Deck 16: The Challenge and the Future for Organizations

Question 1

Though trust has been recognized as a critical value in OD,it has not been a critical factor for sustaining excellence with an organization.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A rigid,authoritarian system operating within a volatile environment is likely to result in what type of orientation to change?

A)reconfigurable
B)conservative
C)reactive
D)facilitative
E)anticipative

Answer 2

C

Question 3

An effective OD program results in an effective organization that will remain static for a long-range of time.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Rather than being a fad,OD appears to be one of the primary methods for helping organizations adjust to accelerated change.

Question 5

The extent of the evaluative process is determined in part by the willingness of organization decision makers to pay for a rigorous evaluation.

Question 6

A self-renewing organization is one that initiates new strategies that lead to additional innovations in a constantly changing world.

Question 7

The workforce of the future will tend to become more homogeneous than it has been in the past.

Question 8

OD evaluations are important only to the client's key decision makers and the OD participants who want feedback regarding their change efforts.

Question 9

The boundaries of what is or is not an OD intervention are clear because the scope of OD knowledge has stabilized over the years.

Question 10

Networking and collaboration among organizations are macrosystem trends for future organizations as managers face resource reductions.

Question 11

OD practitioners and management have different roles in the OD process.Management is responsible to see that necessary information is made available to participating members and groups.This permits the OD practitioner to focus upon other aspects of the OD process.

Question 12

OD's basic thrust arises from its face validity: it seems to work in making the organization more competitive.

Question 13

Two criteria that an OD practitioner has for judging effectiveness: (1)the client's ability to maintain system wide innovation and (2)the stability of the OD program after termination of the practitioner-client relationship.

Question 14

The successful managerial organizations are practicing "reactive" management styles rather than using "anticipative" styles.

Question 15

Fade-out is the gradual process of terminating the client-practitioner relationship.

Question 16

Evidence suggests that intrinsic,not extrinsic,motivation is a factor in stress and its symptoms.

Question 17

The "Hawthorne effect" is an effective feedback technique.

Question 18

Reengineering urges incremental change of job designs,organization structures,and management systems.

Question 19

Feedback is a continuing assessment that allows an organization to measure the effectiveness of the change process.

Question 20

It is widely acknowledged that OD techniques to deal effectively with external systems and power-coercive problems have been well established.

Question 21

_____ is a complex dilemma in values that are facing OD practitioners at this time.

A)Organization diagnosis
B)The professionalism of OD
C)Intergroup team building
D)Force field analysis
E)The learning laboratory

Question 22

OD presents the technology for creating and seeking _____,which is the underlying goal of the modem manager and organization.

A)stabilization
B)organizational excellence
C)disengagement
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 23

OD practitioners are increasingly using a(n)_____ approach that includes structural and technical strategies.

A)integrated
B)systems
C)disengaged
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 24

A major factor in the deterioration of performance over time is _____.

A)fade-out
B)the change model
C)comfortable working conditions
D)a social network
E)improved technology

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a future trend in OD?

A)mergers,takeovers,product changes,and plant closures
B)increased employee empowerment
C)organization around things that an organization does best
D)development of trust within organizations
E)stabilizing the external environment

Question 26

Change can be stabilized and fade-out eliminated or reduced by _____.

A)ascribing status to the change effort
B)demonstrating effectiveness of the change
C)integration into structure,norms,and culture
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 27

Which of the following is not a method of providing feedback on the effectiveness of an OD program?

A)benchmarks
B)self-disclosure
C)posting of financial data
D)after-the-fact interview
E)questionnaire data

Question 28

In organizations of the future,it will be necessary to simultaneously _____ and _____ functions,structure,and governance.

A)inhibit;share
B)centralize;decentralize
C)reconfigure;disengage
D)trust;innovate
E)merge;downsize

Question 29

_____ is a basic challenge to OD.

A)Overemphasis on behavioral aspects
B)Short-term techniques that are useful to organizations fighting for survival
C)Long-term interventions that have positive results
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 30

Interpersonal trends in organizations include _____.

A)resource linking
B)merging line and staff functions
C)understanding the impact of culture change
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 31

A criticism of OD is its reliance on the use of collaboration models,which frequently increases cohesion within units but fails to deal with _____.

A)power issues
B)the behavioral patterns of individual members
C)conflict resolution
D)the total system
E)answers b and c

Question 32

Macrosystem trends for organizations include _____.

A)interorganization collaboration
B)more simplified organizational systems
C)reduced value conflicts
D)developing effective reward systems for individuals and teams
E)answers a and c

Question 33

Building innovation and commitment to change into the organization's values requires development of a _____.

A)client-practitioner relationship
B)self-renewal capacity
C)sociotechnical system
D)feedback loop
E)answers a and d

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a challenge of OD?

A)professionalism
B)overemphasis on social interventions
C)the use of matrix models
D)dealing with power
E)certification of OD practitioners

Question 35

Which of the following is a primary measure of the effectiveness of an OD program?

A)stability of the OD effort
B)maintenance of innovation within the system
C)development of a quality improvement program within the organization
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 36

Effective OD evaluation systems help a manager _____.

A)determine whether performance is on target
B)make projections of future conditions
C)train employees
D)to justify past inefficiencies
E)none of the above

Question 37

A fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of a business system is known as _____.

A)a shared vision
B)innovation
C)reengineering
D)organizational architecture
E)a learning organization

Question 38

As increasing complexity emphasizes the interdependent relationship between the individual and the organization,the OD practitioner will need to develop _____ among organizational elements.

A)controls
B)space
C)synergy
D)disengagement
E)architecture

Question 39

A critical factor limiting evaluation of planned system changes is _____.

A)the willingness of organizational decision makers to pay for a rigorous evaluation
B)the self-confidence of the OD practitioner to accept criticism
C)the cooperation of the organizational members involved in the effort
D)all of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 40

The OD practitioner considers _____ when the benchmarks used to evaluate change have been achieved and the client system appears capable of continuing innovation.

A)recycling
B)reconfiguration
C)reengineering
D)innovation
E)disengagement

Question 41

Describe the concept of self-renewal capacity.

Question 42

The course of change for OD will predominantly surround the issues of a changing workforce,international competence,and transformation within the organization.Describe the impact of these issues on the organization of the future.

Question 43

Describe briefly the major challenges surrounding the role of values facing managers as they engage in organization development in the future.

Question 44

Describe the probable trends for organization development and the organization of the future.

Question 45

It is widely acknowledged that OD techniques to deal effectively with _____ and _____ have yet to emerge.

A)behavioral;power
B)systems;operations
C)conflict;motivation
D)power;external systems
E)none of the above