Question 1

A positive culture recognizes the difference between ________.

Accepted Answer

A positive culture recognizes the difference between a job and a career. It understands that a job is a means to an end while a career is a long-term pursuit that involves personal development and growth. This understanding helps promote a sense of purpose and fulfillment among employees, which in turn enhances their motivation, productivity, and loyalty.

Question 2

Organizational cultures often reflect national cultures.

Accepted Answer

Organizational cultures are shaped by the values, beliefs, and behaviors of the individuals within the organization, and these individuals are often influenced by the national culture in which they were raised or are currently operating in. Therefore, there is often a strong correlation between organizational culture and national culture.

Question 3

What can management do to create a more ethical culture within an organization?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What can management do to create a...

Question 4

Larry has an employee who is amazing at clearly seeing rules and enforcing them. He has recently promoted her to the lead position in quality assurance. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Larry utilizing?

Accepted Answer

By promoting an employee who is particularly strong in enforcing rules and making her the lead in quality assurance, Larry is leveraging her strengths and building on them, which is necessary for creating a positive organizational culture. This encourages employees to feel valued and supported, leading to higher job satisfaction and, ultimately, better performance. The other choices do not align with creating a positive organizational culture.

Question 5

An organizational culture that encourages its managers for engaging in severe competition and discourages them from taking risks and innovating, is most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members.

Accepted Answer

An organizational culture that encourages severe competition and discourages innovation and risk-taking may prioritize short-term gains over long-term ethical considerations. This can lead to unethical behavior as employees may cut corners or engage in other unethical practices to win the competition. On the other hand, a culture that prioritizes ethical behavior and innovation may encourage managers to take calculated risks that benefit the organization in the long run, ultimately leading to greater success and sustainability.

Question 6

Managers in a developing country would see which of the following as ethical responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Ethical responsibility in a developing country might include doing favors for family and friends due to cultural norms around nepotism and loyalty, as well as giving workers a share of the company to promote fairness and equity. Paying people "under the table" is generally considered unethical due to tax evasion and lack of transparency.

Question 7

One of the misgivings about managers offering employees praise for good work is that ________.

Accepted Answer

Choice A represents the concern that praise may lead to complacency and reduced effort, while choice B represents the perception that praise may not be seen as genuine or valuable by employees. Therefore, both options A and B are valid misgivings that managers may have about offering praise. However, no rational manager would be afraid of offending someone who has not earned praise, which rules out choice C.

Question 8

To create a more ethical culture, management should do all of the following except ________.

Accepted Answer

Encouraging unbridled competition may lead employees to prioritize winning over ethical behavior, and could harm the ethical culture within the organization. Therefore, it is not a helpful step towards creating a more ethical culture. The other options listed, including serving as a visible role model, providing ethical training, communicating ethical expectations, and providing protective mechanisms, are all important steps towards promoting an ethical workplace culture.

Question 9

Phyllis works for a corporation that recently fired three top managers who were caught using the company credit cards to lavishly furnish their offices and even purchase "office" furniture that was found in their personal homes. Which method of maintaining an ethical culture is Phyllis's company pursuing?

Accepted Answer

Visibly punishing unethical acts is the method of maintaining an ethical culture that Phyllis's company is pursuing by firing the three top managers who misused the company credit cards. This sends a message that unethical behavior will not be tolerated and serves as a deterrent to others.

Question 10

Alcoa headquarters has few individual offices, even for senior executives. The space is essentially made up of cubicles, common areas, and meeting rooms. This informality conveys to employees that Alcoa values ________.

Accepted Answer

The use of cubicles, common areas, and meeting rooms instead of individual offices suggests a lack of hierarchy and a more equal distribution of space. This indicates that Alcoa values equality among its employees.

Question 11

A critic noted, "Promoting a social orthodoxy of positiveness focuses on a particular constellation of desirable states and traits but, in so doing, can stigmatize those who fail to fit the template." Do you feel that managers can go too far in creating a positive culture? Explain your responses.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A critic noted, "Promoting a social orthodoxy...

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true regarding effects of national culture on organizational culture and ethical behavior within an organization?

Accepted Answer

According to research, United States managers typically see bribery, nepotism, and favoring personal contacts as highly unethical. Option A is incorrect as research suggests that managers in developing economies are more likely to consider ethical decisions as embedded in a social environment. Option B is incorrect as ignoring local culture can lead to misunderstandings and failure of business operations. Option D is incorrect as organizational cultures are influenced by national culture. Option E is incorrect as profit maximization is often seen as a moral obligation by United States managers.

Question 13

A code of ethics is a mechanism which works to establish a strong organizational culture by ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A code of ethics is a mechanism...

Question 14

To show the effectiveness of a code of ethics, organizations should ________.

Accepted Answer

Publicly rewarding those who act ethically can serve as a positive reinforcement and encourage others to follow suit. However, publicly punishing those who do not act ethically can lead to a negative work environment and should be avoided. Comparing employees against each other can also create an unhealthy work environment, but comparing employees against a common standard can help identify areas for improvement and encourage ethical behavior. Therefore, the best choice is D as it includes the positive reinforcement of rewarding ethical behavior and the objective measure of comparing employees against a common standard.

Question 15

An organizational culture most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members is one that ________.

Accepted Answer

An organizational culture that balances the rights of multiple stakeholders is most likely to shape high ethical standards because it takes into consideration the interests of all parties involved and promotes fairness and integrity in decision-making. This type of culture values both ethical behavior and long-term relationships and outcomes, which are essential for sustaining a successful and ethical organization. A culture that is low in risk tolerance, high in aggressiveness, focuses only on outcomes, or takes a short-term perspective may prioritize individual or organizational goals over ethical considerations and may be more prone to unethical behavior.

Question 16

Barbara is the lead editor for a small, city newspaper. One of her advertising sales representatives, Mathew, is pulling in a lot of restaurant clients. Barbara realizes that Mathew is quite knowledgeable about food and speaks quite elegantly while describing different dishes. She has offered Mathew an opportunity to write a weekly restaurant review. Mathew is very happy with his new job role. Which aspect of creating a positive organization is being utilized by Barbara?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Barbara is the lead editor for a...

Question 17

How can United States managers be culturally sensitive?

Accepted Answer

Listening more is important in being culturally sensitive because it allows managers to understand and respect different perspectives and communication styles. Discussing religion or politics may actually be inappropriate or offensive in some cultures. Speaking quickly or in a high tone of voice may also be seen as confrontational or impolite in some cultures.

Question 18

What are the various ways in which the organizational culture can be transmitted to the employees?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the various ways in which...

Question 19

Material symbols convey to employees the degree of egalitarianism that is desired by top management.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Material symbols convey to employees the degree...

Question 20

The management of ethical behavior is one area where national culture can rub up against corporate culture. Discuss some differences in how individualist and collectivist cultures might view the difference in the management of ethical behavior in relation to corporate culture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The management of ethical behavior is one...

Quiz 16: Organizational Culture