MGMT 340 - Quiz 10
T/F: Expert power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits.
FALSE Explanation: Referent power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits.
T/F: Limited resources is one of the major reasons for the development of organizational politics.
: TRUE Explanation: As resources are limited, not everyone's interests can be satisfied. Furthermore, gains by one individual or group are often perceived as coming at the expense of others within the organization. These forces create real competition among members for the organization's limited resources thus leading to political behavior.
T/F: Sexual harassment is more likely to occur when there are small power differentials.
FALSE Explanation: Sexual harassment is more likely to occur when there are large power differentials. The supervisor-employee dyad best characterizes an unequal power relationship, where formal power gives the supervisor the capacity to reward and coerce. Because employees want favorable performance reviews, salary increases, and the like, supervisors control resources most employees consider important and scarce. Thus, sexual harassment by the boss typically creates the greatest difficulty for those being harassed.
T/F: When the production manager at CalTrack was asked to provide reasons for the delay in the last batch of stock to be produced for the month, he clearly stated that this was the result of one of his front-level managers taking two days off and that the fault was not his. The manager is using buffing as a defensive behavior here.
FALSE Explanation: The manager is using buck passing as a defensive behavior here. Buck passing involves transferring responsibility for the execution of a task or decision to someone else, while buffing involves the practice of rigorously documenting activity to project an image of competence and thoroughness.
T/F: In countries that are more politically unstable, employees seem to demonstrate greater tolerance of intense political processes in the workplace
TRUE Explanation: Cultural differences determine how employees accept political behavior in an organization. In countries that are more politically unstable, employees seem to demonstrate greater tolerance of intense political processes in the workplace. This may be because they are used to power struggles and have more experience in coping with them.
T/F: Dale Fisher is the manager of one branch of a retail chain. He often holds talks with his customer service attendants speaking of the value they bring to the company and encourages them to continue doing so. He knows that this approach of enhancing the worth of these executives and shaping their aspirations to do well is a more effective approach than using warnings and ultimatums. Dale is using the power tactic of an inspirational appeal here.
TRUE Explanation: Inspirational appeals represent a power tactic that involves developing emotional commitment by appealing to a target's values, needs, hopes, and aspirations.
T/F: Unlike power, leadership requires a significant degree of goal compatibility.
TRUE Explanation: Power does not require goal compatibility, merely dependence. Leadership, on the other hand, requires some congruence between the goals of the leader and those being led.
T/F: The Machiavellian personality is characterized by the will to manipulate and the desire for power.
TRUE Explanation: The Machiavellian personality is characterized by the will to manipulate and the desire for power and is comfortable using politics as a means to further his or her self-interest.
T/F: People with high political skills are able to exert their influence without others detecting it.
TRUE Explanation: The politically skilled are able to exert their influence without others detecting it, which is a key element in their effective use of power.