Question 1

A criticism of OD theory is that there is not a comprehensive theory of change to assist researchers in knowing what to look for in what they study.

Accepted Answer

OD theory has been criticized for lacking a comprehensive theory of change, which makes it difficult for researchers to determine what factors to study and how they relate to the overall change process.

Question 2

According to the core values of the OD field, ____ values relate to authenticity, growth and self-realization.
A) Humanistic
B) Democratic
C) Economic
D) Developmental

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the core values of the...

Question 3

According to Weick's common change assumptions of the Interpreter image, the best change sequence in the event of ineffectiveness in the system is:
A) Unfreeze, rebalance, freeze
B) Freeze, rebalance, unfreeze
C) Unfreeze, unbalance, freeze
D) Freeze, unfreeze, balance

Accepted Answer

According to Weick's common change assumptions of the Interpreter image, the best change sequence in the event of ineffectiveness in the system is to first "freeze" the system in order to understand it better, then "rebalance" it by shifting the perspectives and actions of the participants, and finally "unfreeze" the system in the new and improved state. Therefore, choice B, which follows this exact sequence, is the best choice.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT an issue of which Fineman questions whether POS can really live up to its "positive" aims?
A) He questions whether we can really agree on which behaviors are positive
B) He questions whether the positive can really be separated from the negative
C) He suggests that there is an unarticulated dark side to positiveness
D) He suggests that the negative aspects frequently outweigh the positive

Accepted Answer

Fineman questions whether POS can really live up to its "positive" aims because he suggests that there is an unarticulated dark side to positiveness, questions whether we can really agree on which behaviors are positive and questions whether the positive can really be separated from the negative. Therefore, statement D is incorrect as he does not suggest that the negative aspects frequently outweigh the positive.

Question 5

According to Weick's assumption of inertia, planned, intended change is necessary in order to disrupt the forces that contribute to a lack of change in an organization so long that there is a lag between environmental change and organizational adaptation.

Accepted Answer

Weick's assumption of inertia suggests that organizations are resistant to change, and that planned, intentional efforts are needed to disrupt the status quo and encourage adaptation to changing environments. This assumes that without intentional change, organizations will tend to stick to their existing structures and processes, even when they are no longer effective or relevant.

Question 6

Deming created a three-stage model for change, including the process of unfreezing, changing and refreezing.

Accepted Answer

The three-stage model of change, including unfreezing, changing, and refreezing, was developed by Kurt Lewin, not Deming.

Question 7

According to Blake, the Managerial/Leadership Grid developed by Blake and Mouton in the 1960s is probably the first, systematic, comprehensive approach to organizational change.

Accepted Answer

The Managerial/Leadership Grid by Blake and Mouton was indeed one of the first systematic and comprehensive approaches to consider leadership style in the context of organizational change, emphasizing the importance of both task (production) and people (employee) orientations in effective management.

Question 8

According to Cummings and Worley, OD practitioners need ____ skills, which include having a well-developed set of values and personal integrity including the ability to retain their own health in high-stress organizational situations.
A) Intrapersonal
B) Interpersonal
C) Consultation
D) Physical

Accepted Answer

Cummings and Worley state that OD practitioners need intrapersonal skills, which include self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a well-developed set of values and personal integrity. This also includes the ability to cope with high-stress organizational situations, which requires physical and mental health. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. The remaining options are not mentioned as primary skills required by OD practitioners in the given context.

Question 9

According to the Sense-Making Framework, ____ is the notion that people make sense of their actions retrospectively.
A) Identity construction
B) Extracted cues of sense-making
C) Retrospection
D) Plausibility

Accepted Answer

Retrospection is the notion that people make sense of their actions retrospectively, looking back on what they have done to create a narrative or explanation for their behavior. The Sense-Making Framework outlines several other factors that contribute to sense-making, such as identity construction and extracted cues, but only retrospection matches this specific description. Plausibility refers to the perceived likelihood or coherence of an explanation, but it is not the same as the process of retrospection.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT encompassed in Positive Organizational Scholarship?
A) Appreciative Inquiry
B) Positive Psychology
C) Community Psychology
D) Organizational Sociology

Accepted Answer

Positive Organizational Scholarship encompasses the fields of Appreciative Inquiry, Positive Psychology, and Community Psychology, but not Organizational Sociology. Positive Organizational Scholarship focuses on identifying and promoting positive attributes, practices, and outcomes within organizations. Organizational Sociology, on the other hand, examines how organizational structures and processes impact individuals and groups within organizations, without necessarily focusing on positive attributes or outcomes.

Question 11

Of the six images of managing change, the navigator and interpreter have their foundations in the field of organizational theory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the six images of managing change,...

Question 12

POS approaches seek out instances of "positive deviance", that is, those dynamics leading to exceptional individual and organizational performance such as developing human strength, producing resilience and restoration and fostering vitality.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the focus of POS approaches, which aim to identify and amplify positive behaviors and outcomes in individuals and organizations. "Positive deviance" refers to the behaviors and practices that lead to exceptional performance and success beyond what might be expected from standard norms or practices.

Question 13

What has been dubbed as a "new movement in organizational science" since emerging in the early 2000s?
A) Appreciative Inquiry
B) Organizational Development
C) Positive Organizational Scholarship
D) Taoist Strategies

Accepted Answer

Positive Organizational Scholarship has been dubbed as a "new movement in organizational science" since emerging in the early 2000s, focusing on understanding and promoting organizational practices that foster positive outcomes such as well-being, resilience, creativity, and engagement.

Question 14

One of the biggest challenges to the traditional OD field was the criticism that it was ill-suited to handle first-order, incremental organizational change.

Accepted Answer

The criticism was that traditional Organizational Development (OD) was ill-suited to handle second-order, transformational change, not first-order, incremental change. Traditional OD was actually considered well-suited for incremental, evolutionary changes within organizations.

Question 15

According to Weick's common change assumptions of the Interpreter image, ____ is the assumption that planned, intended change is necessary in order to disrupt the forces that contribute to a lack of change in an organization so there is a lag between environmental change and organizational adaptation.
A) Assumption of inertia
B) Assumption that a standard change program is needed
C) Assumption of animation
D) Assumption of unfreezing

Accepted Answer

The Assumption of inertia posits that organizations naturally resist change due to various forces maintaining the status quo. This assumption underlines the need for intentional, planned change efforts to overcome these forces and adapt to new environmental conditions, acknowledging a delay (or lag) between external changes and the organization's response.

Question 16

Central to the traditional OD approach is the role of the OD practitioner, who may be either internal or external to the organization.

Accepted Answer

The traditional OD approach emphasizes the importance of having a facilitator or practitioner who is trained in and skilled at guiding the change process. This practitioner may be a member of the organization (internal) or a consultant hired from outside the organization (external).

Question 17

According to the text, which of the following is NOT a major organizational change experienced by Nova Scotia Power between 1982 and 2002?
A) Privatization
B) Downsizing
C) Introduction of a cultural change program
D) Government expropriation

Accepted Answer

The text does not mention any government expropriation as a major organizational change experienced by Nova Scotia Power between 1982 and 2002.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a technique designed to work with large groups of people simultaneously?
A) Whole-system design
B) Participative design
C) Fast-cycle full participation
D) Spatial participation design

Accepted Answer

Spatial participation design is not a technique designed to work with large groups of people simultaneously. Whole-system design, participative design, and fast-cycle full participation are all techniques that focus on involving and engaging large groups of people in decision-making and problem-solving processes.

Question 19

According to Bean and Hamilton, after downsizing at Telenor, some staff accepted the corporate alignment frame, while others adopted an alienated frame, feeling marginalized and fearing for their job security.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the findings of Bean and Hamilton's research.

Question 20

There is no single underlying theory that unifies the field of OD as a whole.

Accepted Answer

While there are various frameworks, models, and theories that inform and contribute to the practice of OD, there is no one single theory or perspective that encapsulates the entire field. This is due to the diverse nature of organizations and the complex issues that they face, which require a multidisciplinary approach to address effectively.

Quiz 7: Implementing Change

A criticism of OD theory is that there is not a comprehensive theory of change to assist researchers in knowing what to look for in what they study.

According to the core values of the OD field, ____ values relate to authenticity, growth and self-realization.

According to Weick's common change assumptions of the Interpreter image, the best change sequence in the event of ineffectiveness in the system is:

Which of the following is NOT an issue of which Fineman questions whether POS can really live up to its "positive" aims?

According to Weick's assumption of inertia, planned, intended change is necessary in order to disrupt the forces that contribute to a lack of change in an organization so long that there is a lag between environmental change and organizational adaptation.

Deming created a three-stage model for change, including the process of unfreezing, changing and refreezing.

According to Blake, the Managerial/Leadership Grid developed by Blake and Mouton in the 1960s is probably the first, systematic, comprehensive approach to organizational change.

According to Cummings and Worley, OD practitioners need ____ skills, which include having a well-developed set of values and personal integrity including the ability to retain their own health in high-stress organizational situations.

According to the Sense-Making Framework, ____ is the notion that people make sense of their actions retrospectively.

Which of the following is NOT encompassed in Positive Organizational Scholarship?

Of the six images of managing change, the navigator and interpreter have their foundations in the field of organizational theory.

POS approaches seek out instances of "positive deviance", that is, those dynamics leading to exceptional individual and organizational performance such as developing human strength, producing resilience and restoration and fostering vitality.

What has been dubbed as a "new movement in organizational science" since emerging in the early 2000s?

One of the biggest challenges to the traditional OD field was the criticism that it was ill-suited to handle first-order, incremental organizational change.

Central to the traditional OD approach is the role of the OD practitioner, who may be either internal or external to the organization.

According to the text, which of the following is NOT a major organizational change experienced by Nova Scotia Power between 1982 and 2002?

Which of the following is NOT a technique designed to work with large groups of people simultaneously?

According to Bean and Hamilton, after downsizing at Telenor, some staff accepted the corporate alignment frame, while others adopted an alienated frame, feeling marginalized and fearing for their job security.

There is no single underlying theory that unifies the field of OD as a whole.