Deck 9: Organizational Communication

Question 1

Jared is planning a celebratory event at his organization for two retiring members with Janice.Janice believes they should get an ad hoc committee together and distribute the work,while Jared believes they should just get the aid of two other members and work collectively.What concept of the systems metaphor are they dealing with?

A)interdependence
B)homeostasis
C)equifinality
D)synergy

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Renee has determined a faster way to complete monthly inventory reports.When she proposes her idea to Sal,her supervisor,he responds,"That's a great suggestion Renee,however,because of the way each store's UPC labels are coded,we can't sort by department,only by store." Sal is using which type of organizational control?

A)bureaucratic
B)concertive
C)technological
D)unobtrusive

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The ______ culture is focused on how things get done,not by what gets accomplished.

A)bet the company
B)process
C)tough-guy,macho
D)work hard,play hard

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Craig recently started working for a human resources consulting firm.He has been making comparisons between this organization and that of his previous job,where he worked in sales.One big difference Craig has noticed is that at his old job,people seemed much friendlier and there was a lot of interoffice socialization.At his new job,everyone works fairly isolated.Craig is experiencing which stage of organizational assimilation?

A)anticipatory socialization stage
B)comparison stage
C)encounter phase
D)metamorphosis stage

Question 5

One focus of organizing theory is explaining how organizational members can ______.

A)bypass certain rules to get the job done
B)increase equivocality
C)reduce ambiguous messages
D)reduce double interacts

Question 6

A double interact consists of an act,a response,and a/an ______.

A)adjustment
B)double loop
C)encounter
D)rule

Question 7

The sense of belonging that individuals feel to an organization is known as ______.

A)cohesion
B)identification
C)participation
D)positive face

Question 8

At the end of October,you and your coworkers decided to bring some fun into the office and wore Halloween costumes.However,your supervisor wasn't amused,and he has filed a complaint with Human Resources.During a meeting with HR,the Director says "according to the Employee Handbook,you have violated code five,which states that all employees must comply with a professional dress code.Failure to follow the dress code constitutes a violation of university regulations." Which form of control is being used?

A)bureaucratic
B)concertive
C)simple
D)technological

Question 9

While ______ are by definition observable,interpreting what they mean may not always be obvious.

A)heroes
B)artifacts
C)values
D)basic assumptions

Question 10

Some consider The Beatles to be an example of ______;separately,they were not the best musicians,but together they created bestselling and critically acclaimed music.

A)system
B)nonsummativity
C)interdependence
D)homeostasis

Question 11

______ is the tendency for a given system to maintain stability in the face of change.

A)Retention
B)Homeostasis
C)Enactment
D)Metamorphosis

Question 12

After many months,Gina finally feels like she is a part of the organization.People actually come to her to get questions answered,and Phil doesn't call her "Noob" anymore (short for "newbie").What stage of assimilation does this refer to?

A)vocational anticipatory socialization
B)anticipatory socialization
C)encounter stage
D)metamorphosis stage

Question 13

Which of the following situations best describes an example of a double interact,as used in Weick's Information Systems Approach?

A)An employee speaks;the manager listens and nods her head.
B)Each person in the system acts and responds to each other person in the system.
C)An employee makes a suggestion to improve the production line;the manager follows the suggestion and corporate productivity increases.
D)An employee offers a suggestion;the manager tells her that the correct procedure is to put the suggestion in writing and send it to all department heads;the employee follows the procedure.

Question 14

Growing up,Austin's mother told him not to be a police officer because she thought it was too dangerous.Also,Austin never really liked shows that featured police officers,like Cops.What stage of assimilation does this refer to?

A)vocational anticipatory socialization
B)anticipatory socialization
C)encounter stage
D)metamorphosis stage

Question 15

Viewpoints organizational members hold about the world,including perceptions,thoughts,feelings,and beliefs,are called ______.

A)artifacts
B)assumptions
C)attitudes
D)values

Question 16

Donelle is very upset that Pete is leaving their company.She thinks no one can do the job the way that he does.Pete assures her that he has seen many employees come and go,and while it will be somewhat different,things will eventually go back to "normal." Pete is referring to what concept of the systems metaphor?

A)system
B)nonsummativity
C)interdependence
D)homeostasis

Question 17

______ is considered positive nonsummativity,the ability to achieve more together than with individual effort.

A)Interdependence
B)Homeostasis
C)Equifinality
D)Synergy

Question 18

An organizational culture that adopts a low risk and rapid pace for feedback and rewards is known as a ______ culture.

A)bet the company
B)process-oriented
C)tough-guy,macho
D)work hard,play hard

Question 19

______ is the main reason why nonsummativity occurs.

A)Interdependence
B)Homeostasis
C)Equifinality
D)Synergy

Question 20

The informal communication processes within the organization,including stories,jokes,and gossip,constitute which of the following?

A)retention
B)equifinality
C)cultural network
D)synergy

Question 21

Hermione,Ron,and Harry are attending the annual banquet to celebrate their graduation from Hogwarts.This event occurs every year to honor the school's graduates.Such an event is an example of which of the following?

A)artifact
B)rites
C)rituals
D)rites and rituals

Question 22

Control that is direct and authoritarian is known as which of the following?

A)simple
B)complex
C)referent
D)loyal

Question 23

Explain four of the five types of organizational control.Give an example of each to show your understanding.

Question 24

Explain equivocality.

Question 25

Compare organizational assimilation theory and organizational information and control (OIC)theory.Specifically,how might the two theories overlap to explain a newcomer's socialization and progress within the organization?

Question 26

Jablin's research showed that the process of being assimilated into an organization is fairly simple.

Question 27

When a newcomer enters an organization,they internalize values and behavior in order to fulfill organizational expectations,while at the same time try to have an impact on his or her role and work environment.

Question 28

When a leader articulates a value system,it becomes part of the organization.

Question 29

Part of organizing theory,explain the three-stage process of sociocultural evolution for organizations.

Question 30

Which view of organizational culture makes more sense to you: Deal and Kennedy's four cultures or Schein's three-level model? In your essay,make sure to explain either: (1)Deal and Kennedy's four cultures and give an example for each or (2)Schein's three levels and give an example for each.Your response should also provide a clear and compelling reason for why you think one theory is superior to the other.

Question 31

The work hard,play hard culture is characterized by fun and action.

Question 32

The physical layout of how an office is arranged (cubicles,offices)and decorated (modern,industrial)is part of its organizational cultural.

Question 33

Nonsummativity is always positive.

Question 34

Organizational assumptions are the least important part of organizational culture.

Question 35

At Fred's job in Bedrock,Mr.Slate expects every employee to arrive to work on time,to have their work completed on schedule,and to cash their paychecks within three days of receiving them.Mr.Slate's attention to timeliness is something he is trying to instill in his employees.This is an example of which of the following?

A)assumption
B)artifact
C)value
D)assimilation

Question 36

According to the systems metaphors,an organization does not recover from a loss;it becomes a completely new organization,meaning there is no balance.

Question 37

An organizational newcomer starts to become socialized into the organization before he or she ever works in the organization.

Question 38

According to Schein,organizational members are consciously aware of organizational cultures.