage you to develop friendship ties within the organization

Question 53

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

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

Question 54

Spiritual organizations have all of the following characteristics except_______ .

A) Religious meetings on a regular basis.
B) Toleration of employee expression.
C) Trust and respect.
D) A strong sense of purpose.
E) Humanistic work practices.

Question 55

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

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

Question 56

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

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

Question 57

You are new to an organization and do not really know what to expect about the socialization process. You are a recent
M.B.A. and have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Your new firm is a software development company with an emphasis in the health care industry. Your hiring process includes campus interviews, a day-long trip to interview at the company, an offer phone call and letter, and some promotional material sent via the mail. When you arrive for your first day of work, you spend half a day in an orientation session with Human Resources, where you complete paperwork and receive a company handbook. Then you spend the rest of the day with your supervisor, who gives you a tour, introduces you to your co-workers, and explains your first project. After that, you begin working and getting to know the others in the company. You find that in most respects, your experience fits your expectations, but in some ways you are surprised by realities that you hadn't expected. None of these surprises is too difficult to accept, so you eventually begin to feel at home and happy with your new job.

-The learning that you experience during the interviewing and hiring process occurs as part of the_______ stage of employee socialization.

A) encounter
B) prearrival
C) selection
D) metamorphosis
E) none of the above

Question 58

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 refuse to be constrained by previous ideologies
E) founders' behavior acts as a role model

Question 59

Masterson College is a small liberal arts women's college in the state of North Carolina, in the United States. The founders of the college were committed to the idea that a liberal arts education was the best preparation for life-long learning. The college has continued to support this orientation towards liberal arts education and has actually moved to strengthen that commitment recently. Within the last two decades, the business department has become one of the larger departments on campus. The faculty of the business department are also committed to finding employment for their graduates and believe that two things are critical for this to happen: 1) their students must have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of their discipline; and 2) internships are an important method of establishing the connections and opportunities for employment.

-The business department holds some unique values in addition to the_______ of the dominant culture.

A) sub-values
B) spiritual orientation
C) formal values
D) holistic values
E) core values

Question 60

Which of the following represents a core value of the college?

A) remedial reinforcement
B) scientific knowledge
C) technological innovation
D) life-long learning
E) affordable education

Question 61

A strong organizational culture exerts more influence on employees than does a weak culture.

Question 62

Culture as an independent variable affecting employee's attitudes and behavior can be traced back more than 50 years to the notion of institutionalization.

Question 63

Research demonstrates that subcultures act to undermine the dominant culture.

Question 64

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

Question 65

Organizational culture is a set of key characteristics that an organization values.

Question 66

Culture increases confusion of meaning between employees.

Question 67

A strong culture can act as a substitute for rules and regulations.

Question 68

Culture is the social glue that holds an organization together by providing appropriate standards for what employees should say and do.

Question 69

A strong organizational culture creates volatility within an organization.

Question 70

The values within an organization's culture tend to flow down from top management.

Question 71

Culture has a boundary-defining role; it creates distinctions between one organization and others.

Question 72

Performance appraisals of managers should include a point-by-point evaluation of how the manager's decisions measure up against the organization's code of ethics.

Question 73

Evidence shows that spirituality and profits may be compatible objectives.

Question 74

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 75

Language can serve to unite members of a given culture as new employees learn the acronyms and jargon specific to the organization.

Question 76

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

Question 77

Subcultures rarely influence the behavior of an organization's members.

Question 78

Socialization is the process that defines group interaction patterns.

Question 79

Socialization is complete when an employee completes his probationary period with a new company.

Question 80

"Dominant culture" refers to cultures that value aggressive personalities.