Question 1

Haruto, a supervisor at TechFounder Co., is often seen carrying his body erect and with good posture when he is in office. He is also definite in his discussions regarding TechFounder's goals and culture. He is often heard making assertive, accurate, and insightful comments regarding his own specialization. In this scenario, which political strategy is Haruto using?

Accepted Answer

Haruto is using the political strategy of signaling confidence by carrying himself with good posture and being assertive in his discussions and comments.

Question 2

Mark, a supervisor at Alliancez Corp., is friendly with his co-workers and develops potential allies by finding common interests among them. He does favors for them, and, in exchange, he gets a lot done through them. Which of the following is Mark using to build a power base?

Accepted Answer

Mark is using the strategy of developing alliances with others in the organization to build a power base. By finding common interests and doing favors for his co-workers, he is able to develop relationships that can be beneficial for him to get tasks accomplished. This is a form of building a social power base. Hanging around with greedy, pushy, or unethical co-workers would not be a smart strategy as it can tarnish one's reputation. Seeking control over resources and establishing a close relationship with the manager are other ways to build power bases, but they are not mentioned in the scenario.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of using socializing as a political strategy?

Accepted Answer

Socializing can be a useful political strategy, but it is important for supervisors to handle it appropriately. Using common sense and being aware of potential ethical concerns can help a supervisor navigate social situations and build positive relationships with subordinates without crossing any boundaries. A and B are not true in all cases, as socializing may not always be helpful and supervisors should maintain professional boundaries with subordinates. C may come across as insincere or opportunistic, and may not be effective in building genuine connections.

Question 4

Describe how supervisors can implement change.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how supervisors can implement change....

Question 5

Implementing change and resolving conflicts are easier for a person who has a relatively strong position in an organization.

Accepted Answer

Having a relatively strong position in an organization gives a person more authority and influence to make changes and resolve conflicts. They have more power to implement policies and procedures, allocate resources, and bring together stakeholders to work towards a common goal. However, it is important for individuals in positions of power to also listen to and consider the perspectives of others and collaborate with them to achieve successful outcomes.

Question 6

An employee who knows which of a firm's employees are targeted in the next round of layoffs has ________ power.

Accepted Answer

An employee who knows which employees are targeted for layoffs holds information power, as they have access to valuable information that others do not. Referent power is based on one's likability or charisma, expert power is based on one's knowledge or skill set, and reward power is based on one's ability to give incentives or rewards. None of these types of power would apply in this situation.

Question 7

A supervisor believes that he will be considered to be more powerful if he has more employees or a bigger budget. Which of the following approaches to building a base of power is the supervisor most likely to use?

Accepted Answer

Seeking control over resources is the approach to building a base of power where an individual tries to gain control over resources such as employees, budgets, or other assets to increase their power and influence in the organization. This is exactly what the supervisor in this scenario is doing by trying to increase the number of employees or budget under his control, in order to be considered more powerful.

Question 8

Conflict that arises between a subordinate and a supervisor because both have different political views is an example of intrapersonal conflict.

Accepted Answer

The conflict described is an example of interpersonal conflict, as it arises between two individuals with different views. Intrapersonal conflict would refer to a conflict within oneself.

Question 9

Factors that can affect the success of a change include the kind of change to be made.

Accepted Answer

The success of a change can be affected by various factors, including the kind of change being made. Some changes may be easier to implement and may have a higher chance of success compared to others. Therefore, the nature of the change is an important factor to consider when planning for a change initiative.

Question 10

How can supervisors effectively mediate conflict resolution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How can supervisors effectively mediate conflict resolution?...

Question 11

Offering ideas, sharing progress reports, and announcing accomplishments are examples of

Accepted Answer

Offering ideas, sharing progress reports, and announcing accomplishments are all actions that can contribute to making a good impression on others. By demonstrating initiative, competence, and a willingness to collaborate, individuals can enhance their reputation, build relationships, and position themselves for future opportunities. Seeking control over resources and signaling confidence may also be important in some contexts, but they are not directly related to the actions described in the prompt. Helping others may be a positive outcome of the actions described, but it is not the primary motivation.

Question 12

Which of the following is a commonly used political strategy in an organization?

Accepted Answer

Building relationships at all levels is a commonly used political strategy in an organization. It helps to create alliances and gain support for one's ideas, goals, and initiatives. This involves networking, establishing rapport, and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders from different departments and levels of authority. Delegating personal tasks to workers and damaging others' reputation are unethical and unprofessional behaviors that can harm the work environment and team morale. Evaluating a worker on racial basis is discriminatory and illegal.

Question 13

Summarize what has been discussed and agreed on. Make sure all participants know what they are supposed to do in carrying out the solution and ask for their cooperation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize what has been discussed and agreed...

Question 14

According to Kurt Lewin's model of change, the change process is complete only when employees recognize the need for change.

Accepted Answer

Kurt Lewin's model of change involves three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. The process is considered complete when the change has been consolidated into the organization and becomes part of the norm, which goes beyond just recognizing the need for change.

Question 15

Parties using a compromising strategy to resolve conflicts get exactly what they want without experiencing any degree of frustration.

Accepted Answer

Parties using a compromising strategy may not get exactly what they want as they have to give up something in return for the other party's compromise. Therefore, they may experience some degree of frustration.

Question 16

Identify and describe both positive and negative aspects of conflict.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and describe both positive and negative...

Question 17

Describe the guidelines supervisors should use when socializing with others in the organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the guidelines supervisors should use when...

Question 18

To do favors so that others will be in one's debt is an important way supervisors can build their power bases.

Accepted Answer

Building a power base by doing favors and creating a sense of indebtedness is a common tactic used by supervisors and leaders to gain influence and control within an organization.

Question 19

Which of the following employees will be the most eligible to receive a raise or promotion?

Accepted Answer

Emily is the only employee who tried to do an exceptional job on a housing project, showing dedication and effort in her work, which makes her the most eligible for a raise or promotion. The other options show negative behaviors such as undermining others, using unethical means to gather information, and spreading lies and rumors, which make them ineligible for promotion or raise.

Quiz 14: Managing Conflict, Change, and Politics