Deck 10: Communication and Conflict

Question 1

Ombudspersons are official arbitrators who hold a special hierarchical position in some large organizations.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

To be considered "workplace bullying," behavior needs to persist over time.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Studies reveal that men and women can sometimes talk about sexual harassment with the same words and phrases but intend different meanings without even knowing it.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Individuals should never use the conflict strategy of avoidance.

Question 5

Role overload can trigger intrarole and interrole conflicts.

Question 6

Conflict is always the result of poor communication.

Question 7

Organizations and teams should always seek to reduce task conflicts.

Question 8

Two people in a group are trying to become the informal leader of the group. Because they have different ideas of what the group should do, they often disagree. This is an example of which type of conflict?

A) intragroup conflict
B) intrapersonal conflict
C) intergroup conflict
D) interorganizational conflict

Question 9

A student organization leader has trouble deciding on whether to run efficient meetings or meetings that are fun but less productive. This is an example of what type of conflict?

A) intragroup conflict
B) intrapersonal conflict
C) intergroup conflict
D) interorganizational conflict

Question 10

Two employees want their manager to decide who deserves how much commission for sales on a big account. They both think they deserve the most credit. Their manager finally says, "You two decide and let me know your decision by the end of the day today. I'll abide by your decision." The manager is using which type of conflict style?

A) collaborating
B) compromising
C) competing
D) accommodating
E) avoiding

Question 11

In dividing up new office space, two departments each want large offices and more space than is available. Finally, the groups agree that one group will get larger offices but less overall work space, while the other group gets smaller offices but more space. This is an example of which conflict style being used?

A) collaborating
B) compromise
C) competing
D) accommodation
E) avoiding

Question 12

Pat and Chris work together in the same office. Whenever they disagree on some procedure, Chris gives in to Pat to maintain a positive relationship. Chris is using which type of conflict style?

A) avoiding
B) accommodating
C) competing
D) compromising
E) collaborative

Question 13

Chris is Pat's manager. Pat wants to purchase supplies from a new company that is supposed to have better quality. Chris prefers to stay with the old suppler and announces there will be no change. Chris is using which conflict style?

A) collaborating
B) compromising (viable solution)
C) competing
D) accommodating
E) avoiding style

Question 14

Two managers both want to hire a new employee but the budget only has enough funding for one position between the two of them. They eventually figure out a way to both use some extra funding they have for technology to have enough money so both of them can hire a full-time employee. Their boss approves. They used which conflict style?

A) avoidance
B) accommodating
C) competing
D) compromise
E) collaborative

Question 15

Two methods of third-party intervention in conflict are mediation and arbitration. Which of the following is true of the arbitrator but not true of the mediator?

A) attempts to remain unbiased or neutral
B) makes a decision that both parties must follow
C) listens to both sides of the conflict
D) is not associated with either party in the conflict

Question 16

A mediator and an arbitrator are similar in many ways. Which of the following makes a mediator different from an arbitrator?

A) listens to both sides
B) works until both sides agree
C) remains unbiased
D) is not a member of either group.

Question 17

While the terms are somewhat different, a person using integrative bargaining is quite similar to which conflict style?

A) avoiding
B) accommodating
C) collaborative
D) competing

Question 18

Although the terms are somewhat different, a person who uses a distributive bargaining approach is quite similar to person who uses which conflict style?

A) competing
B) avoiding
C) accommodating.
D) collaborating
E) compromising

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of a task conflict?

A) A number of group members disagree on the steps they should follow as a group.
B) A number of group members have different ideas about how to complete a project.
C) Two group members want to take the primary leadership role in the group.
D) Two group members have a personal history of disagreeing with each other.

Question 20

Moderate levels of task conflict can lead better group outcomes. Which of the following is an example of a moderate level of task conflict for a project team?

A) Two members are unwilling to compromise on the details of the final project.
B) Two members seem to have a disagreeable relationship but it does not interfere.
C) Members have decided to go along with whatever the leader recommends.
D) Members have different ideas for improving the details of the final project.

Question 21

Which of the following describes a situation in which a moderate level of task conflict could be beneficial?

A) The group is dealing with an unusual problem they have not faced previously.
B) The group is dealing with a routine problem they have faced previously.
C) The group is having trouble getting along with each other again.
D) The group is having trouble deciding how to organize their work.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a factor in defining bullying?

A) the intensity or severity of the behavior
B) the gender or sex of the people involved
C) the repetition or frequency of the behavior
D) the power or perception of power of those involved

Question 23

A supervisor and a subordinate get into an intense argument that last for 30 minutes over how to address a problem. Why would this not likely qualify as bullying?

A) The behavior was not intense enough.
B) The behavior did not last long not enough.
C) The power disparity is not enough.
D) The behavior was not repeated again.

Question 24

Which of the following is not something an organization needs to do to help eliminate bullying?

A) provide training so employees can identify bullying behaviors
B) design the workplace so employees are not isolated for potential bullying
C) hire security personnel to watch for bullying behaviors between employees
D) develop a culture that considers bullying unacceptable and against the norm

Question 25

After a bullying event is reported, managers need to do all of the following except

A) determine whether the organizational culture and climate tolerate bullying.
B) support the victim by providing private, secure ways of reporting bullying.
C) create a department in human resources to address bullying instances.
D) restructure physical spaces or jobs to eliminate opportunities for further bullying.

Question 26

Flirting and sexual harassment are both social-sexual behaviors. One important difference between the two behaviors is

A) the status or position of the participants.
B) the amount of physical contact between participants.
C) whether the behavior is wanted or unwanted.
D) whether the behavior is repeated more than once.

Question 27

Flirting and sexual harassment are both social-sexual behaviors. Which of the following is not an important difference in defining sexual harassment?

A) The behavior is unwanted.
B) The behavior is used to gain power over another.
C) The behavior is repetitive.
D) The behavior is used to gain personal benefit.

Question 28

Although men and women may use similar language to describe sexual harassment, they may interpret situation differently. For example, research shows that

A) women are more likely to consider flirting appropriate in the workplace.
B) men are more likely to consider flirting appropriate in the workplace.
C) men are less likely to consider touching a woman on the shoulder inappropriate.
D) women are less likely to consider attractive initiators as harassers.

Question 29

To address sexual harassment, organizations should

A) create workplaces that reduce interactions between men and women.
B) have separate departments to handle sexual harassment incidents.
C) create policies that define sexual harassment and consequences for perpetrators.
D) have limited power differentials between supervisors and subordinates.

Question 30

Using the definition of conflict, refute the claim: "Conflict is only present if someone is angry."

Question 31

Define and differentiate latent and manifest conflict. Explain why the distinction is important to our understanding of conflict.

Question 32

Describe three potentially positive outcomes of conflict.

Question 33

Explain the conflict management strategies of avoiding, competing, and collaborating. Then, explain the conditions in which the use of avoiding, competing, and collaborating is ideal.

Question 34

Identify and define three kinds of unethical bargaining tactics.

Question 35

Explain why it can be difficult to define sexual harassment and bullying.

Question 36

Describe steps organizations should take to address sexual harassment and bullying.