Question 1

Larry has an employee who is amazing at clearly seeing rules and enforcing them. He has recently promoted her to the lead position in quality assurance. Which method of creating a positive organizational culture is Larry utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Larry is building a positive organizational culture by building on his employee's strengths and promoting her to a leadership role in which she can use her skills effectively. This approach focuses on developing and utilizing the strengths of individual employees to improve overall organizational performance.

Question 2

Which of the following terms refers to the recognition that people have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that takes place in the context of community?

Accepted Answer

Workplace spirituality refers to the recognition that people have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that takes place in the context of community.

Question 3

AskSocrates Inc. employees are allowed to dress informally. This is an example of a ________ through which organizational culture is transmitted.

Accepted Answer

A material symbol is a physical object that represents something abstract, such as an organization's values or beliefs. In this case, allowing employees to dress informally is a material symbol of the organization's informal culture.

Question 4

Pam works for a corporation that recently fired three top managers who were caught using the company credit cards to lavishly furnish their offices and even purchase "office" furniture that was found in their personal homes. Which method of maintaining an ethical culture is Pam's company pursuing?

Accepted Answer

Visibly punishing unethical acts sends a strong message to other employees that such behavior will not be tolerated, and reinforces the importance of following ethical standards in the workplace. The firing of the three top managers in this scenario is an example of visible punishment for unethical behavior.

Question 5

How can U.S. managers be culturally sensitive?

Accepted Answer

U.S. managers can be culturally sensitive by actively listening to the perspectives, experiences, and beliefs of their team members who may come from different cultural backgrounds. This includes paying attention to nonverbal communication, asking open-ended questions, and being open to learning about different customs and practices. The other options listed - talking in a high tone of voice, discussing politics frequently, speaking quickly, and indulging in frequent discussions about religion - may actually hinder effective communication and potentially offend team members from different cultural backgrounds.

Question 6

Aggressiveness is one of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture that capture the essence of an organization's culture. It indicates the degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks.

Accepted Answer

Aggressiveness actually refers to the degree to which employees are expected to be competitive and assertive. The characteristic that indicates the degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks is called innovation.

Question 7

When Mary joins Wayne Enterprises, she is made to sign an agreement including the "non-compete clause" (an agreement where the employee promises not to work for a competing firm for a set period after leaving his or her current employer), as a condition of her employment. Though courts nowadays are increasingly ruling that these agreements are not binding, most competitor firms are unwilling to consider hiring Mary during the period covered by the agreement. Which of the following, if true, explains this situation?

Accepted Answer

Most companies avoid hiring employees with non-compete clauses to prevent potential legal disputes, even if they believe they would win.

Question 8

Alcoa headquarters has few individual offices, even for senior executives. The space is essentially made up of cubicles, common areas, and meeting rooms. This informality conveys to employees that Alcoa values ________.

Accepted Answer

The lack of individual offices and emphasis on shared spaces suggests a company culture that values equality among employees.

Question 9

An organizational culture most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members is one that ________.

Accepted Answer

An organizational culture that balances the rights of multiple stakeholders is most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members. This type of culture considers the impact of its actions on all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and encourages ethical behavior that benefits all parties involved.

Question 10

All societies are divided into several economic roles. The values of a society are embodied in the people who fill various economic roles. Therefore, the introduction of labor saving technology like automation makes certain economic roles obsolete. This tends to undermine the values in that society. Which of the following can be concluded on the basis of the information above?

Accepted Answer

The answer of All societies are divided into several economic...

Question 11

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture ________.

Accepted Answer

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture recognize that people seek to find meaning and purpose in their work. This can be achieved by fostering a sense of community, emphasizing the organization's values and mission, and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. Using stories for transmitting the organizational culture to the employees and de-emphasizing community differences can also be part of a spiritual culture, but they are not necessarily defining characteristics. Downplaying employee satisfaction and using wide spans of control are not associated with promoting a spiritual culture.

Question 12

Individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization will tend to describe the organization's culture in similar terms.

Accepted Answer

Organizational culture represents a common perception the organization's members hold.We should expect, therefore, that individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization will tend to describe its culture in similar terms.

Question 13

Ask Socrates Inc. 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. All the new members of the organization are told about the founders who were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. The employees are allowed to dress informally 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 AskSocrates' culture.

Accepted Answer

The regular distribution of treats every Friday is a ritual that helps reinforce AskSocrates' culture. It is a repeated action done to remind employees to tap into their creativity and remember the founders' story.

Question 14

Ask Socrates Inc. 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. All the new members of the organization are told about the founders who were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. The employees are allowed to dress informally and can set their own working hours.
-Which of the following is most likely to be used by Ask Socrates Inc. to inform its new employees about its founders?

Accepted Answer

Ask Socrates Inc. is most likely to use the storytelling approach to inform its new employees about its founders. The mention of "the founders who were three young people who 'got lucky'" suggests a narrative approach to sharing the company's history. Additionally, storytelling is a common way to foster a sense of culture and community within an organization.

Question 15

A positive organizational culture emphasizes ________.

Accepted Answer

A positive organizational culture emphasizes individual vitality and growth, which focuses on employees' well-being and personal development within the organization. It promotes a healthy work-life balance and an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and motivated to perform their best. The use of rituals and centralization may be characteristic of certain organizational cultures, but they are not necessarily associated with a positive organizational culture. Likewise, organizational standardization and punishment are more likely to contribute to a negative organizational culture.

Question 16

Attention to detail is a primary characteristic of an organization's culture that indicates the degree to which management focuses on results or outcomes rather than on the techniques and processes used to achieve them.

Accepted Answer

Attention to detail indicates the degree to which employees are expected to exhibit precision, analysis, and attention to detail.Outcome orientation indicates the degree to which management focuses on results or outcomes rather than on the techniques and processes used to achieve them.

Question 17

Liz is the lead editor for a small, city newspaper. One of her advertising sales representatives is pulling in a lot of restaurant clients. Liz realizes that the representative is quite knowledgeable about food and speaks quite elegantly when describing different dishes. She has begun discussing with the representative the possibility of collaborating with a writer to include a weekly restaurant review, which includes the representative on the byline. After the first couple of reviews, the representative is able to increase ad sizes and sales. He is very happy with his new job diversification. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Liz utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Liz is emphasizing individual vitality and growth by recognizing the representative's skills and interest in food and offering him the opportunity to collaborate on a new project. This allows the representative to diversify his job responsibilities and potentially advance his career within the company. By doing so, Liz is creating a positive organizational culture that values and rewards individual growth and development.

Question 18

Patricia is a team leader. When looking at an e-mail from one of her team members, Patricia noticed that the e-mail was sent at nine-thirty in the evening. The next day she personally went to the employee's cubicle and told him how much she appreciated him staying late to get the project to the client on time. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Patricia utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Patricia is rewarding the employee by expressing appreciation for his effort, which is a form of positive reinforcement, rather than punishing or ignoring the behavior.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true regarding effects of national culture on organizational culture and ethical behavior within organization?

Accepted Answer

Generally, U.S. managers see bribery, nepotism, and favoring personal contacts as highly unethical. This statement is true as research has shown that American managers tend to view these behaviors as unethical and unacceptable in a business setting. This reflects a cultural norm in the United States that emphasizes fairness, impartiality, and meritocracy in business dealings. The other statements are not true - A is incorrect as many U.S. managers do view profit maximization as a moral obligation, B is incorrect as organizational cultures often reflect national culture, C is incorrect as ignoring local culture can have negative consequences for organizational success, and E is incorrect as managers in developing economies may prioritize ethical decisions differently but this does not mean they are less likely to see them as embedded in a social environment.

Question 20

Subcultures act to undermine the dominant culture.

Accepted Answer

Subcultures may offer alternative ideas or lifestyles, but they do not necessarily act to actively undermine the dominant culture. They may coexist or even merge with the dominant culture.

Quiz 16: Organizational Culture