Question 1

A visiting professor in international business recently spoke to students in an organizational behavior class about cultural differences between American and Japanese employees.The visitor noted that Americans and Japanese have similar values - Americans have high individualism and low collectivism and Japanese have medium-high individualism and low collectivism.The visitor concluded by saying that by identifying someone's nationality, such as American, you can easily determine the person's level of collectivism and individualism.Identify and discuss two problems with the visiting professor's statements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A visiting professor in international business recently...

Question 2

Scenario: e-Commerce International
e-Commerce International is fast growing small company specializing in consumer electronics.Managers at e-Commerce International are exploring the idea of using the Big Five Personality Dimensions in hiring and improving work-related behaviors and job performance.
-e-Commerce managers should be aware that being good-natured, empathetic, caring, and courteous are characteristic of people with which personality trait?
A)Openness to experience
B)Agreeableness
C)Locus of control
D)Emotional stability
E)Extroversion

Accepted Answer

The personality trait characterized by being good-natured, empathetic, caring, and courteous is agreeableness. The other personality traits listed do not relate to these specific characteristics.

Question 3

Scenario: e-Commerce International
e-Commerce International is fast growing small company specializing in consumer electronics.Managers at e-Commerce International are exploring the idea of using the Big Five Personality Dimensions in hiring and improving work-related behaviors and job performance.
-e-Commerce managers should know that all of these are "Big Five" personality dimensions EXCEPT:
A)openness to experience.
B)agreeableness.
C)locus of control.
D)emotional stability.
E)extroversion.

Accepted Answer

Locus of control is not one of the "Big Five" personality dimensions. The "Big Five" personality dimensions are openness to experience, agreeableness, emotional stability, extroversion, and conscientiousness.

Question 4

Scenario: e-Commerce International
e-Commerce International is fast growing small company specializing in consumer electronics.Managers at e-Commerce International are exploring the idea of using the Big Five Personality Dimensions in hiring and improving work-related behaviors and job performance.
-e-Commerce managers must pay attention to ________ when hiring new employees because it characterizes people with high levels of anxiety, hostility, depression, and self-consciousness.
A)Extroversion
B)Openness to experience
C)Conscientiousness
D)Neuroticism
E)Locus of control

Accepted Answer

The Big Five Personality Dimensions include Neuroticism, which characterizes people with high levels of anxiety, hostility, depression, and self-consciousness. It is important for e-Commerce International managers to pay attention to this trait in hiring new employees as it may impact their work-related behaviors and job performance.

Question 5

Scenario: Kleen Waterproofing
Dave Docket, the installation manager at Kleen Waterproofing, has been receiving customer complaints that several crewmembers either come late to the job or they don't show up at all without any communication with the customers.The job completion dates keep getting delayed and customer dissatisfaction keeps increasing.Dave has also just hired several new employees who are motivated, able to perform their jobs, and have adequate resources.However, they aren't sure what tasks are included in their job.Dave is wondering how he can understand what is going on with his crew behavior and what can he do to improve the situation.
-According to the MARS model, the new employees Dave has hired will likely:
A)emphasize the utilitarianism principle in their decision making.
B)have lower job performance due to poor role perceptions.
C)have high job performance because they are motivated and able to perform the work.
D)have above average organizational citizenship.
E)have a high degree of differentiation according to Holland's classification of occupations.

Accepted Answer

The MARS model of individual behavior and performance identifies role perceptions as one of the four critical factors influencing employee performance. Since the new employees are not sure what tasks are included in their job, their role perceptions are unclear, which according to the MARS model, would likely lead to lower job performance.

Question 6

Senior executives at CyberForm must make a decision that will affect many people and where the decision may produce good or bad consequences for those affected.This decision:
A)has a high degree of ethical sensitivity.
B)is one in which decision makers should rely only on the utilitarianism rule of ethics.
C)has a low degree of ethical sensitivity.
D)has a high degree of moral intensity.
E)requires a low duty to care.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Senior executives at CyberForm must make a...

Question 7

Store #34 of CDA Hardware Associates has had below average sales over the past few years.As head of franchise operations, you are concerned with the continued low sales volume.The store manager wants you to diagnose the problem and recommend possible causes.Use the MARS model of individual behavior and performance to provide four different types of reasons why employees at Store #34 might be performing below average.Provide one example for each type of explanation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Store #34 of CDA Hardware Associates has...

Question 8

Employees in the company's warehouse are making numerous errors in inventory control and breaking items shipped.An analysis of the situation reveals that individual competencies are poorly matched with the job requirements.Describe three different strategies that would potentially improve this person-job matching.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Employees in the company's warehouse are making...

Question 9

An ongoing debate in organizational behavior is whether we should consider the personality traits of job applicants when selecting them into the organization.Take the view that personality traits SHOULD be considered in the selection process and provide arguments for your position.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An ongoing debate in organizational behavior is...

Question 10

When hiring new employees, e-Commerce managers should look for people who have a high level of ____________, which is the 'Big Five' personality dimension most valuable for predicting job performance.
A)Extroversion
B)Openness to experience
C)Conscientiousness
D)Neuroticism
E)Locus of control

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness has been proven to be the most valuable personality trait for predicting job performance, particularly in roles that require attention to detail, time management, and dependability. It has been linked to better job performance, higher job satisfaction, and lower absenteeism rates. Extroversion, openness to experience, neuroticism, and locus of control do not have as strong of a correlation with job performance as conscientiousness.

Question 11

Several international sales representatives in your organization have faced the murky question of paying foreign government officials under the table in order to do business in other countries.Describe three strategies that the organization should consider to resolve these and other ethical dilemmas for foreign sales representatives.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Several international sales representatives in your organization...

Question 12

The ability to recognize the presence and determine the relative importance of an ethical issue is known as:
A)neuroticism.
B)moral intensity.
C)ethical sensitivity.
D)utilitarianism.
E)uncertainty avoidance.

Accepted Answer

Ethical sensitivity is the skill that enables individuals to recognize the presence of an ethical issue and determine its relative importance. It involves being aware of how actions affect others and being able to see things from multiple perspectives.

Question 13

The sales office of a large industrial products wholesale company has an increasing problem that salespeople are arriving late at the office each morning.Some sales reps go directly to visit clients rather than showing up at the office as required by company policy.Others arrive several minutes after their appointed start time.The vice-president of sales doesn't want to introduce time clocks, but this may be necessary if the lateness problem isn't corrected.Using the MARS model of individual behavior, diagnose the possible reasons why salespeople may be engaging in this 'lateness' behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The sales office of a large industrial...

Question 14

Scenario: International Manufacturing & Trading
International Manufacturing & Trading (IMT) is a medium-sized, U.S.company rapidly expanding in the Asian and Far East markets.The company has decided to open a manufacturing plant in Taiwan and Malaysia.IMT will send top key managers from the U.S.office and will hire the lower level managers and employees from the local markets.IMT managers realize that there will be some cultural differences but are unsure of what and how much.
-IMT managers should make themselves aware that people in ____ tend to have high _______, whereas people in ______ tend to be ________.
A)the U.S.; achievement orientation; Taiwan; individualistic
B)India; power distance; Taiwan; collectivist
C)the U.S.; power distance; Malaysia; collectivist
D)Taiwan; nurturing orientation; the U.S.; collectivist
E)India; uncertainty avoidance; Taiwan; individualistic

Accepted Answer

B) India is known for its high power distance culture, where hierarchy and respect for authority are emphasized. Taiwan, on the other hand, is characterized by a collectivist culture, where group harmony and consensus are valued over individual achievement.

Question 15

People who have high ethical sensitivity:
A)are always more ethical than people with a moderate or low level of ethical sensitivity.
B)tend to have higher empathy.
C)tend to have more information about the specific situation.
D)are all of the above.
E)are only 'B' and 'C'.

Accepted Answer

While individuals with high ethical sensitivity are likely to have higher empathy (choice B), they may not always be more ethical than those with moderate or low levels of ethical sensitivity (choice A). Additionally, they may not necessarily have more information about the specific situation (choice C). Therefore, the best choice is E, as it correctly identifies the two traits that are more common among those with high ethical sensitivity.

Question 16

Comment on the accuracy of the following statement and explain your answer: "Organizations are most successful when employee values are identical to the company's dominant values."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Comment on the accuracy of the following...

Question 17

Scenario: Kleen Waterproofing
Dave Docket, the installation manager at Kleen Waterproofing, has been receiving customer complaints that several crewmembers either come late to the job or they don't show up at all without any communication with the customers.The job completion dates keep getting delayed and customer dissatisfaction keeps increasing.Dave has also just hired several new employees who are motivated, able to perform their jobs, and have adequate resources.However, they aren't sure what tasks are included in their job.Dave is wondering how he can understand what is going on with his crew behavior and what can he do to improve the situation.
-If Dave uses the MARS model, he would know that all of these factors directly influence his employee's voluntary behavior and performance EXCEPT:
A)motivation.
B)role perceptions.
C)situational factors.
D)moral intensity.
E)ability.

Accepted Answer

Moral intensity is not a factor in the MARS model, which stands for Motivation, Ability, Role perceptions and Situational factors. Moral intensity refers to the degree to which people see an issue as an ethical one. While ethical considerations may influence behavior and performance, they are not considered a direct factor in the MARS model.

Question 18

Scenario: International Manufacturing & Trading
International Manufacturing & Trading (IMT) is a medium-sized, U.S.company rapidly expanding in the Asian and Far East markets.The company has decided to open a manufacturing plant in Taiwan and Malaysia.IMT will send top key managers from the U.S.office and will hire the lower level managers and employees from the local markets.IMT managers realize that there will be some cultural differences but are unsure of what and how much.
-U.S.managers tend to be more ________ whereas Taiwanese managers tend to be more ______.
A)collectivist; individualistic
B)nurturing; achievement oriented
C)collectivist; nurturing
D)individualistic; collectivist
E)extroverts; introverts

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because U.S. managers tend to be more individualistic, focusing on personal achievement and success, while Taiwanese managers tend to be more collectivist, prioritizing the success of the group or company as a whole over individual achievement. This cultural difference can impact communication styles, decision-making processes, and leadership approaches.

Question 19

Scenario: International Manufacturing & Trading
International Manufacturing & Trading (IMT) is a medium-sized, U.S.company rapidly expanding in the Asian and Far East markets.The company has decided to open a manufacturing plant in Taiwan and Malaysia.IMT will send top key managers from the U.S.office and will hire the lower level managers and employees from the local markets.IMT managers realize that there will be some cultural differences but are unsure of what and how much.
-IMT managers should know that employees from cultures with a high power distance are more likely to:
A)use their existing power to gain more power.
B)encourage consensus-oriented decision making.
C)avoid people in positions of power.
D)readily accept the high status of other people in the organization.
E)give their power to others as a sign of friendship.

Accepted Answer

Cultures with a high power distance accept and respect the high status of others in the organization. IMT managers should be aware of this cultural difference and make efforts to show respect to their local managers and employees who may come from high power distance cultures such as Taiwan and Malaysia. This can help to build positive relationships and reduce misunderstandings or conflicts.

Quiz 2: Individual Behavior, Personality, and Values

Senior executives at CyberForm must make a decision that will affect many people and where the decision may produce good or bad consequences for those affected.This decision:

An ongoing debate in organizational behavior is whether we should consider the personality traits of job applicants when selecting them into the organization.Take the view that personality traits SHOULD be considered in the selection process and provide arguments for your position.

When hiring new employees, e-Commerce managers should look for people who have a high level of ____________, which is the 'Big Five' personality dimension most valuable for predicting job performance.

The ability to recognize the presence and determine the relative importance of an ethical issue is known as:

People who have high ethical sensitivity:

Comment on the accuracy of the following statement and explain your answer: "Organizations are most successful when employee values are identical to the company's dominant values."