Deck 2: The Changing Environment of Organizations

Question 1

Businesses have found that they can be more competitive if they can greatly decrease cycle times.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A culture low in masculinity is not aggressive and is not concerned with the acquisition of money and other possessions.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Cultural diversity can enhance synergy in an organization.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

More and more firms are moving back to domestic markets to control costs, especially to reduce labor costs.

Question 5

Differences in age, gender, ethnicity, and physical ability are all considered to be components of diversity.

Question 6

A prejudice is a generalization about a person or a group of persons based on certain characteristics or traits.

Question 7

Some of the growth of international business can be attributed to communication and transportation advances.

Question 8

An employee in a collectivistic culture would be much more concerned about her work than about her relationships with others.

Question 9

Four Seasons Hotels is an example of a manufacturing organization.

Question 10

In Mexico, people prefer to be in a situation in which authority is not emphasized and lines of authority are overlooked or deemphasized.

Question 11

The environment of business is expected to continue changing in the future.

Question 12

The most effective service organizations produce intangible outcomes for their customers.

Question 13

Today, the workplace in the United States might be regarded as more of a "tossed salad" made up of a mosaic of different flavors, colors, and textures.

Question 14

Workforce diversity refers to the important similarities and differences among the employees of the organization.

Question 15

Valuing diversity means appreciating the varying ideas and perspectives that are provided by a heterogeneous workforce.

Question 16

Culture helps a group understand which actions are acceptable and which are unacceptable.

Question 17

Advances in information technology have resulted in communication at work that is less personal in nature.

Question 18

Workforce diversity is mostly occurring in the United States, rather than in other countries around the world.

Question 19

The white male segment of the workforce is expected to decrease as a proportion of the workforce in the next decade.

Question 20

In 2014, the volume of international trade in current dollars was more than 50 times greater than the amount in 1960.

Question 21

All of the following are considered cultural dimensions​ EXCEPT

A) individualism/collectivism.
B) uncertainty avoidance.
C) power distance.
D) masculinity.
E) open-mindedness.

Question 22

The most significant source of change impacting many organizations today is increasing

A) cultural change
B) corporate governance
C) globalization
D) business ethics
E) technological knowledge

Question 23

Knowledge workers include scientists, engineers, product designers, and video game developers.

Question 24

​Globalization is one of the most significant sources of change for organizations today.

Question 25

The culture of the United States has a more long-term orientation than that of Japan or Germany.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is NOT true about individualistic cultures?

A) It is important to stand out in the crowd.
B) It is important to fit in with the group.
C) Tasks are more important than relationships.
D) Promotion is based on skills and rules.
E) People are more concerned with themselves than with their work groups.

Question 27

​It is not realistic to claim or to pursue an "I'm totally unbiased" stance with regard to diversity.

Question 28

Understanding and addressing the environment of a business has traditionally been the purview of

A) supervisors
B) stockholders
C) workers and line managers
D) stakeholders
E) top managers

Question 29

​Regardless of differences in religion, language, or politics, countries that are located near each other tend to have similar societal cultures.

Question 30

Which of the following statements regarding cross-cultural differences and similarities is not true?

A) Cultures and national boundaries always coincide.
B) Culture is a set of values that is often taken for granted.
C) A manager behaves differently in different cultural settings.
D) There are profound cultural differences between Southern California and Texas.
E) Japanese and U.S.workers are likely to have different attitudes toward work.

Question 31

​Diversity training and diversity education need to communicate that bias is not a part of being human.

Question 32

The dimension of uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which

A) workers prefer unambiguous situations.
B) workers focus on the future.
C) acquisition of money and things is emphasized.
D) women are allowed to work in society.
E) men maintain a glass ceiling.

Question 33

Rapid change in business relationships, organizational structures, and financial systems has made it easier to keep accurate track of a company's financial position.

Question 34

Which of the following is true about employees working in the same company but in different locations?

A) Their behaviors may differ within and across countries.
B) Their behaviors will be the same regardless of their location.
C) Their behaviors at work are not important.
D) Their behaviors will have nothing to do with their locations.
E) Their behaviors will be the same within single countries, but may differ from one country to the next.

Question 35

Masculinity

A) gives employees a sense of autonomy.
B) is the extent to which workers focus on the future.
C) enhances organizational effectiveness.
D) emphasizes assertiveness.
E) is the extent to which workers prefer clear situations.

Question 36

Board independence is an issue when a board of directors includes members from related or partner firms.

Question 37

The environment of all organizations is changing at a(n) ____ rate.

A) decreased
B) slowing
C) unprecedented
D) moderate
E) inelastic

Question 38

All of the following are true about stereotypes EXCEPT

A) they lead to an appreciation of individual differences
B) they are based on certain characteristics or traits
C) they ignore the specific person
D) they are generalizations
E) they ignore the current situation

Question 39

Which of the following is a cultural dimension identified by Hofstede?

A) ethical idealism
B) groupthink
C) power distance
D) workforce diversity
E) consumer behavior

Question 40

Another term for power distance is ____.

A) deontology
B) teleology
C) individualism
D) orientation to authority
E) collectivism

Question 41

A form of business that combines and transforms resources into tangible outcomes that are then sold to others is called a(n)

A) manufacturing organization.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organization.
E) hybrid organization.

Question 42

Not paying attention to diversity can be costly to organizations in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A) it can decrease turnover.
B) it can lower productivity.
C) it can block minority involvement in decision making.
D) it can increase tensions among workers.
E) it can increase lawsuits.

Question 43

Which of the following is a component of deep-level diversity?

A) physical abilities
B) goals
C) age
D) gender
E) ethnicity

Question 44

Which of the following statements about technology is NOT true?

A) Technology is a major driver for organizational change.
B) It has widespread effects on the behavior of people in the organization.
C) Technology provides a competitive advantage
D) It combines and transforms resources into outcomes.
E) It is causing shift toward a service-based economy.

Question 45

AMD makes computer chips that are installed in various computers.AMD is an example of a(n)

A) manufacturing organization.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organization.
E) hybrid organization.

Question 46

Stereotypes can best be defined as

A) favoring people similar to you.
B) focusing on differences among people.
C) grouping people into different categories.
D) judgments about others that reinforce beliefs about superiority and inferiority.
E) making generalizations about groups of people.

Question 47

An ice cream maker requires approximately two months from the time a new flavor is decided on in the corporate board room to the time it is produced and available to consumers in stores.This time is called

A) competitive advantage time.
B) information technology time.
C) cycle time.
D) production time.
E) made-to-order time.

Question 48

Which of the following statements about knowledge workers is NOT true?

A) Knowledge workers include computer scientists.
B) Knowledge workers require highly specialized training.
C) Compensation is specially tailored for the knowledge worker.
D) Knowledge workers do not add value to the organization.
E) Knowledge workers are video game developers.

Question 49

Which of the following statements about information technology is NOTtrue?

A) It has resulted in leaner organizations.
B) It provides more flexible operations.
C) It has provided more down time for employees.
D) It has increased collaboration among employees.
E) It has improved management processes.

Question 50

​Which statement accurately describes a downside of information technology?​

A) It has increased personal communication.
B) It has increased a sense of urgency vis-à-vis decision-making.
C) It has increased ethical decision-making for managers.
D) It has resulted in more down time for managers.
E) It has created inflexible worksites.

Question 51

A form of business that transforms resources into an intangible output and creates time or place utility for its customers is called a(n)

A) manufacturing organization.
B) biotechnology firm.
C) information technology firm.
D) service organization.
E) hybrid organization.

Question 52

Which of the following workforce groups will increase the LEASTin size between 2006 and 2016?

A) 25 to 54 year olds
B) 55 to 64 year olds
C) 65 to 74 year olds
D) 75 years and older
E) ​Total, 16 years and older

Question 53

____ refers to the variety of observable and unobservable similarities and differences among people.

A) Diversity
B) Race
C) Ethnocentrism
D) Ethnicity
E) Stereotyping

Question 54

The oversight of a public corporation by its board of directors is called ____.

A) board isolation
B) deontological overview
C) corporate governance
D) pricing policy
E) profit maximization

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of valuing diversity?

A) Access to more perspectives on a problem
B) Fresh perspectives
C) Less interpersonal conflict
D) Greater homogeneity
E) Richer ideas

Question 56

The duty of the board of directors of a public corporation is to

A) audit the company's financial statements for accuracy.
B) recommend new products and services.
C) control the day-to-day operations of the firm.
D) protect the company from harsh overseas competition and lower labor costs.
E) ensure decisions by senior managers are in the best interests of the shareholders.

Question 57

One way to address privacy concerns on the Internet is to

A) keep all information collected confidential.
B) publicly display any information collected by the company.
C) post a privacy policy on the company's web site.
D) avoid collecting any private information.
E) share collected information only with respectable firms.

Question 58

Which of the following is NOTan example of a dimension of diversity?

A) age
B) gender
C) sexual orientation
D) mental abilities
E) marital status

Question 59

Which of the following is a component of surface-level diversity?

A) ethnicity
B) pay differences
C) knowledge
D) work experience
E) personality

Question 60

Car makers design and produce new model cars much more quickly now than they did in the past.This is an example of

A) effective leadership.
B) decreased cycle time.
C) increased employee morale.
D) valued diversity.
E) low-cost production.

Question 61

Examples of organizational functions to outsource include all of the following EXCEPT

A) The organization's payroll function.
B) The organization's human resource training program.
C) The organization's corporate governance program.
D) The organization's facility maintenance program.
E) The organization's food service facility.

Question 62

The ethnic and cultural mix of the U.S.workforce is _____.

A) constant
B) becoming more homogenous
C) decreasing
D) small compared to other nations
E) changing

Question 63

​What level of the corporate ladder is least diverse?

A) lowest level
B) assembly line workers
C) lower management
D) middle management
E) top management (i.e.CEO)

Question 64

​Title VII prohibits employee discrimination based on a variety of characteristics.Which of the following is NOT included?

A) ​sexual orientation
B) ​race
C) ​sex
D) ​religion
E) ​national origin

Question 65

Mismanaging diversity is likely to result in all of the following EXCEPT

A) reduced innovation.
B) reduced motivation.
C) increased absenteeism.
D) costly lawsuits.
E) reduced turnover.

Question 66

​A(n) _________ worker is employed in a company on an impermanent or part-time basis.

A) ​tiered
B) ​knowledge
C) ​contingent
D) ​offshore
E) ​illegal

Question 67

Psychological contracts create _______ promises and obligations between employees and the employer.

A) ​ethical
B) ​unethical
C) ​implicit
D) ​explicit
E) ​absolute

Question 68

As the age diversity of work groups increases, it becomes increasingly likely that

A) a non-minority will be the supervisor of a minority
B) a minority will be the supervisor of a non-minority
C) there will be conflicts because of age differences
D) a younger employee will report to an older supervisor
E) an older employee will report to a younger supervisor

Question 69

Stereotypes can be based on all of the following characteristics EXCEPT

A) race.
B) religion.
C) disability.
D) nationality.
E) ethics.

Question 70

​Employees who feel the need to protect their own career prospects by impeding the prospects of others are experiencing

A) the "like me" bias.
B) prejudices.
C) ethnocentrism.
D) perceived threat of loss.
E) unequal access to organizational networks.

Question 71

_______ allows monetary damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination.

A) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
B) Title V of the Civil Rights Act of 1954
C) The Emancipation Proclamation
D) ​The Bill of Rights
E) ​The Civil Rights Act of 1991

Question 72

A knowledge worker's career path may run parallel to a management career path.The benefit of this path for the worker is

A) the chance to take on substantial management responsibilities.
B) more frequent training in management tasks.
C) less highly specialized training.
D) compensation that is equivalent to that available to management.
E) freedom from specialized technical work.

Question 73

The U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a dramatic increase in workers ____ during the next decade.

A) age 16-20
B) age 20-30
C) age 30-40
D) age 40-50
E) age 65 and older

Question 74

​___________ workers are hired because of what they know.

A) ​Contingent
B) ​Tiered
C) ​Knowledge
D) ​Offshore
E) ​Outsourced

Question 75

One of the largest employment discrimination lawsuits was settled for more than $11.7 million against Walmart and Sam's Club.What was the main group that was discriminated in this case?

A) blacks
B) whites
C) women
D) Hispanics
E) Asians

Question 76

In the past, Karson Photography Studios directly hired and managed its own custodial staff.Now, Karson contracts this work to a cleaning company.This is an example of

A) corporate governance.
B) offshoring.
C) outsourcing.
D) nearshoring.
E) insourcing.

Question 77

​What term refers to employer and employee expectations of the employment relationship that operate over and above the formal contract of employment?

A) ​psychological contract
B) ​informed consent
C) ​emotional intelligence
D) ​emotional contract
E) ​prenuptual agreement

Question 78

​The oversight of a public corporation by its board of directors is called corporate _________.

A) ​ethics
B) ​malfeasance
C) ​lollygagging
D) ​responsibility
E) ​governance

Question 79

The defining characteristic of a tiered workforce is that different employees are paid _______ wages for doing _______ work.

A) different, the same
B) ​different, different
C) ​the same, different
D) ​the same, the same
E) some of the, all of them

Question 80

​Marcos believes that men make better managers than women.Marcos's attitude is an example of

A) ​stereotyping
B) ​prejudice
C) ​cultural competence
D) ​ethnocentrism
E) ​the "like me" bias