Deck 11: Managing Organizational Change and Crises

Question 1

Which of the following is a potential effect of downsizing?

A) increase in voluntary departure of other skilled employees
B) surviving employees' belief that the organization is unstable
C) difficulty in recruiting talent
D) all of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is often experienced by survivors of downsizing?

A) lightened workload
B) decreased turnover
C) burnout
D) less options for other employment

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is a way to try to avoid company layoffs?

A) temporary office closures
B) reductions to employee benefits
C) hiring freezes
D) all of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Janet's organization needs to implement a major change, but it will require collaborating with another organization. This is an example of which of the following suggestions of Tim Brown?

A) Begin at the beginning.
B) Take a human-centered approach.
C) Get professional help.
D) Blend big and small projects.

Question 5

Janet's manager emphasizes that, during their organization's change, it will be necessary not to rush so quickly into the change that they run out of resources. This warning falls within which of the following suggestions of Tim Brown?

A) Get professional help.
B) Share the inspiration.
C) Blend big and small projects.
D) Budget to the pace of innovation.

Question 6

Which of the following is essential to an effective change process?

A) framing
B) failure
C) creativity
D) all of the above

Question 7

Which of the following best describes a learning organization?

A) recognizes the value of all team members
B) utilizes effective systems of communication
C) fosters creative thinking
D) all of the above

Question 8

Anna feels very important to her organization. The way that Anna feels demonstrates which quality of learning organizations?

A) recognizing value of all team members
B) utilizing effective systems of communication
C) fostering creative thinking
D) reevaluating and changing

Question 9

Which of the following is true of crisis and change?

A) It can be a planned change.
B) It can be an impetus for change.
C) It can happen because of a failure to change.
D) both b and c

Question 10

Which of the following is true of communication and crisis?

A) Communication can keep a crisis contained.
B) Communication can escalate a crisis.
C) Communication can be the reason for a crisis.
D) all of the above

Question 11

Mary's organization was directed by an individual who was flaky and often used the organization's resources carelessly. Employees noticed these habits but did not do anything to stop him, until one day the director left, leaving the organization in financial ruin and, ultimately, a crisis. The organization's failure to recognize the warning signs falls within which phase of crisis?

A) signal detection
B) preparation/prevention
C) recovery
D) learning

Question 12

Most organizational crises are

A) highly dramatic.
B) unlikely to occur.
C) less dramatic than anticipated.
D) easy to anticipate.

Question 13

Franklin's organization has asked him to construct a strategy for organizational learning in the wake of a crisis. Franklin is participating in preparing for which key element of a crisis plan?

A) Designate a spokesperson.
B) Have a system ready for monitoring responses.
C) Have a postcrisis review plan.
D) Know your stakeholders.

Question 14

In addition to correcting the issue, crisis communication should do __________ primary things.

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five

Question 15

A crisis communication plan should involve developing key messages for internal and external publics as well as monitor responses and mention of the organization within those publics. This falls in line with the action of

A) reducing tension.
B) demonstrate consistent ethical commitment.
C) control the flow of information.
D) manage the recovery.

Question 16

A successful crisis communication plan will

A) acknowledge the emotions involved.
B) exceed the expectations of stakeholders.
C) foster organizational learning.
D) all of the above

Question 17

__________, the last phase of crisis management, refers to adequate reflection and critical examinations of the crisis.

A) Signal detection
B) Damage litigation
C) Recovery
D) Learning

Question 18

In __________ organizations, crisis can be localized within a department and resolved swiftly or can infect the whole organization if it takes too long to control.

A) for-profit
B) family entrepreneurship
C) nonprofit
D) government sector

Question 19

A __________ organization may be able to deal with change and crises more quickly than a large corporation because there are fewer layers for decision-making.

A) for-profit
B) family entrepreneurship
C) nonprofit
D) government sector

Question 20

In __________ organizations, resistance to change may take a more political form.

A) for-profit
B) family entrepreneurship
C) nonprofit
D) government sector

Question 21

Why is it so crucial to make sure employees remain important during a change process?

Question 22

Why is framing such an important element of managing crisis?

Question 23

Which qualities help an organization to be a learning organization?

Question 24

What does it mean that crisis communication should be dynamic?

Question 25

Describe the reasons why downsizing is such a significant unintended cost to an organization.

Question 26

Describe the components a crisis communication plan should have and why those components are useful in dealing with crisis.