Quiz 1 - Chapter 1
T/F: Human beings are simple in nature and thus, simple, universal principles explain all kinds of organizational behavior.
Answer: FALSE Explanation: Human beings are complex, and few, if any, simple and universal principles explain organizational behavior. Since human beings are not alike, the ability to make simple, accurate, and sweeping generalizations is limited.
T/F: A degree in architecture will provide a student with human skills required for a job.
Answer: FALSE Explanation: Technical skills encompass the ability to apply specialized knowledge or expertise. The ability to understand, communicate with, motivate, and support other people, both individually and in groups, defines human skills.
T/F: The discretionary behavior that is not part of an employee's formal job requirements, and that contributes to the psychological and social environment of the workplace, is called cohesive behavior.
Answer: FALSE Explanation: The discretionary behavior that is not part of an employee's formal job requirements, and that contributes to the psychological and social environment of the workplace, is called citizenship behavior.
T/F: While sociology focuses on the individual, psychology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture.
Answer: FALSE Explanation: While psychology focuses on the individual, sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture.
T/F: An organization is a consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: An organization is a consciously coordinated social unit, composed of two or more people, that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals.
T/F: Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.
T/F: Organizational behavior applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups, and the effect of structure on behavior in order to make organizations work more effectively.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: Organizational behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness.
T/F: One major study area of social psychology is change, how to implement it, and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: Social psychology, generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on peoples' influence on one another. One major study area of social psychology is change, how to implement it, and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance.
T/F: The planning function involves defining an organization's goals and establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: The planning function encompasses defining an organization's goals, establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans to integrate and coordinate activities.
T/F: Organizations which continually improve the quality of their products and maintain their flexibility tend to be more successful than others in the market.
Answer: TRUE Explanation: Today's successful organizations must foster innovation and master the art of change, or they will become candidates for extinction. Organizations tend to succeed if they maintain their flexibility, continually improve their quality, and beat their competition to the marketplace with a constant stream of innovative products and services.