Question 1

As one form of organizational control proved to be inadequate in terms of combatting the demand for employee autonomy in the workplace, other forms of control were created. The form that is most holistic in that it considers the life of the employee is ______.

Accepted Answer

Biocratic control considers the life of the employee as a whole and aims to build a cohesive relationship between the organization and the employees. It offers flexibility and autonomy to employees while ensuring that work is being done efficiently and effectively. This form of control is different from earlier forms that were hierarchical and bureaucratic, and did not consider the needs and aspirations of employees. Technological control relies on computer systems to monitor and regulate employee behavior, bureaucratic control relies on rules and regulations, and ideological control relies on shared beliefs and values to influence behavior.

Question 2

Treating communication within an organization structure as an information transmission process implies that ______.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Competing organizational goals often make success a challenge. Consider that you are the owner of an eco-friendly hybrid automobile battery plant. What is an example of a situation in which the respective goals of the organization present a complex challenge to an interest group?

Accepted Answer

The goal of increasing production conflicts with the interest group of employees who value their work-life balance and do not want to work extended hours. This can lead to potential strikes and loss of productivity, making it a complex challenge to balance the conflicting goals of the organization and the employees.

Question 4

In order for employees to work in the best interest of an organization, they must be acclimated to the system of beliefs and values. This socialization is a form of ______ control.

Accepted Answer

Ideological control is concerned with shaping the beliefs and values of employees so that they are aligned with those of the organization. This means that to ensure that employees work in the best interest of the organization, they must be socialized to accept and internalize the values and norms of the organization. The other options (social, democratic, bureaucratic) do not specifically address the process of shaping employees' beliefs and values.

Question 5

On a recent flight, two men who had obviously overindulged at the airport bar, began acting increasingly loudly and rudely on the airplane. The airline attendant went to them and told them to stay in their seats, be quiet, and informed them that she would not serve them anything alcoholic. Which form of control best describes this situation?

Accepted Answer

The airline attendant used direct control by directly addressing the behavior of the two men and giving them specific instructions on how to behave.

Question 6

Sue is taking an online class. When it is time for the mid-term exam, she is told that it is open-note and open-book. However, she has a strict time limit of 90 minutes to complete it. As she finishes each answer, she must click "submit" before she can move on to the next question. She moves quickly through the multiple choice questions at the beginning. The essays, however, take her more time to complete. She finishes her second, and final, essay at 91 minutes. She clicks "submit" but the answer is not accepted since it is beyond the time limit, and she automatically loses 20 points from her grade. This situation illustrates which type of control?

Accepted Answer

This situation illustrates technological control because the online exam software automatically ended Sue's exam at the time limit and did not allow her to submit her final answer, resulting in a loss of points.

Question 7

John's grandfather worked for Railway Industries for 30 years and retired with decent pension. John graduated from college two years ago but has not had a fulltime job with benefits during this period. John, like many of today's employees, will have ______.

Accepted Answer

The mention of John having not had a fulltime job with benefits for two years after graduating college suggests that he may not have a traditional employment trajectory. Additionally, the statement that John is like "many of today's employees" suggests that there is a trend away from traditional careers with long-term employment at one particular company. A freelance career would be one possible option for someone who does not follow the traditional employment path.

Question 8

Cameron's research focuses on how organizations achieve coordinated, goal-oriented behavior. Cameron is most likely studying which defining feature of organizations?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cameron's research focuses on how organizations achieve...

Question 9

The early part of the industrial revolution was characterized by a level of direct control designed to ______.

Accepted Answer

The early part of the industrial revolution was characterized by a level of direct control designed to guide workers. This direct control included strict discipline, long hours, and a lack of worker autonomy.

Question 10

Charles Redding, widely regarded as the founder of the field of organizational communication, proposes four essential features of complex organizations. Which of the following is one of the four functions?

Accepted Answer

Charles Redding proposed that interdependence is one of the four essential features of complex organizations, along with differentiation, hierarchy, and communication. Interdependence refers to how different parts of an organization rely on each other to achieve shared goals.

Question 11

For 10 years, Leslie Frank worked for Narf Shoes, a family-owned startup company. As a new hire, Leslie thought the corporate values were in line with her personal philosophy of giving back to the community. Narf was bought out by a large shoe retailer, and for years, the organizational mission was in flux. After surviving two rounds of layoffs, Leslie began to reconsider working for the company. She quit her job, became a Lyft driver, listed her home with Airbnb, and volunteered at the local foodbank twice a week. This scenario is characteristic of employees who ______.

Accepted Answer

Leslie's decision to quit her job and find alternative forms of income and fulfillment, as well as her disillusionment with the company's mission, suggests that she no longer found her work at Narf Shoes meaningful.

Question 12

Companies like Airbnb, Uber, and Etsy are attractive because they offer employees ______.

Accepted Answer

These companies are known for offering flexible work arrangements and the ability for employees to work remotely, which allows for a better work-life balance. They may not necessarily offer traditional retirement packages or job security, but the flexibility and autonomy they provide may be more important to some employees. There is no indication that these companies offer specific tax shelters.

Question 13

In Company X if a project is expected to take longer than three weeks to complete, a project plan detailing the objectives, plan of action, and timeline must be written and approved. This practice represents most closely a form of ______ control.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic control refers to the use of formal rules, policies, and procedures to manage an organization. Requiring a written and approved project plan for longer projects is an example of this type of control.

Question 14

The organizational members do not passively accept efforts to control their behavior and often resist. Which best represents one of these forms?

Accepted Answer

Striking represents an active and direct form of resistance to control. Negotiating and compromising may involve some resistance, but they also entail cooperation and willingness to reach a solution. Balancing is not a form of resistance to control.

Question 15

Max Weber described pre-capitalist society as one in which people worked to meet basic needs. Identify one belief about work in the 21^st century.

Accepted Answer

Today's jobs are often seen as interconnected in terms of beliefs and psychological motivation, reflecting a shift from working solely to meet basic needs to finding personal fulfillment and identity in work.

Question 16

Which one of the following statements best reflects goal orientation in an organizational setting?

Accepted Answer

Multiple and competing goals make the concept of a common purpose challenging; however, the ability to create an environment in which people can communicate and are willing to contribute to action make goal achievement possible.

Question 17

AJ and JR are two small entrepreneurs who recently partnered to grow their business. In the past, neither owner kept good records, operated under an employee handbook, or enforced many rules. AJ and JR have agreed that this merger would be defined by a solid corporate philosophy that included providing staff with an employee handbook, which clearly defined each job description, the merit-based reward system, employee rights, responsibilities, disciplinary actions, and the company leave policy. AJ and JR are implementing which form of control to ensure a successful merger?

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic control involves the use of rules, procedures, and policies to standardize and regulate behavior within an organization. By implementing an employee handbook with clearly defined job descriptions, reward systems, and disciplinary actions, AJ and JR are creating a bureaucratic control system to ensure consistency and organization within their newly merged business.

Question 18

The transformation of society and the work habits of citizens was deeply rooted in the use of time, which included the concepts of task time and clock time. What was the main difference between the two?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between task time and clock time was that clock time treated time as a uniform and measurable commodity, similar to a currency, where every hour was worth the same amount. On the other hand, task time was more subjective and based on completing specific tasks or projects regardless of how long they took.

Question 19

At many large companies, employees wear security badges and must swipe the badge each time they enter the building or a specific area. This practice is a type of ______ control.

Accepted Answer

The use of security badges and swiping them to enter certain areas is a form of technological control, as it relies on technology (the security system) to monitor and regulate access to certain areas. Direct control would involve physical supervision or observation, ideological control relates to beliefs and values influencing behavior, and disciplinary control involves punishment for not following rules or regulations.

Question 20

The job market is no longer designed for lifelong employees. Today's companies now seek to hire ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The job market is no longer designed...

Quiz 1: Introducing Organizational Communication