OB Midterm Chapter Questions
: ________ refers to a model which suggests that workplace events cause emotional reactions on the part of employees, which then influence workplace attitudes and behaviors.
Answer : Affective events theory Explanation of Answer : Affective events theory (AET) refers to a model that suggests that workplace events cause emotional reactions on the part of employees, which then influence workplace attitudes and behaviors.
Which of the following is the best example of the use of intimidation?
Answer : Anya's boss Kira sets difficult targets and hints that Anya may lose her job if she doesn't meet them. Explanation of Answer : Intimidation is a kind of discrimination which refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.
To enhance the amount of autonomy employees enjoy, a company must provide its employees with tasks combined into natural work units.
Answer : FALSE Explanation of Answer : Expanding jobs vertically is the strategy that is used to enhance autonomy of employees as it gives employees responsibilities and control formerly reserved for management.
Which of the following best defines organizational behavior?
Answer : It is a field which is not influenced by factors in the external world. Explanation of Answer : Organizational behavior refers to the study of what people do in an organization and how their behavior affects the organization's performance.
Which of the following most likely indicates surface-level similarity?
Answer : Jane and Sara grew up in the same town and went to school together. Explanation of Answer: Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, or disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes.
________ refers to basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific proof.
Answer : Knowledge management Explanation of Answer : The basing of managerial decisions on the best available scientific evidence can be termed as evidence-based management.
The theory of cognitive dissonance was proposed by ________.
Answer : Leon Festinger Explanation of Answer : In the 1960s, Leon Festinger argued that attitudes follow behavior. Festinger proposed that cases of attitude following behavior illustrate the effects of cognitive dissonance, any incompatibility an individual might perceive between two or more attitudes or between behavior and attitudes.
Raylon Inc. is in the process of recruiting a new Operations Manager. The Human Resources team has narrowed the candidate list down to two candidates, but cannot come to an agreement about whom to hire. Though both candidates have the relevant qualifications for the post, one will soon be 60 years old. The other candidate is in his early thirties. Rachel, a member of the HR team, recommends hiring the older candidate, citing his years of experience and leadership ability. Tim, on the other hand, strongly recommends that the company hire the younger candidate, as he is likely to be more flexible when it comes to working. Which of the following, if true, will most strengthen Rachel's argument?
Answer : Most of the employees the Operations Manager will be supervising are under 30 years of age. Explanation of Answer : The fact that most of the employees the Operations Manager will supervise are under 30 indicates that the leadership ability of the older candidate will be a valuable asset. The frequent travel requirements favor the younger candidate and work against the argument. The statistics of higher absenteeism rates for older employees favor the younger candidate. The ages of the company's top managers are irrelevant to the argument. The new technology might make the older candidate's experience worthless and would favor the younger candidate.
________ argues that people learn to behave to get something they want or to avoid something they don't want.
Answer : Operant conditioning theory Explanation of Answer : Operant conditioning theory argues that people learn to behave to get something they want or to avoid something they don't want. Unlike reflexive or unlearned behavior, operant behavior is influenced by the reinforcement or lack of reinforcement brought about by its consequences.
________ bias indicates the tendency of an individual to attribute his own successes to internal factors while putting the blame for failures on external factors.
Answer : Self-serving Explanation of Answer : Individuals and organizations tend to attribute their own successes to internal factors such as ability or effort, and place the blame for failure on external factors such as bad luck or unproductive co-workers. This is known as a self-serving bias.
: ________ refers to the ability to exert force against external objects.
Answer : Static strength Explanation of Answer : Dynamic flexibility refers to the ability to make rapid, repeated flexing movements. It is one of the nine types of physical abilities which research on hundreds of jobs have identified.
Which of the following is true of contingency variables?
Answer : They remain constant irrespective of any change in the environment. Explanation of Answer : Contingency variables refer to situational factors that moderate the relationship between two or more variables.
The ________ is the most widely used intelligence test in hiring decisions and takes only twelve minutes to be completed.
Answer : Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test. Explanation of Answer : The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is the most widely used intelligence test in hiring decisions which takes only twelve minutes to be completed.
A high Mach would be most productive in which of the following positions?
Answer : a sales person whose major part of the salary consists of sales commission Explanation of Answer : High Machs flourish (1) when they interact face to face with others rather than indirectly, (2) when the situation has a minimal number of rules and regulations, allowing latitude for improvisation, and (3) when emotional involvement with details irrelevant to winning distracts low Machs.
With reference to John Holland's personality-job fit theory, people belonging to the investigating type prefer ________.
Answer : activities that involve thinking, organizing, and understanding Explanation of Answer : With reference to John Holland's personality-job fit theory, people belonging to the "investigating" type prefer activities that involve thinking, organizing, and understanding.
According to Hofstede's framework, ________ indicates the degree to which people in a country prefer structured to unstructured situations.
Answer : uncertainty avoidance Explanation of Answer : According to Hofstede's framework, the degree to which people in a country prefer structured over unstructured situations defines their uncertainty avoidance. Cultures low on uncertainty avoidance are more accepting of ambiguity, are less rule oriented, take more risks, and more readily accept change.
Which of the following is a factor present in a perceiver which may affect perception?
Answer : interest Explanation of Answer : Factors present in a perceiver which may affect perception are attitudes, motives, interests, experience, expectations.
The three-component model of creativity proposes that individual creativity essentially requires expertise, creative thinking skills, and ________.
Answer : intrinsic task motivation Explanation of Answer : The three-component model of creativity proposes that individual creativity essentially requires expertise, creative thinking skills, and intrinsic task motivation.
The investment of an employee's physical, cognitive, and emotional energies into job performance is called ________.
Answer : job engagement Explanation of Answer : Job engagement refers to the investment of an employee's physical, cognitive, and emotional energies into job performance.
: Esther Lugo has gone for an interview at an advertising firm in Manhattan and has been asked to complete a self-report survey to help interviewers understand if she is the right candidate for the job. From the interview, they have found that she is extroverted, empathic, scrupulous, and cooperative in nature, which are key characteristics needed for the job. These characteristics about Lugo indicate her ________.
Answer : personality Explanation of Answer : Personality is the sum total of ways in which an individual reacts to and interacts with others.
Edith believes that the methods for determining salary hikes and bonuses in her company are extremely unfair. In this case, Edith perceives a lack of ________ justice.
Answer : procedural Explanation of Answer : Procedural justice refers to the perceived fairness of the process used to determine the distribution of rewards.
A ________ plan distributes compensation based on some established formula designed around revenue of the company.
Answer : profit-sharing Explanation of Answer : A profit-sharing plan distributes compensation based on some established formula designed around a company's profitability.
Which of the following needs in Maslow's hierarchy refers to the drive to become what one is capable of becoming?
Answer : self-actualization Explanation of Answer : Self-actualization needs refer to the drive to become what we are capable of becoming. It includes growth, achieving our potential, and self-fulfillment.
The ________ theory is also known as the social cognitive theory or the social learning theory.
Answer : self-efficacy Explanation of Answer : The self-efficacy theory is also known as the social cognitive theory or the social learning theory.
Which of the following series of dimensions of the job characteristics model (JCM) combine to create meaningful work?
Answer : skill variety, task identity, and task significance Explanation of Answer : The first three dimensions in JCM, skill variety, task identity, and task significance, combine to create meaningful work that the incumbent will view as important, valuable, and worthwhile.
Judging someone on the basis of one's perception of the group to which the person belongs is called ________.
Answer : stereotyping Explanation of Answer : Stereotyping is defined as judging someone on the basis of one's perception of the group to which that person belongs. Relying on this type of generalization helps a person make decisions quickly.
Which of the following is an example of a process at the organizational level?
Answer : team responsibilities Explanation of Answer : Processes are actions that individuals, groups, and organizations engage in as a result of inputs and that lead to certain outcomes. At the organizational level, human resource management and change of practices are examples of processes.
Which of the following is Theory X consistent with?
Answer : the autocratic style of managing people Explanation of Answer : Theory Y is consistent with participative management and Theory X with the more traditional autocratic style of managing people.
Employees are most likely to perceive their organization as supportive when ________.
Answer : they have a voice in decisions Explanation of Answer : People perceive their organization as supportive when rewards are deemed fair, when employees have a voice in decisions, and when they see their supervisors as supportive.
According to the concept of ________, decisions are made solely on the basis of their outcomes, ideally to provide the greatest good for the greatest number.
Answer : utilitarianism Explanation of Answer : According to the ethical yardstick of utilitarianism, decisions are made to provide the greatest good for the greatest number. In this system, decisions are made solely on the basis of their outcomes.
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) classification, introverted/ intuitive/ thinking/ judging type of people are ________.
Answer : visionaries Explanation of Answer : According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) classification, people belonging to the INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) type are visionaries with original minds and great drive. They are skeptical, critical, independent, determined, and often stubborn.
Ben Ervin often experiences emotions in a much stronger manner than most of his other colleagues. Events that do not provoke any significant emotional response from another person, send him into fits of happiness, anger, or depression. In view of such a situation, Ervin is displaying a high level of ________.
Answer : affect intensity Explanation of Answer : Affect intensity is defined as the individual differences in the strength with which individuals experience their emotions. Affectively intense people experience both positive and negative emotions more deeply: when they are sad, they are very sad, and when they are happy, they are very happy.
Austin Reed is a graduate student helping to organize a study on individual job satisfaction. The study focuses on the top five causes of satisfaction or dissatisfaction on the job. His department is surveying 200 individuals in 100 different types of organizations. Austin is most likely a graduate student in the department of ________.
Answer : archaeology Explanation of Answer : Because Austin's study focuses on the causes of individual job satisfaction, he is most likely conducting the study through the department of psychology. Psychology is defined as a science which seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and it focuses on the individual.
Self-determination theory proposes that in addition to being driven by a need for autonomy, people seek ways to achieve ________.
Answer : competence and positive connections Explanation of Answer : Self-determination theory proposes that in addition to being driven by a need for autonomy, people seek ways to achieve competence and positive connections to others.
Which dimension of the Big Five model is a measure of reliability?
Answer : conscientiousness Explanation of Answer : The conscientiousness dimension is a measure of reliability. A highly conscientious person is responsible, organized, dependable, and persistent. Those who score low on this dimension are easily distracted, disorganized, and unreliable.
Which of the following terms refers to choices made from among two or more alternatives?
Answer : decision Explanation of Answer : A decision refers to choices made from among two or more alternatives. Individual decision making is thus an important part of organizational behavior. But the way individuals make decisions and the quality of their choices are largely influenced by their perceptions.
What is the first step in the rational decision-making model?
Answer : defining the problem Explanation of Answer : The rational decision-making model follows a six-step process. The steps are: 1) Defining the problem; 2) Identifying the decision criteria; 3) Allocating weights to the criteria; 4) Developing the alternatives; 5) Evaluating the alternatives; 6) Selecting the best alternative.
According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a(n) ________ is to transmit information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization.
Answer : disseminator Explanation of Answer : According to Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles, the role of a disseminator is to transmit information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization.
Green Earth, an environmental organization in Oklahoma, recently recruited Phyllis Galvan as a project coordinator. Galvan's manager has noticed that ever since she has joined, she has been extremely positive about her work and takes up challenges without complaining. In addition, she maintains a positive ambience by helping out colleagues and smiling at everyone she interacts with. Her behavior has had a positive effect on her colleagues who have started behaving in a similar manner now. Which of the following concepts is demonstrated in this example?
Answer : emotional contagion Explanation of Answer : Emotional contagion refers to the process by which people's emotions are caused by the emotions of others.
Whether a candidate has high emotional intelligence would be a significant factor when considering a candidate for the job of a(n) ________.
Answer : event planner who needs to coordinate with several people Explanation of Answer : Emotional intelligence (EI) is a person's ability to (1) perceive emotions in the self and others, (2) understand the meaning of these emotions, and (3) regulate one's emotions. It is specifically useful in a job that needs one to interact with several other people.
Which of the following theories discusses three relationships: effort-performance relationship, performance-reward relationship, and rewards-personal goals relationship?
Answer : expectancy theory Explanation of Answer : The expectancy theory discusses three relationships: effort-performance relationship, performance-reward relationship, and rewards-personal goals relationship.
: Individualized rewards by allowing each employee to choose the compensation package that best satisfies his or her current needs and situation are called ________.
Answer : flexible benefits plans Explanation of Answer : Flexible benefits individualize rewards by allowing each employee to choose the compensation package that best satisfies his or her current needs and situation. Flexible benefits can accommodate differences in employee needs based on age, marital status, spouse's benefit status, and number and age of dependents.
Jean Ervin works as a fund raising executive at a women rights organization in San Diego. Though she has been with the organization for only a year now, she has already been promoted and often gets excellent feedback from her manager. Her manager says that the key to Ervin's good performance is because she is happy with the work she does and she is excited about the challenges in tasks which she takes up with a lot of enthusiasm. Which of the following mood dimensions is Ervin most likely to be feeling?
Answer : high positive affect Explanation of Answer : Positive affect is a mood dimension consisting of positive emotions such as excitement, self-assurance, and cheerfulness at the high end and boredom, sluggishness, and tiredness at the low end.
: The tendency to believe falsely, after an outcome of an event is actually known, that one would have accurately predicted that outcome is known as a(n) ________ bias.
Answer : hindsight Explanation of Answer : The hindsight bias is the tendency to believe falsely, after the outcome is known, that one would have accurately predicted it. The hindsight bias reduces our ability to learn from the past. It lets us think we are better predictors than we are and can make us falsely confident.
The ________ element of motivation describes how hard a person tries.
Answer : intensity Explanation of Answer : Intensity describes how hard a person tries. This is the element most of us focus on when we talk about motivation.
Which of the following statements is true regarding employee recognition?
Answer: Critics argue that employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management. Explanation of Answer: Employee recognition is an intrinsic reward. Employee recognition programs are inexpensive. Some research suggests financial incentives may be more motivating in the short term, but in the long run its nonfinancial incentives, and according to research, recognition is the most powerful workplace motivator. Critics argue that employee recognition programs are highly susceptible to political manipulation by management.
: Which of the following is an example of deep acting?
Answer: Dave tries to get along with a co-worker because they will soon be working together on a project. Explanation of Answer: Deep acting refers to trying to modify our true inner feelings based on display rules. Dave in this situation, is making an effort to know his colleague better because they will soon be working together on a project.
With reference to the Big Five Model, which of the following is a difference between highly agreeable and less agreeable people?
Answer: Highly agreeable people tend to do better in interpersonally oriented jobs than less agreeable people. Explanation of Answer: Agreeable individuals tend to do better in interpersonally oriented jobs such as customer service. They also are more compliant and rule abiding and less likely to engage in organizational deviance.
Which of the following is true about the correlation between salary and job satisfaction?
Answer: Pay does not play a critical role in job satisfaction when an individual reaches a level of comfortable living. Explanation of Answer: For people who are poor or who live in poor countries, pay does correlate with job satisfaction and overall happiness. But once an individual reaches a level of comfortable living (in the United States, that occurs at about $40,000 a year, depending on the region and family size), the relationship between pay and job satisfaction virtually disappears. People who earn $80,000 are, on average, no happier with their jobs than those who earn closer to $40,000.
Which of the following statements is true about measuring job satisfaction?
Answer: The single global rating system is not very time consuming. Explanation of Answer: The single global rating system as well as the summation of job facets are two popular approaches of measuring job satisfaction. The single global rating method is not very time consuming, thus freeing time for other tasks, and the summation of job facets helps managers zero in on problems and deal with them faster and more accurately.
Which of the following is true about emotions?
Answer: They are critical to rational thinking. Explanation of Answer: Emotions are critical to rational thinking. It is important to have the ability to experience emotions in order to be rational. Our emotions provide important information about how we understand the world around us.
Which of the following is true of values?
Answer: They have content and intensity attributes. Explanation of Answer: Values contain a judgmental element in that they carry an individual's ideas as to what is right, good, or desirable. Values have both content and intensity attributes. Values tend to be relatively stable and enduring. A significant portion of the values we hold is established in our early years. Values may change, but more often they are reinforced.
Which of the following statements represents the cognitive component of attitude?
Answer: This job is not giving me an opportunity to explore my skills. Explanation of Answer: The cognitive component of an attitude is a description of, or belief in the way things are, which is exemplified in the statement, "This job is not giving me an opportunity to explore my skills."
Which of the following statements is true regarding a merit-based pay plan?
Answer: Unions typically resist merit-based pay plan. Explanation of Answer: A merit-based pay plan pays for individual performance based on performance appraisal ratings. Unions typically resist merit pay plans. A pure piece-rate pay plan provides no base salary and pays the employee only for what he or she produces.
Which of the following terms best describes organizations that allow people to communicate and work together even though they may be thousands of miles apart?
Answer: flat organizations Explanation of Answer : Networked organizations allow people to communicate and work together even though they may be thousands of miles apart.
Susan Daniels works for an event management company and is discontent with her job because she was passed over for a promotion. She has now composed a list of concerns and plans to discuss the issue with her supervisor. Daniels' response to the problem is referred to as ________.
Answer: voice Explanation of Answer : According to the exit-voice-loyalty-neglect framework, the voice response includes actively and constructively attempting to improve conditions, including suggesting improvements, discussing problems with superiors, and undertaking some forms of union activity.