Chapter 8: Managing a New and Diverse Workforce

In the context of the arguments that have been proposed on how diversity contributes to competitiveness, the cost argument suggests that organizations that learn to cope with diversity will: A. Generally have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism. B. Become known among women and minorities as good places to work. C. Be able to understand different market segments better than will less diverse organizations. D. Generally be more creative and innovative than will less diverse organizations.

A. Generally have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism

Employees who add value to a firm simply because of what they know are called______ A. Knowledge workers B,. Free riders C. Expatriates D. Blue-collar workers

A. Knowledge workers

Which of the following is a difference between individual learning and organizational learning? A. The individual learning process is cognitive, whereas organizational learning depends more on social processes. B. Unlike organizational learning, individual learning depends on sharing of information. C. Individual learning involves a shared vision, whereas organizational learning involves the different goals of employees. D. Unlike organizational learning, individual learning involves the acquisition of new knowledge.

A. The individual learning process is cognitive, whereas organizational learning depends more on social processes.

A factor that has contributed to diversity in organizations is: A. The privatization B. The recruitment and promotion of the most talented people available, regardless of gender. C. The increased need for job embeddedness. D. The set of laws that mandate organizations to adopt ethnocentric practices.

B. The recruitment and promotion of the most talented people available, regardless of gender.

In the context of organizational learning, which of the following statements is true of individual learning? A. It is a sufficient condition for organizational learning to occur. B. It does not affect organizational learning in the long run. C. It is not a cognitive process but mostly depends on social processes and sharing of information. D. It is a necessary condition for organizational learning to occur.

D. It is a necessary condition for organizational learning to occur.

True or False Within the United States, the percentage of whites in the workforce has increased in the past 20 years.

False

True or False Growing birthrates among the post-baby boom generations, which account for larger percentages of new entrants into the labor force, have changed the average age of U.S workers.

False

True or False In July of 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that existing federal laws regarding sex discrimination should exclude lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees.

False

True or False The average age of U.S workers is gradually increasing.

False

True or False The glass ceiling refers to the obstacles faced by people with disabilities at the workplace.

False

True or False The resource acquisition argument for diversity suggests that organizations that learn to cope with diversity will generally have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism.

False

True or False Language training is sometimes part of diversity training.

True

True or False Many prison inmates work at paid jobs.

True

True or False The major policy through which a company can reflect its stance on diversity is its mission statement.

True

True or False Understanding fundamental cultural differences increases one's tolerance in a diverse workforce.

True