Deck 3: Mainstreams of Organizational Thought

Question 1

Robert Bales' work with the interaction analysis technique resulted in principles) of successful groups. Which of the following is true?

A)They have someone in the group to focus the group on the task and someone who focuses on maintaining productive relationships
B)They have a leader who has both the skills to solve the problem and good working relationships with the group members
C)Group members have sufficient training to complete the task and they have the autonomy to carry it out
D)They have sufficient supervision to assist them in the task and the task has clear objectives for success
E)Both b and c.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Max Weber's bureaucratic principles included which of the following.

A)A well-defined hierarchy of authority.
B)Management sets the objectives and the workers cooperate in achieving them.
C)Time and motion studies.
D)Plan, organize, command.
E)Unity of command.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The definition of exception principle

A)states that individuals should only receive orders from one person.
B)concerns line and staff, in which authority and responsibility should flow in a direct path from the top people in the organization to the lowest member.
C)states that decisions that can be routinized should be delegated.
D)states that managers should supervise a limited number of individuals.
E)states that as workers become better at their jobs, they can move up the organization ladder to management positions.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The knowledge base, theory and methods of inquiry for organizational behavior OB) are rooted in

A)Cultural anthropology.
B)Sociology.
C)Economics.
D)Natural sciences.
E)A, b, and c are correct.

Question 5

In your own words, define Organizational Behavior OB). Include in your answer the purpose of OB.

Question 6

Two ideas that are primary to the organizational theory movement and that were prominent in the work of Chester Barnard were

A)coordinating and communicating.
B)decision making and organizational climate.
C)scalar principle and democratic supervision.
D)formal structures and informal structures.
E)conflict management and change.

Question 7

Trace the beginnings of organizational behavior theory though the contributions of Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, and Max Weber. You don't need to list all of the principles established by each of these individuals; however, you should list one or two principles while providing a summary of their general contribution to the field. In your response, include a description how the application of their principles might impact organizational behavior.

Question 8

Describe a main purpose of Jacob Moreno's technique of sociometric analysis.

Question 9

The main differences) between Scientific Management or Taylorism and Classical Organization Theory was that Classical Theory focused on__________, whereas Scientific Management focused mainly on ______________.

A)the whole organization; the individual worker
B)management rights; worker rights
C)the exception principle; breaking jobs down into small steps
D)bureaucratic principles; the scalar principle
E)a, b, and d are correct.

Question 10

The father of Scientific Management was

A) Max Weber.
B) Henri Fayol.
C) Frederick Taylor.
D) Ellwood Cubberley.
E) Frank Gilbreth.

Question 11

Select the main differences) in the contributions of Henri Fayol when compared to Frederick Taylor.

A)Fayol focused primarily on management's responsibilities, whereas Taylor focused on the workers.
B)Fayol emphasized flexibility in applying principles of management, rather than strict application of principles.
C)Fayol suggested that management should establish strict methods for selecting workers and training them for specific jobs.
D)Fayol suggested that management should attempt to establish positive morale in the organization.
E)A, b, and d are correct.

Question 12

Two concepts that came out of the Western Electric Studies that influenced the Human Relations movement were

A)coordinating and communicating.
B)motivation and group dynamics.
C)scalar principle and democratic supervision.
D)personnel relations and autonomy.
E)sociometry and coordinating.

Question 13

Two of the pioneers of the concept of group decision making that has become a central concept in OB are

A)Kurt Lewin and Margaret Mead.
B)Woodrow Wilson and Margaret Mead
C)Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford.
D)Woodrow Wilson and Kurt Lewin.
E)Henri Fayol and Frederick Taylor.

Question 14

Former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's historical contribution to organizational behavior was his

A)contributions to the concept of group decision making
B)famous essay that called for the study and professionalization of administration
C)establishment of a center to study scientific management
D)support for university preparation in administration
E)Both b and d.

Question 15

The scholarly work of Mary Parker Follett helped usher in the human relations movement when scientific management was the predominant organizational theory of the day. She is best known for developing four principles of sound administration based on "coordination". Describe or illustrate two of these principles.

Question 16

The definition of scalar principle

A)states that individuals should only receive orders from one person.
B)concerns line and staff, in which authority and responsibility should flow in a direct path from the top people in the organization to the lowest member.
C)states that decisions that can be routinized should be delegated.
D)states that managers should supervise a limited number of individuals.
E)states that as workers become better at their jobs, they can move up the organization ladder to management positions.