Question 1

Some bureaucracies perpetuate inequalities of race,class,and gender because this form of organizational structure creates a specific type of work or learning environment.This structure was typically created for:
A) lower class women
B) minorities
C) middle and upper-middle class white men
D) middle class women

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracies were originally created and designed by middle and upper-middle class white men, and therefore perpetuate their values, beliefs, and preferences. This can result in unequal treatment and opportunities for minorities, lower class individuals, and women. While women and minorities may have been included in bureaucracies, it was not specifically created for them.

Question 2

Gender inequalities that are perpetuated in bureaucracies:
A) indirectly benefit white women and people of color
B) can negatively impact white women and people of color when they are underrepresented within an organization
C) makes it easier for white women and people of color to be promoted to better paying jobs
D) has the same impact on all workers regardless of gender or race/ethnicity

Accepted Answer

Gender inequalities perpetuated in bureaucracies can create barriers for underrepresented groups, including white women and people of color, making it harder for them to advance and succeed within the organization. While white women and people of color may benefit indirectly from some policies aimed at promoting gender equality, the overall impact of gender inequalities can still have negative effects on their career advancement and opportunities.

Question 3

__________ thrive in contemporary organizations because e-mail and Web sites have made it possible for people to communicate throughout the day without ever having to engage in face-to-face interaction.
A) Formal networks
B) Informal networks
C) Formal bureaucracy
D) Informal bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

Informal networks thrive in contemporary organizations because advancements in communication technology have made it possible for individuals to communicate frequently without needing to engage in face-to-face interaction. This has led to the growth of informal networks, where individuals communicate with each other outside of the formal organizational structure.

Question 4

Unlike workers in the United States,if Becky worked for a Japanese company,she would most likely be:
A) job shopping and job hopping
B) promoted according to her contributions to the company
C) loyal to the company and not go job shopping
D) trying to outperform others in order to get a higher salary

Accepted Answer

Japanese company culture emphasizes loyalty to the company and long-term employment over job hopping or trying to outperform others for a higher salary. Promotion is often based on seniority and contributions to the company, rather than individual performance.

Question 5

According to Robert Merton,the term __________ describes those workers who are more concerned with following correct procedures than they are with getting the job done correctly.These workers are usually able to handle routine situations effectively but are frequently incapable of handling a unique problem or an emergency.
A) trained incapacity
B) bureaucratic personality
C) organization men
D) cheerful robots

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton introduced the concept of the "bureaucratic personality" in his work. This describes workers who are more concerned with following correct procedures and rules than they are with achieving the correct outcome. These workers are usually able to handle routine situations effectively but struggle with unique or unexpected problems.

Question 6

__________ occurs when the rules become an end in themselves rather than a means to an end,and organizational survival becomes more important than achievement of goals.
A) Trained incapacity
B) Organization syndrome
C) Goal displacement
D) Organizational rigidity

Accepted Answer

Goal displacement is when the organization becomes more focused on following rules and procedures, rather than achieving its goals. This can happen when the rules themselves become more important than the outcomes they were intended to achieve. As a result, the organization may become rigid and inflexible, making it difficult to adapt to changes or new challenges.

Question 7

Because of the assumed relationship between size and importance,officials tend to press for larger budgets and more staff and office space.To justify growth,administrators and managers must come up with more tasks for workers to perform.This is an example of what type of problem associated with bureaucracies?
A) inefficiency and rigidity
B) trained incapacity
C) bureaucratic personality
D) resistance to change

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of the assumed relationship between size...

Question 8

The informal structure has been referred to as __________,because it includes the ideology and practices of workers on the job.
A) casual component of bureaucracy
B) other face
C) hidden face
D) work culture

Accepted Answer

The term "work culture" is commonly used to refer to the informal structure, which encompasses the beliefs, attitudes, norms, and practices shared by workers in a particular workplace. This culture may include unwritten rules, social hierarchies, and communication patterns that are not officially recognized or codified but nonetheless have a significant impact on how work gets done. By contrast, options A and B (casual component of bureaucracy and other face) do not accurately capture the nature of the informal structure, while option C (hidden face) is too ambiguous and does not provide as clear an answer as option D.

Question 9

An organization's __________ is composed of those aspects of participants' day-to-day activities and interactions that ignore,bypass,or do not correspond with the official rules and procedures of the bureaucracy.
A) other face
B) work culture
C) informal structure
D) casual nature

Accepted Answer

The informal structure refers to the unwritten and unofficial system of relationships and norms within an organization that exist alongside the formal structure. This can include unspoken rules, social networks, and informal communication channels. It is separate from the official rules and procedures of the bureaucracy.

Question 10

As the introductory story depicts,professors across the nation are embracing technology and allowing it in the classroom to connect with their students.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As the introductory story depicts,professors across the...

Question 11

The March of Dimes' initial objective was to raise funds in an attempt to find a cure for polio.Once the cure was discovered,they shifted their attention to raising funds for birth defect research.This illustrates:
A) organization syndrome
B) goal displacement
C) outcome conflict
D) bureaucratic incompetency

Accepted Answer

Goal displacement occurs when an organization shifts its focus from its original objective to another goal. In this case, the March of Dimes shifted its focus from finding a cure for polio to raising funds for birth defect research after the polio vaccine was discovered.

Question 12

The "grapevine" spreads information (with varying degrees of accuracy) much faster than do official channels of communication,which tend to be slow and unresponsive.The "grapevine" is an example of:
A) casual nature
B) informal structure
C) rules and regulations
D) hierarchy of authority

Accepted Answer

The "grapevine" is an informal structure of communication that exists within an organization. It is not regulated by rules or hierarchy of authority, and is often based on casual, personal connections between individuals.

Question 13

_____________ used the term "trained incapacity" to characterize
Which workers have become so highly specialized,or have been
Given such fragmented jobs to do,that they are unable to come up
With creative solutions to problems.
A) Robert Merton
B) Michael Murphy
C) Karl Marx
D) Thorstein Veblen

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____________ used the term "trained incapacity" to...

Question 14

According to political sociologist Robert Michels,all organizations encounter the __________-the tendency to become a bureaucracy ruled by the few.His central idea was that those who control bureaucracies not only wield power but also have an interest in retaining their power.
A) iron cage
B) totalitarian circumstance
C) iron law of oligarchy
D) absolute power arrangement

Accepted Answer

Robert Michels coined the term "iron law of oligarchy," which is the tendency for all organizations, including democratic ones, to become a bureaucracy ruled by the few. This is because those who hold power within the organization have an interest in retaining their power and will work to maintain their control. The other answer choices are not directly associated with Michels' concept.

Question 15

Thorstein Veblen used the term __________ to characterize situations in which workers have become so highly specialized,or have been given such fragmented jobs to do,that they are unable to come up with creative solutions to problems.
A) trained incapacity
B) bureaucratic personality
C) cheerful robot
D) organization men

Accepted Answer

Thorstein Veblen coined the term "trained incapacity" to describe workers who have become so highly specialized, or who have been given such narrow and fragmented tasks, that they are unable to think creatively, come up with innovative solutions to problems, or adapt to new situations.

Question 16

The textbook cites three of the major problems of bureaucracies.Which of the following is NOT identified as a major problem of bureaucracies?
A) inefficiency and rigidity
B) resistance to change
C) excessive rationality
D) perpetuation of race, class, and gender inequalities

Accepted Answer

The answer of The textbook cites three of the major...

Question 17

In discussing the Japanese model of organization,the text points out that
A) most Japanese corporations have avoided guaranteed lifetime employment
B) the "teamwork approach" has failed for the Japanese
C) the Japanese system encourages worker loyalty and a high level of productivity
D) Japanese students are not prepared to work in most corporations

Accepted Answer

The text mentions that the Japanese model of organization encourages worker loyalty and a high level of productivity. It does not mention that guaranteed lifetime employment has been avoided by most Japanese corporations or that the "teamwork approach" has failed for the Japanese. Additionally, there is no mention of Japanese students not being prepared to work in most corporations.

Question 18

In the early 1980s,there was a movement in the U.S.to humanize bureaucracy-to establish an organizational environment that develops rather than impedes human resources.More humane bureaucracies are characterized by:
A) more rigid hierarchical structures and concentration of power and responsibility at the top
B) encouragement of participants to share their ideas and try new approaches to problem solving
C) increasing numbers of people in dead-end jobs and part-time positions
D) unequal treatment for people with outside family responsibilities

Accepted Answer

A more humane bureaucracy would encourage its participants to share their ideas and try new approaches to problem solving, rather than stifling creativity and innovation. The other options (A, C, D) do not align with the concept of a more humane bureaucracy.

Question 19

The self-protective behavior of officials at the top may render the
Organization ineffective.This is an example of which of the following types
Of problems of bureaucracies?
A) inefficiency and rigidity
B) resistance to change
C) excessive rationality
D) administrative incompetency

Accepted Answer

Inefficiency and rigidity refer to the tendency of bureaucracies to become slow and inflexible, which can make them ineffective.

Question 20

People in aggregates share a common purpose (such as purchasing items or arriving at their destination) but generally do not interact with one another,except perhaps briefly.

Accepted Answer

Aggregates refer to a group of people who share a common purpose or destination, but do not necessarily interact with one another.

Quiz 6: Groups and Organizations

Some bureaucracies perpetuate inequalities of race,class,and gender because this form of organizational structure creates a specific type of work or learning environment.This structure was typically created for:

Gender inequalities that are perpetuated in bureaucracies:

__________ thrive in contemporary organizations because e-mail and Web sites have made it possible for people to communicate throughout the day without ever having to engage in face-to-face interaction.

Unlike workers in the United States,if Becky worked for a Japanese company,she would most likely be:

__________ occurs when the rules become an end in themselves rather than a means to an end,and organizational survival becomes more important than achievement of goals.

The informal structure has been referred to as __________,because it includes the ideology and practices of workers on the job.

An organization's __________ is composed of those aspects of participants' day-to-day activities and interactions that ignore,bypass,or do not correspond with the official rules and procedures of the bureaucracy.

As the introductory story depicts,professors across the nation are embracing technology and allowing it in the classroom to connect with their students.

The March of Dimes' initial objective was to raise funds in an attempt to find a cure for polio.Once the cure was discovered,they shifted their attention to raising funds for birth defect research.This illustrates:

The "grapevine" spreads information (with varying degrees of accuracy) much faster than do official channels of communication,which tend to be slow and unresponsive.The "grapevine" is an example of:

_____________ used the term "trained incapacity" to characterize Which workers have become so highly specialized,or have been Given such fragmented jobs to do,that they are unable to come up With creative solutions to problems.

According to political sociologist Robert Michels,all organizations encounter the __________-the tendency to become a bureaucracy ruled by the few.His central idea was that those who control bureaucracies not only wield power but also have an interest in retaining their power.

Thorstein Veblen used the term __________ to characterize situations in which workers have become so highly specialized,or have been given such fragmented jobs to do,that they are unable to come up with creative solutions to problems.

The textbook cites three of the major problems of bureaucracies.Which of the following is NOT identified as a major problem of bureaucracies?

In discussing the Japanese model of organization,the text points out that

In the early 1980s,there was a movement in the U.S.to humanize bureaucracy-to establish an organizational environment that develops rather than impedes human resources.More humane bureaucracies are characterized by:

The self-protective behavior of officials at the top may render the Organization ineffective.This is an example of which of the following types Of problems of bureaucracies?

People in aggregates share a common purpose (such as purchasing items or arriving at their destination) but generally do not interact with one another,except perhaps briefly.