Quiz 14: Managing Conflict, Power, and Politics
Business
Q 1Q 1
To grow, change, and survive, an organization must manage both cooperation and competition among stakeholders.
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True False
True
Q 2Q 2
Organizational conflict is the clash that occurs when the goal-directed behavior of one group blocks or thwarts the goals of another.
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True False
True
Q 3Q 3
Organizational conflict is always dysfunctional, because it is an unanticipated or unintended consequence of formal structure and procedures.
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True False
False
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True False
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True False
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True False
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True False
Q 8Q 8
According to Pondy, all organizational conflict arises because vertical and horizontal differentiation lead to the establishment of different organizational subunits with different goals and often different perceptions of how best to realize those goals.
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True False
Q 9Q 9
In terms of Thompson's model of technology, the move from reciprocal to sequential to pooled task interdependence between people or subunits increases the degree to which the actions of one subunit directly affect the actions of others.
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True False
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True False
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True False
Q 12Q 12
At the manifest conflict stage in Pondy's model, each subunit begins to define why the conflict is emerging and to analyze the events that have led up to it.
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True False
Q 13Q 13
At the felt conflict stage in Pondy's model, subunits in conflict quickly develop an emotional response toward one another.
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True False
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True False
Q 15Q 15
In Pondy's model of organizational conflict, the "manifest conflict" stage comes immediately after the "perceived conflict" stage.
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True False
Q 16Q 16
In Pondy's model of organizational conflict, the "felt conflict" stage comes immediately before the "perceived conflict" stage.
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True False
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True False
Q 18Q 18
Decreasing the level of integration is one major way in which organizations can manage the problem of differences in subunit goals.
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True False
Q 19Q 19
Flattening the hierarchy, so that authority relationships are clearly defined, and decentralizing authority can remove a major source of organizational conflict.
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True False
Q 20Q 20
Attitudinal structuring is a process of restructuring an organization so as to remove the cause of conflict among subunits.
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True False
Q 21Q 21
Organizational power is the ability of one person or group to overcome resistance by others to resolve conflict and achieve a desired objective or result.
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True False
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True False
Q 23Q 23
Decentralizing authority to a subordinate does not necessarily reduce a manager's authority.
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True False
Q 24Q 24
Empowerment is the deliberate decentralization of authority to encourage subordinates to assume responsibility for organizational activities.
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True False
Q 25Q 25
A dominant coalition can often use its power subtly to control the premises behind decision-making. This power is called referent power.
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True False
Q 26Q 26
The power possessed by a subunit within a company because of its specialized knowledge is an example of unobtrusive power.
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True False
Q 27Q 27
To manage the change process to get conflicts resolved in their favor, individuals, subunits, and coalitions often engage in political activity and behavior to enhance the power and influence they have.
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True False
Q 28Q 28
One prime political tactic that an individual or subunit can use to increase power is to become indispensable to the organization.
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True False
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True False
Q 30Q 30
Forming a coalition of managers around an issue that is important to them all is a political tactic managers can use to obtain the power needed to resolve a conflict in their favor.
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True False
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True False
Q 32Q 32
The use of power to influence decision-making is most effective when power is based on specialized knowledge.
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True False
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True False
Q 34Q 34
To manage organizational politics and gain its benefits, an organization must establish a balance of power in which alternative views and solutions can be offered and considered by all parties and dissenting views can be heard.
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True False
Q 35Q 35
According to Pondy, all organizational conflict arises because ________.
A) different organizational subunits have different goals
B) the managements aim is to grow the business by investing the profit but shareholders aim is to obtain higher dividends
C) of centralized decision-making
D) of tall hierarchy of authority
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Multiple Choice
Q 36Q 36
Which of the following is the first stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) felt conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) latent conflict
D) manifest conflict
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Multiple Choice
Q 37Q 37
Pondy's model of organizational conflict consists of ________ sequential stages.
A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five
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Multiple Choice
Q 38Q 38
At which of the following stages of Pondy's organizational conflict model there exists no outright conflict?
A) manifest conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) latent conflict
D) felt conflict
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 39Q 39
Which of the following statements is true regarding the "latent conflict" stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) During this stage there exists a potential for conflict.
B) The stage of "manifest conflict" comes immediately after this stage.
C) Fighting and open aggression are common during this stage.
D) This stage comes immediately after the stage of "felt conflict."
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Multiple Choice
Q 40Q 40
Which of the following is an example of a line function in an organization that produces toys for children?
A) R&D
B) manufacturing
C) accounting
D) purchasing
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 41Q 41
According to Thompson's model of technology, which of the following types of task interdependence among subunits is most likely to lead to a conflict?
A) sequential task interdependence
B) associative task interdependence
C) pooled task interdependence
D) reciprocal task interdependence
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Multiple Choice
Q 42Q 42
In an organization, people in line functions view themselves as the critical organizational resource and people in staff functions as secondary players. Acting on this belief, the line function constantly uses its supposedly lofty status as the producer of goods and services to justify putting its interests ahead of the other functions' interests. Based on this information, the organization is at which stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) manifest conflict
B) conflict aftermath
C) felt conflict
D) latent conflict
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Multiple Choice
Q 43Q 43
In which of the following situations is the potential for conflict is highest in an organization?
A) The organization has low vertical and horizontal differentiation.
B) Subunits in the organization are highly interdependent.
C) Resources are assigned to subunits by top-management so there is no competition among subunits for resources.
D) Subunits in the organization have similar goals.
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Multiple Choice
Q 44Q 44
In Pondy's model of organizational conflict, which of the following stages comes immediately after "latent conflict"?
A) felt conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) manifest conflict
D) conflict aftermath
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 45Q 45
In which stage of Pondy's model do subunits begin to try and define why conflict is occurring and analyzing the events that led up to the conflict?
A) latent conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) manifest conflict
D) conflict aftermath
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 46Q 46
A production department in a company has been experiencing several production problems for the past few months. When production managers investigate, they discover that materials management always buys inputs from the lowest-cost sources of supply and makes no attempt to develop the kind of long-term relationships with suppliers that can raise the quality and reliability of inputs. At which stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict is the company in?
A) latent conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) conflict aftermath
D) manifest conflict
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 47Q 47
Which of the following statements is true regarding the "perceived conflict" stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) It is the first stage in Pondy's model of organizational conflict.
B) This stage comes immediately after the "manifest conflict" stage.
C) At this stage conflict is resolved in a way that leaves subunits feeling cooperative.
D) The "felt conflict" stage comes immediately after this stage.
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 48Q 48
In which stage of Pondy's model do subunits respond emotionally to each other, and develop polarized attitudes such as "us versus them" that puts the blame for the conflict squarely on the other subunit?
A) latent conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) felt conflict
D) conflict aftermath
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 49Q 49
Which of the following is the third stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) latent conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) felt conflict
D) manifest conflict
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 50Q 50
A production manager agrees in a meeting to modify an order for the sales department, but then ignores the request later because of the ongoing conflict between the two departments. This passive aggressive type of behavior occurs in which stage of Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) expressed conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) manifest conflict
D) conflict aftermath
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Multiple Choice
Q 51Q 51
Which of the following stages in Pondy's model of organizational conflict comes immediately after the "felt conflict" stage?
A) latent conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) conflict aftermath
D) manifest conflict
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 52Q 52
In the ________ stage of Pondy's model, one subunit gets back at another subunit by attempting to thwart its goals.
A) felt conflict
B) perceived conflict
C) manifest conflict
D) conflict aftermath
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 53Q 53
Which of the following statements is true regarding the "manifest conflict" stage of Pondy's model?
A) This stage comes immediately after the "latent conflict" stage.
B) At this stage conflict is only perceived and there exists no outright conflict.
C) The "felt conflict" stage comes immediately after this stage.
D) Passive aggression occurs at this stage.
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 54Q 54
Which of the following is most likely to occur once the conflict reaches the manifest stage?
A) equal distribution for resources among the conflicting subunits
B) decentralization of decision-making
C) increase in vertical and horizontal differentiation
D) communication breakdown
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 55Q 55
A manufacturing department refuses to cooperate with a sales department because they had a big fight last month. Based on this information, the conflict between the two departments is at what stage of the Pondy's model of organizational conflict?
A) conflict aftermath
B) manifest conflict
C) felt conflict
D) perceived conflict
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 56Q 56
The method an organization chooses to manage conflict depends on the ________.
A) tallness of the organizational hierarchy
B) source of the problem
C) property rights given to the employees
D) extent of horizontal differentiation within the organization
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 57Q 57
Which of the following actions taken by an organization is most likely to avoid organizational conflict?
A) increasing the level of integration
B) making the hierarchy of authority taller by introducing additional levels of authority
C) using centralized decision-making
D) increasing the level of horizontal differentiation
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 58Q 58
Attitudinal structuring is a process ________.
A) of firing people who are trying to thwart organizational goals
B) designed to encourage the perception that conflicting parties are on the same side
C) of changing the structure of the organization so as to remove the source of conflict
D) that involves a third-party negotiator to moderate a dispute between subunits or stakeholders
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 59Q 59
Which of the following is one of the ways of managing conflict through attitude change?
A) conducting employee wellness programs
B) rotating employees among subunits
C) using the 360 degrees appraisal procedure for performance evaluation
D) centralizing decision-making authority
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 60Q 60
Which of the following is most likely to determine the kind of decisions that will be selected to resolve an organizational conflict?
A) standard practices followed in the industry in which the organization operates
B) possession of organizational power
C) the marketing strategy followed by the organization
D) the performance evaluation procedures used by the organization
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 61Q 61
Which of the following types of power is most likely to be possessed by a CEO of an organization?
A) nonsubstitutability
B) referent power
C) authority
D) expert power
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 62Q 62
Which of the following is most likely to occur in an organization with centralized authority?
A) Employees take up more responsibilities.
B) Subordinates compete to ingratiate themselves with top managers for receiving favor.
C) Several coalitions are formed within the organization.
D) Employees are empowered to make decisions.
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 63Q 63
Which of the following statements about authority is true?
A) When authority is centralized, there is generally more scope for people to engage in behaviors aimed at gaining power.
B) Once the authority is decentralized to a subordinate by a manager, then the manager does not bear the consequences of the subordinate's failure.
C) When authority is centralized in an organization, employees take more responsibilities and are more likely to initiate new actions.
D) Decentralizing authority to a subordinate does not necessarily reduce a manager's authority.
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 64Q 64
Which of the following terms refers to the deliberate decentralization of authority to encourage subordinates to assume responsibility for organizational activities?
A) social loafing
B) empowerment
C) co-optation
D) attitudinal structuring
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 65Q 65
"Gatekeepers" have power stemming from ________.
A) authority
B) expertise
C) nonsubstitutability
D) control over information
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 66Q 66
Rick is the only person in the finance department who knows how to fix the computer when it breaks down. The source of Rick's power is ________.
A) control over resources
B) control over the premises of decision-making
C) authority
D) nonsubstitutability
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 67Q 67
Which of the following terms refers to the power possessed by the people and subunits that control the flow of resources through an organization's production system?
A) centrality
B) co-optation
C) nonsubstitutability
D) referent power
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 68Q 68
The power possessed by a set of managers who form a "partnership" and use their combined power secretively to influence the decision-making process in ways that favor their interests is called ________ power.
A) referent
B) unobtrusive
C) expert
D) nonsubstitutable
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 69Q 69
Which of the following is an example of unobtrusive power?
A) the power possessed by a CEO of a company
B) the power possessed by a subunit within a company because of its specialized knowledge
C) the power possessed by a dominant coalition to influence the decision-making process in its favor
D) the power possessed by a person because of his or her ability to control the distribution of resources
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 70Q 70
Organizational politics consists of activities taken within organizations to ________.
A) decentralize the decision-making authority
B) improve the ability of the organization to innovate
C) acquire, develop, and use power
D) implement total quality management
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 71Q 71
A manager obtains an assignment that brings him into contact with many managers and many functions so that he can obtain information that can be used to make him and his function nonsubstitutable. Which of the following political tactics is being used by this manager?
A) using unobtrusive power
B) creating a coalition
C) controlling the agenda
D) increasing centrality
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 72Q 72
Jane works for a manufacturing plant that has been under pressure to reduce pollution. Jane increased her knowledge of environmental laws in order to help the company follow waste disposal laws. Which of the following political tactics is being used by Jane?
A) co-optation
B) increasing control over resources
C) increasing nonsubstitutability
D) controlling the agenda
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 73Q 73
A subunit within an organization can increase its power by ________.
A) building and managing coalitions
B) decreasing its nonsubstitutability
C) empowering its members
D) decreasing its centrality
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 74Q 74
A coalition is ________.
A) often built around trade-offs
B) a task relationship
C) a way to delegate authority
D) formed to decrease centrality
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 75Q 75
Manager A supports Manager B on an issue of interest to B in return for B supporting A an issue of interest to A. These managers are ________.
A) decreasing nonsubstitutability
B) creating a situation that is most likely to result in conflict
C) creating a coalition
D) attempting to obtain referent power
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 76Q 76
Co-optation is a way to ________.
A) empower employees
B) manage coalitions
C) decrease nonsubstitutability
D) decentralize authority
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 77Q 77
The use of power to influence decision-making is most effective when power is ________.
A) based on nonsubstitutability
B) unobtrusive
C) based on expertise
D) referent
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 78Q 78
Controlling the agenda is way of ________.
A) decentralizing decision-making
B) forming a coalition
C) influencing decision-making
D) empowering employees
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 79Q 79
To manage organizational politics and gain its benefits, an organization must ________.
A) centralize decision-making authority at the top-management level
B) use a tall hierarchy of authority
C) establish a balance of power in which alternative views and solutions can be offered
D) use the 360 degrees appraisal system for performance evaluation
Free
Multiple Choice
Q 80Q 80
An organization's ability to obtain the benefits of politics depends on the assumption that ________.
A) resources are being allocated to subunits on the basis of their performance
B) strong property rights are given to all the employees
C) power flows to those who can be of most help to the organization
D) all the employees are satisfied with their jobs
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Multiple Choice
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Q 86Q 86
Describe the conflict resolution strategies that can be implemented at the organizational structure level.
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Q 89Q 89
What are the various political tactics that individuals and subunits use to obtain the power they need to achieve their goals and objectives?
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