Question 1

Suranga Chandratillake started Blinkx,an Internet video search company.He created Blinkx to be flexible and ready to respond to environmental change.The diverse culture at Blinkx supports this need.Suranga subscribes to the ____ argument.

Accepted Answer

Suranga Chandratillake's emphasis on creating a flexible company that can respond to environmental changes suggests that he subscribes to the systems flexibility argument. This argument suggests that organizations need to be adaptable and responsive to changes in their environment in order to remain competitive.

Question 2

Which of the following is an organizational approach used to manage diversity?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are examples of organizational approaches used to manage diversity. Providing diversity training helps managers and employees understand how to work with and value individuals from different backgrounds. Developing a supportive organizational culture involves creating a workplace environment that welcomes and values diversity. Having mentoring programs for women and minorities ensures that all employees have equal opportunities to advance in their careers. Creating a diversity task force allows for a dedicated team to address issues and implement strategies for diversity management. All of these actions can help an organization effectively manage diversity.

Question 3

The staff at Nassau Swim Club is supportive of each other.When the work schedule comes out they swap with each other and volunteer to take shifts that help others observe their religious practices.They demonstrate ____.

Accepted Answer

The staff demonstrates empathy by actively supporting each other's needs and accommodating religious practices, showing an understanding and sharing of feelings.

Question 4

Paula is an American working in a German company.She gets frustrated with the German tendency to really analyze decisions.The company has been very successful for over 100 years,so Paula is practicing

Accepted Answer

Paula is practicing tolerance by accepting and respecting the German tendency to really analyze decisions, even though it frustrates her. She acknowledges that the company has been successful for over 100 years using this approach, which is why she is being tolerant towards their way of doing things.

Question 5

Eric,an American,is an executive coach at Boeing.One of the executives he coaches is from India.Their diverse backgrounds add variety and create more solutions for management challenges.This illustrates the ____ argument.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described highlights the idea of diversity of backgrounds contributing to problem solving. This supports the argument for diversity as an advantage in problem solving.

Question 6

Which of the following practices indicates an organization that does NOT value diversity?

Accepted Answer

Following only the letter of the EEO law can indicate that an organization only values diversity because it is required by law, rather than as a genuine commitment to inclusivity and achieving equity.

Question 7

The ____ argument supports the idea that if managers work effectively with a diverse group the organization as a whole will respond more effectively to its changing environment.

Accepted Answer

The argument presented describes the idea of systems flexibility, which means that an organization that can effectively manage a diverse group of employees will be better equipped to handle changes and adapt to its environment. This argument does not specifically address resource acquisition, cost, marketing, or creativity.

Question 8

The starting point for managing diversity in an organization is

Accepted Answer

The answer of The starting point for managing diversity in...

Question 9

Which of the following arguments for diversity are related?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following arguments for diversity...

Question 10

Lynne is an extrovert.Kyle is an introvert.Lynne has been trying to "bring Kyle out of his shell." Kyle is happy the way he is and wishes Lynne would demonstrate more ____ for others.

Accepted Answer

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In this scenario, Kyle wishes that Lynne would demonstrate more empathy towards his introverted personality instead of trying to change him.

Question 11

The election of President Obama,the first African American president,shows that personal ____ is(are)decreasing among people today.

Accepted Answer

The election of President Obama, the first African American president, shows that personal bias and prejudices are decreasing among people today. This is evidenced by the fact that a majority of Americans, regardless of their race, voted for a black man to become the most powerful person in the world. This represents a significant change from the past when racial prejudices were more prevalent and made it difficult for minorities to be elected to high office. While there is still work to be done to eliminate all forms of discrimination, electing a black president is a step in the right direction.

Question 12

The ____ argument for diversity suggests that diverse and multicultural workforces are generally more innovative than other organizations.

Accepted Answer

The argument is about the benefits of diversity in terms of creativity and innovation, hence the choice E, creativity, best addresses this argument.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the marketing argument for diversity is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements about the...

Question 14

Which of the following statements regarding diversity in organizations is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Heterogeneous groups tend to have more conflict than homogeneous groups, which can make them less cohesive.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a strategy for managing diversity?

Accepted Answer

Selective recruitment is not a strategy for managing diversity; it involves choosing candidates based on specific criteria, which may not necessarily promote diversity.

Question 16

Which of the following statements does NOT describe a reason why interpersonal communication can be difficult in a diverse workforce?

Accepted Answer

This statement describes that employees may actually encode and decode messages similarly, which could potentially make communication easier as they share a common understanding. The other statements describe potential reasons why communication may be difficult in a diverse workforce.

Question 17

Working Mother magazine recognized General Mills as one of the top ten companies for working families.General Mills was described as a leader in responding to employee needs for child care,flexible scheduling,and women's advancement.You can infer that General Mills agrees with the ____ argument.

Accepted Answer

General Mills' focus on child care, flexible scheduling, and women's advancement aligns with multiple arguments: resource acquisition (attracting diverse talent), systems flexibility (adapting to employee needs), cost (potentially reducing turnover costs), and marketing (enhancing company image).

Question 18

The makers of Zestra,an ointment for women,used an all male marketing team.Sales were disappointing and the company filed for Chapter 11.Two women arranged financing and bought the company,changed the name,packaging,and message.Semprae is now selling well.This illustrates the ____ argument.

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the marketing argument, as the change in marketing strategy by the new owners led to improved sales.

Question 19

A change in the demographics around Detroit prompted a real estate company to hire agents that more closely reflected the buying market.In doing so the entire office became more flexible and able to adapt to its changing environment.This is an example of the ____ argument for diversity.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of the systems flexibility argument for diversity. By having a more diverse staff, the real estate company was able to adapt to the demographic changes in their market, which made them more flexible as a whole. This shows that having a diverse workforce can result in increased systems flexibility, which can be an important benefit for companies in dynamic environments.

Question 20

Historically African Americans have voted more for Democrats than for Republicans.Michael Steele,Chairman of the Republican National Committee,is African American.As the leader of the party he is in a position to address concerns of all segments of the population.This illustrates the ____ argument.

Accepted Answer

Michael Steele's position as an African American leader in the Republican Party can be seen as a marketing strategy to appeal to African American voters and address their concerns, thereby potentially increasing the party's appeal to this demographic.

Quiz 6: The Multicultural Environment