Leadership: Chapter 8

Which action is reflective of the leadership role necessary for a successful planned change to occur? A. Demonstrates flexibility in goal setting B. Recognizing the need for a planned change. C. Identifying the resources that are available to support a change D. Support the staff during the implementation of a planned change.

A Feedback: Leaders demonstrate flexibility in goal setting in a rapidly changing health-care system. The other options are associated with management functions associated with change.

Which behavior/attitude makes it likely that a planned change will be unsuccessful? A. The suggested change is brought forward after the plan has been formalized B. Individuals affected by the change are involved in planning for the change C. The change agent is aware of the organization's internal and external environment. D. An assessment of resources to carry out the plan is completed before unfreezing

A. The suggested change is brought forward after the plan has been formalized Feedback: Employees should be involved in the change process. When information and decision making are shared, subordinates will be more accepting of the change. The other options support the change.

Which situation is associated with and aging organization? A. Retired staff is replaced with new graduate nurses B. State of the art cardiac monitoring equipment is placed in the ICU C. The unit functions with strict adheres to institutional rules and policies D. A suggestion committee composed of staff and management meets monthly

C Feedback: The young organization is characterized by high energy, movement, and virtually constant change and adaptation. Aged organizations have established ìturf boundaries,î function in an orderly and predictable fashion, and are focused on rules and regulations. Change is limited.

Which activity is associated with the movement stage of the development of a plan? A. Gather data B. Accurately diagnose the problem C. Decide if change is needed D. Develop a plan

D Feedback: A responsibility of the movement stage is to develop a plan. Responsibilities of the change agent in the unfreezing stage are as follows: Gather data, accurately diagnose the problem, and decide if change is needed.

What is required to successfully implement the chaos theory of change? A. Most stakeholders accepting the need for change B. Finding solutions to resistance to change C. Changing attitudes more than increasing knowledge D. Finding underlying order in random data

D Feedback: Chaos theory requires finding underlying order in apparent random data.

What activity associated with the unfreezing state of change will have the greatest impact on the success of the movement stage of the change process? A. Accurate identification of the problem requiring change B. Effective information gathering concerning the problem C. Key personnel voicing their opinions regarding the need for change D. The need for change is perceived by all those affected by the problem

D Feedback: The change agent should not proceed to the movement stage until the status quo has been disrupted and the need for change is perceived by the others. While the other options will affect the process, perception of the need to change by all affected by the change is the most impactful of the options provided.

What is the basic argument for the use of rational empirical change strategies? A. Information supports change B. Peer influence brings about change C. Reward based incentives influence change D. Punishment supports the acceptance of change

A Feedback: The change agent using this set of strategies assumes that resistance to change comes from a lack of knowledge and that humans are rational beings who will change when given factual information documenting the need for change. Normativeñreeducative strategies use group norms and peer pressure to socialize and influence people so that change will occur. Powerñcoercive strategies, features the application of power by legitimate authority, economic sanctions or rewards, or political clout of the change agent.

Which force is driving change in today's health care environment? (Select all that apply.) A. Increased cost of health care services B. Decrease in health care professionals and providers C. Decreased third party reimburse of health care services D. Increased need to update health are related technologies

A, B, C, D Feedback: Many forces are driving change in contemporary health care, including rising health- care costs, declining reimbursement, workforce shortages, increasing technology, the dynamic nature of knowledge, and a growing elderly population. Contemporary health- care agencies then must continually institute change to upgrade their structure, promote greater quality, and keep their workers. Wages for health-care professions and providers have not contributed significantly to the changes in today's health-care environment.

Which statement is true regarding planned change? (Select all that apply.) A. Resistance to change should be expected as a natural part of the change process. B. Change should be viewed as a chance to do something innovative C. Technical changes are more resisted by staff than social changes are. D. Change affects the homeostasis of a group

A, B, D Feedback: Change should not be viewed as a threat but as a challenge and a chance to do something new and innovative. Change should be implemented only for good reason. Because change disrupts the homeostasis or balance of the group, resistance should be expected as a natural part of the change process. The level of resistance to change generally depends on the type of change proposed not the age of the staff affected by the change. Technological changes encounter less resistance than changes that are perceived as social or that are contrary to established customs or norms.

Which statement is true concerning the refreezing phase of the change process? (Select all that apply.) A. The focus of this phase is to integrate the change into the status quo. B. Stabilization of change requires a 6- to 9 month period of time C. If refreezing is incomplete, prechange behavior will be resumed D. The change agent must remain involved until the refreeze stage is complete

A, C, D Feedback: During the refreezing phase, the change agent assists in stabilizing the system change so that it becomes integrated into the status quo. If refreezing is incomplete, the change will be ineffective and the prechange behaviors will be resumed. For refreezing to occur, the change agent must be supportive and reinforce the individual adaptive efforts of those affected by the change. Because change needs at least 3 to 6 months before it will be accepted as part of the system, the change agent must be sure that he or she will remain involved until the change is completed. The successfulness of the refreezing stage is dependent about the acceptance of change by all staff.

It is appropriate to make a change for which reason? (Select all that apply) A. To solve an existing problem B. To increase staff efficiency C. To reduce unnecessary workload D. To improve staff productivity

A,B,C,D Feedback: Change should be implemented only for good reasons such as the solution of an existing problem, increasing staff efficiency, eliminating unnecessary workload and improving productivity. Boredom alone is not a sufficient reason to institute change.

Which change is easier to make? A. Personal behavior B. Group behavior C. Group knowledge D. Personal attitudes

A. Feedback: It is much easier to change a person's behavior than it is to change an entire group's behavior. It is easier to change knowledge levels than attitudes.

In planning strategies to prevent stagnation and promote renewal, which action would most likely result in the desired outcome? A. Developing a program for recruitment of young talent B. Rewarding employees by promoting from within C. Having set pay increases mandated annually D. Using longevity to determine committee selection

A. Feedback: The constant influx of young talent brings new ideas to the organization. The other options are not as relevant to the prevention of stagnation and promotion of renewal.

Which would be a normal and expected behavioral response during the unfreezing phase of change? A. Anger B. Withdrawal and acceptance C. Open acceptance D. Active Collaboration

A. Anger Feedback: During the unfreezing stage, people become discontented, and even angry, with the status quo. Ironically, they may also become angry that change is needed, because of the resistance that is a normal and expected part of the change process. The other options are not usually associated with the unfreezing phase of change.

Refusing to work with a staff member who dresses unprofessionally most closely represents which change strategy? A. Power coercive B. Normative Reeducative C. Rational Empirical D. Resistance Withdrawl

A. Power Coercive Feedback: The powerñcoercive strategy assumes that people are often set in their ways and will change only when faced by negative sanctions or some other method that demonstrates power and/or coercion. This is not the principle guiding any of the other options.

Distributing flyers that charge arbitrary action on the part of an employer in an effort to garner interest in employee unionization would be a part of what phase of planned change? A. Unfreezing B. Movement C. Refreezing D. Resistance

A. Unfreezing Feedback: Unfreezing occurs when the change agent coerces members of the group to change, or when guilt, anxiety, or concern can be elicited. This is not observed in the other options.

Which statement reflects an important factor to consider when implementing a planned change? A. Change should be implemented suddenly B. Change should be implemented gradually C. Change should be implemented arbitrarily D. Change should be implemented sporadically

B Feedback: Change should be planned and thus implemented gradually, not sporadically or suddenly and certainly not arbitrarily.

Which factor is the greatest contributor to the resistance encountered with organizational change? A. Poor organizational leadership B. Presence of employee mistrust C. Ineffective organizational management D. Insufficient staff involvement in the process

B Feedback: Perhaps the greatest factor contributing to the resistance encountered with change is a lack of trust between the employee and the manager or the employee and the organization. While the other options may increase resistance, employee distrust is the primary barrier to change.

Which characteristics associated with change by drift changes? (Select all that apply.) A. They are planned B. They are accidental C. They are unplanned D. They are a result of a threat

B, C Feedback: Change by drift is unplanned or accidental. The other options are not characteristics of changes that are a result of change by drift.

Historically many of the changes that have occurred in nursing or have affected the profession are the result of what type of change? A. Planned B. Change by drift C. Rational empirical D. Normative educative

B. Feedback: Historically, many of the changes that have occurred in nursing or have affected the profession are the result of change by drift. While other types of changes have occurred, change by drift accounts for most of them.

What characteristics is associated with organizational groups assigned to manage the change process? A. Both formulate and implement the change B. Have representation from all key stakeholders C. Are made up of quality circles D. Are teams of resistance breakers

B. Feedback: In some large organizations today, multidisciplinary teams of individuals, representing all key stakeholders in the organization, are assigned the responsibility for managing the change process. In such organizations, this team manages the communication between the people leading the change effort and those who are expected to implement the new strategies.

Which statement is true regarding the philosophy of nonlinear change theories? A. Change occurs in sequential steps. B. Change is predictable. C. Change success relies on policies and hierarchies. D. Change is necessary because organizational stability is brief

D. Feedback: Most twenty-first-century organizations experience fairly brief periods of stability followed by intense transformation.

Which action represents a management function in planned change? A. Inspiring group members to be involved in planned change. B. Visionary forecasting C. Role modeling high level interpersonal communication skills in providing support for individuals undergoing rapid or difficult change D. Recognizing the need for planned change and identifying the options and resources available to implement change.

D. Feedback: Recognizing the need for planned change and identifying the options and resources available to implement change are management functions; the other choices are leadership functions.

Which activity does a change agent make a commitment to in order to best assure a successful implementation of a change? A. Helping followers arrive at total consensus regarding the change B. Encouraging subgroup opposition to change so many viewpoints can be heard C. Using change by drift if the resistance to change is too strong D. Being available to support those affected by a change until the change is complete

D. Feedback: The change agent needs to offer support to others so that the change occurs. The other options are not as impactful on a successful transition to change.

Which description best describes the theory behind nonlinear change? A. It occurs in organized steps B. It must have a logical sequence C. It results in equilibrium D. It has unpredictable outcomes

D. It has unpredictable outcomes Feedback: Nonlinear change states that the dynamics and outcomes of change are always unpredictable. Nonlinear change does not involve the other statements.