Question 1

What is a significant aspect of total quality management (TQM)?

Accepted Answer

Continuous improvement and attention to customer needs are core principles of TQM, focusing on enhancing quality and customer satisfaction.

Question 2

Which organization recently went on record to the public stating that it lost focus and stopped listening to its customers?

Accepted Answer

Toyota publicly acknowledged that it lost focus and stopped listening to its customers, particularly during the recall crisis in the early 2010s.

Question 3

Where is an organization's task reflected?

Accepted Answer

An organization's task is reflected in its mission or purpose, which defines its primary goals and objectives.

Question 4

Starbucks Canada is the main competitor to Tim Hortons.What part of an organization does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Starbucks Canada being a competitor to Tim Hortons represents the external task environment, which includes entities that directly affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, such as competitors, customers, and suppliers.

Question 5

What did the Hawthorne Studies uncover?

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne Studies revealed the significance of the informal organization and its impact on worker productivity, highlighting how social factors and employee attitudes affect work performance.

Question 6

When contrasting Six Sigma to TQM,executive ownership in Six Sigma can be compared to TQM's self-directed work teams.What element of TQM can be compared to Six Sigma's business results oriented philosophy?

Accepted Answer

TQM's quality-oriented philosophy aligns with Six Sigma's focus on achieving business results through quality improvements.

Question 7

What is best reflected by beliefs and assumptions about people,work,and the organization?

Accepted Answer

The informal organization reflects the underlying beliefs and assumptions about people, work, and the organization, which are not officially documented but influence behavior and culture.

Question 8

During a learning activity,mastery of basic objective knowledge takes place.What will happen next?

Accepted Answer

Once basic objective knowledge is mastered, the next step is often the development of specific skills and abilities that build upon that foundational knowledge.

Question 9

What change force is demonstrated by the arrival of the retail store Target to Canada?

Accepted Answer

The arrival of Target in Canada represents global competition as it involves a major international retailer entering a new market, increasing competition for local businesses.

Question 10

What represents the core technology of a post-secondary educational institution?

Accepted Answer

The core technology of a post-secondary educational institution includes the physical facilities and equipment that are essential for teaching and learning, such as libraries, laboratories, classrooms, and computer equipment.

Question 11

What is the foundation of the Canadian economy?

Accepted Answer

Foreign trade is a foundation of the Canadian economy, as Canada is heavily reliant on exports, particularly natural resources and manufactured goods, to drive economic growth.

Question 12

What is represented by the hiring of new staff and the purchase of material?

Accepted Answer

The hiring of new staff and the purchase of material are considered inputs, as they are resources used to produce goods or services.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a covert organization?

Accepted Answer

A friendship/relationship between two employees is an example of a covert organization because it is not officially recognized by the company.

Question 14

Company XYZ uses quantitative data to predict cost savings.Which approach to quality management is company XYZ using?

Accepted Answer

Six Sigma is a data-driven approach to quality management that focuses on reducing defects and improving processes through statistical analysis and quantitative data.

Question 15

What is the term for an organization's suppliers,customers,and regulatory agencies?

Accepted Answer

The task environment includes entities that directly affect an organization, such as suppliers, customers, and regulatory agencies.

Question 16

What is the term for using a wide range of tools,knowledge,and/or techniques to transform inputs into outputs?

Accepted Answer

Technology refers to the use of various tools, knowledge, and techniques to transform inputs into outputs.

Question 17

What are the four challenges related to change for managers in contemporary organizations?

Accepted Answer

Globalization, workforce diversity, ethics and character, and technology are the four challenges related to change for managers in contemporary organizations.

Question 18

Which of the following applies to the Six Sigma philosophy for companywide quality improvement?

Accepted Answer

Six Sigma is a customer-driven approach that focuses on improving quality by reducing defects and variability in processes, aiming to meet customer needs and expectations.

Question 19

What converts inputs to outputs in an open system?

Accepted Answer

Technology is the means by which inputs are transformed into outputs in an open system.

Question 20

What must organizations respond to for success in global competition?

Accepted Answer

Ethnic, religious, and gender diversity are important factors that organizations must respond to for success in global competition.

Quiz 1: Organizational Behaviour and Opportunity

What is a significant aspect of total quality management (TQM) ?