C208 - Assessment - Module 3

Which of the following is an example of a challenge typically faced by the leader of a nonprofit? a) Pressure from stakeholders to better serve clients b) Pressure from shareholders to improve financial shareholders c) Pressure from the board of directors to improve stock price d) None of the above

Feedback: The correct answer is A. Leaders must please stakeholders and the membership of a nonprofit.

A survey by Towers Watson found what percentage of respondents thought they could sustain gains from their change efforts over the long term? a) 25 percent b) 45 percent c) 50 percent d) 75 percent

Feedback: The correct answer is A. Only 25 percent of respondents said they could sustain gains from their change efforts over the long term.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the goal of communicating change? a) Communicating change should inform people about what is to come and how it will impact the organization. b) Communicating change allows management to encourage staff to start looking for new employment. c) Communicating change allows the organization's leadership to highlight past successes. d) Communicating change should discourage employees from expressing their views.

Feedback: The correct answer is A. People need to know what is coming with a change and how it is going to impact their role in the organization.

Which of the following is not typically considered an example of a change effort "safety net"? a) quality circles b) contingency planning c) trial periods d) beta tests

Feedback: The correct answer is A. Quality circles are not typically considered a change effort safety net.

Leaders in a government agency want to institute performance measures. Which of the following is most likely to gauge how well the organization is serving its constituency? a) Surveys of client satisfaction b) Turnover of agency employees c) Number of client cases closed d) Year-over-year growth in number of client cases closed

Feedback: The correct answer is A. Surveys of client satisfaction are a better measure of how well the agency is serving clients than the number of cases closed (which is a productivity metric) or turnover of employees (which doesn't directly pertain to clients).

A manager examines a team of programmers while they build a mobile application. The manager then installs productivity software on each team member's computer to track efficiency and examine potential lags in current workflows. This example reflects which of the following management theories? a) scientific management b) scope management c) cognitive management d) emotional management

Feedback: The correct answer is A. This example best reflects scientific management, a theory of management developed from the research of Frederick W. Taylor, who studied labor productivity by applying the scientific method.

Why must organizations adequately consider the strategic context for a change initiative? a) It's crucial that the change initiative be aligned with organizational goals. b) Organizations with a clear strategic focus are unlikely to need change initiatives. c) Change leaders may find they are isolated from their peers without this context. d) Employees may become confused if the change initiative doesn't specifically address the organization's mission statement.

Feedback: The correct answer is A. Without adequate research, the change initiative can be focused on the wrong areas or employ incorrect solutions.

Which of the following is the best way to improve how people view and respond to change? a) Let employees telecommute or work from home so that they believe management is demonstrating flexibility during a time of change. b) Offer management support throughout the change process and continuously communicate with employees. c) Let employees work at their own pace rather than set milestones. d) Take consistent and immediate disciplinary actions with employees who don't immediately embrace the change effort.

Feedback: The correct answer is B. By offering support throughout the change process people learn new skills and feel more committed to the change.

Which of the following approaches are most likely to persuade employees of the value of a change initiative? a) Couple the success of the change initiatives with incentives like bonuses and pay raises. b) Enlist the support of popular and respected employees for the change initiative. c) Highlight the accomplishments of the executive team responsible for the change initiative. d) Invest in training for employees on any new processes and procedures introduced by the change initiative.

Feedback: The correct answer is B. Employees are more likely to jump on board with a new initiative if a valued and respected manager or employees shows they support the change initiative.

Which scenario reflects best practice in how change should first be communicated to the members of an organization? a) Change should be initially communicated through an email that highlights all of the tasks that need to be completed in the first six months of the change initiative. b) Key leaders should explain the risks of not changing, what some of the benefits will be from the changes, and how the organization will look after changes take place. c) Senior managers are briefed by the CEO about the change initiative. Then in turn they email their reports with what is expected of employees. d) Change should be communicated quickly and clearly through social media so there's no delay in informing employees.

Feedback: The correct answer is B. Leaders should meet with individuals and explain all the benefits of the change and present the information enthusiastically and positively.

Which of the following is not considered a management tool, according to Christensen, Marx, and Stevenson? a) measurement systems b) role modeling c) standard operating procedures d) training

Feedback: The correct answer is B. Role modeling is a leadership tool, according to Christensen, Marx, and Stevenson, not a management tool.

Which of the Five Ps is being employed when a change leader describes the future post-change organization? a) Purpose b) Prize c) Picture d) Part

Feedback: The correct answer is B. The change leader would be describing the Prize, the impact the change will have on the organization.

Employees in a multinational corporation are complaining that they don't get key documents involving a change effort on a timely basis. Which of the following is the most likely solution to this challenge? a) Email all employees updated documents b) Employ collaborative software to give employees access through downloading c) Hold video web conferences to brief employees on changes d) Send email summaries to change leaders in each office

Feedback: The correct answer is B. The multinational is most likely to employ collaborative software to give employees access through downloading.

Fill in the blank with the correct statement. Creating a plan prior to the execution of change most importantly provides the organization's leaders a tool to ___________. a) diagnose the current state of the organization b) manage expectations, allocate resources, set timeframes, and spell out the tasks to be completed c) define organizational culture d) manage employee benefits, holiday schedules, and when the hours of business should be

Feedback: The correct answer is B. The plan most importantly provides all of the steps leaders need to implement change.

Which of the following is not considered a leadership tool, according to Christensen, Marx, and Stevenson? a) vision b) charisma c) coercion d) salesmanship

Feedback: The correct answer is C. Coercion is a power tool, according to Christensen, Marx, and Stevenson.

Which scenario is an example of a change initiative that has gone poorly in the execution stage? a) Organizational leaders cannot reach agreement on the top goals in an initial brainstorming session for the change initiative. b) A senior executive is privately criticizing the change initiative to her subordinates and the CEO hasn't been willing to confront her and tell her to stop. c) The change initiative calls for new telecommunication software to better enable virtual meetings with European partners. The IT manager purchases the cheapest software package, which doesn't include key features. d) At the kickoff meeting for the change initiative, several employees ask why the CEO isn't present.

Feedback: The correct answer is C. Concerned about cost, the IT manager has performed the task asked of him, but has not addressed the core issue. The strategy was executed poorly.

Which of the following best describes Taylorism? a) Taylorism is the scientific study of business relationships between people and their managers. b) Taylorism encourages employees to suggest changes so they will be more efficient. c) Taylorism promotes the theory that productivity will be improved when employees have more breaks to prevent fatigue. d) Taylorism encourages employees to make independent choices about how they work.

Feedback: The correct answer is C. If employees are refreshed they can be more productive.

How long did John Kotter estimate it would take for a significant change to become embedded in an organization? a) one year b) two to five years c) five to ten years d) Kotter didn't provide an estimate

Feedback: The correct answer is C. Kotter estimated it would take five to ten years

Frederick W. Taylor became known as the father of scientific management during the _________ . a) 18th century b) 19th century c) 20th century d) 21st century

Feedback: The correct answer is C. Taylorism began at the turn of the 20th century.

What is the current academic view of the Hawthorne Effect? a) The Hawthorne Effect is a key insight into how behavior is influenced by observation. b) The Hawthorne Effect has been validated by more recent research and remains a viable theory of behavior. c) The Hawthorne Effect hasn't been completely validated by more recent research but it remains a viable theory of behavior.

Feedback: The correct answer is C. The current view questions the validity of the Hawthorne Effect while applauding the intentions of the researchers.

Which of the following is an example of a measurable goal? a) We will start the project on time. b) We will be more open to suggestions in the future. c) We will deliver the product to the customer by the end of September. d) We will purchase some new office equipment this fall.

Feedback: The correct answer is C. This is a measurable goal because it will be easy to determine when progress has been made and when the goal has been reached.

Fill in the blank with the correct statement. Top-down change ______________. a) fully involves frontline employees b) works well for complex organizations with multiple constituencies c) is often employed in hierarchical organizations d) allows employees the chance to shape the transition

Feedback: The correct answer is C. Top-down change is often employed in hierarchical organizations.

The members of an organization agree on a specific goal, but each team within the organization has a different opinion about how to achieve that goal. According to Christensen, Marx, and Stevenson, which cooperation tool would be most useful? a) rituals b) control systems c) training d) role modeling

Feedback: The correct answer is D. In this scenario, the group agrees on where to go but not on how to get there, so "leadership tools," such as role modeling, vision, and charisma, will be most useful for effecting the desired change.

Which of the following is not a goal of communicating change? a) Communicating change is an opportunity to explain step-by-step how the organization plans to meet its change goals. b) A goal of communicating change is to make sure everyone hears the purpose of the change so they will be up to speed as to what is coming. c) A goal of communicating change is to educate people about what the future organization will look like. d) Communicating change gives employees an opportunity to raise any specific concerns they have about compensation and benefits.

Feedback: The correct answer is D. It is not a goal of communicating change to hear employee concerns about compensation or benefits; there are other venues for this

Which one of the following is not a challenge a leader in the private sector is likely to face when initiating change? a) Corporate culture can impede change (unwillingness to accept urgency) b) Top-down organizational structure (hierarchy) can impede change c) Pressure from shareholders d) Pressure from voters

Feedback: The correct answer is D. Leaders in corporations are less likely to face pressure from voters, although this may happen with certain issues like the environment