Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that U.S. managers generally view bribery, nepotism, and favoring personal contacts as highly unethical, which reflects the national culture of the United States. Option A is incorrect because research shows that managers in developing economies are more likely to see ethical decisions as embedded in a social environment. Option B is incorrect because organizations cannot ignore local culture while establishing its operation in another country. Option D is incorrect because organizational cultures often reflect national culture. Option E is incorrect because many U.S. managers view profit maximization as a moral obligation.

Question 2

How can U.S. managers be culturally sensitive?

Accepted Answer

U.S. managers can be culturally sensitive by listening more. This allows them to better understand the perspectives and beliefs of employees from diverse cultural backgrounds. Indulging in frequent discussions about religion or politics may not be appropriate or necessary in the workplace, while speaking quickly or in a high tone of voice may not facilitate effective communication with individuals who come from cultures that value a more indirect and respectful approach to communication.

Question 3

Which of the following is not an example of stories?

Accepted Answer

The implementation of standard operating procedures is a description of a process or system, not a story with characters and events. B, C, D, and E are all examples of stories with a narrative structure, involving characters, events, and a plot.

Question 4

Larry has an employee that 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 strong in enforcing rules and quality assurance, Larry is building on her strengths and utilizing her skills to create a positive organizational culture. This helps to promote a sense of competence and accomplishment among employees, which can contribute to higher job satisfaction and engagement.

Question 5

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 among its members. This type of culture prioritizes the interests and well-being of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the community, which fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability in employees to act ethically and in the best interest of all parties involved. This type of culture also helps to prevent unethical behavior, such as fraud or corruption, which can harm the organization and its stakeholders.

Question 6

________ help employees understand the history and past actions of an organization and explain and legitimate current practices by anchoring the present in the past.

Accepted Answer

Stories are a powerful tool for conveying an organization's history and values to employees. They can help employees understand past actions and decisions, and explain why certain practices are in place today. This can help to legitimize current practices and align employees with the organization's mission and values. Material symbols, rituals, organization-specific terms, and corporate chants may also be used to communicate the organization's culture and values, but stories are likely to be the most effective for this purpose.

Question 7

The organizational culture of the company that values aggressiveness, innovation, and risk taking is an example of a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

The description of the organizational culture aligns with the characteristics of a dominant culture, in which one set of values and assumptions is widely shared and accepted among the members of the organization. This dominant culture emphasizes performance, creativity, and boldness in pursuing opportunities and solving problems. Autocratic culture emphasizes control and hierarchical power, highly formalized culture emphasizes rules and procedures, subculture emphasizes values and norms that differ from those of the dominant culture, and reflective culture emphasizes introspection and learning from experience.

Question 8

________ typically contain(s) a narrative of events about the organization's founders, rule breaking, or reactions to past mistakes.

Accepted Answer

Stories often contain narratives about an organization's history, including its founders and notable events. These stories may also include accounts of the organization overcoming challenges, breaking rules, or responding to mistakes in the past. Material symbols, such as logos or buildings, do not typically contain narratives of events. Rituals, language, and corporate chants may reflect an organization's culture but may not necessarily contain stories about its past.

Question 9

Company chants are examples of ________.

Accepted Answer

Company chants are a form of ritual because they are repeated regularly by employees and have become a tradition within the company culture.

Question 10

Which of the following can act as a common denominator to unite members of a given culture or subculture?

Accepted Answer

Jargons and acronyms that are specific to the organization can act as a common denominator to unite members of a given culture or subculture. This shared language creates a sense of belonging and helps to distinguish the group from outsiders.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a means of transmitting culture within an organization?

Accepted Answer

Protective mechanism is not a means of transmitting culture within an organization. It is a term used for the psychological defense mechanisms individuals use to cope with stress or anxiety in their personal lives. The other options - stories, rituals, language, and material symbols - are all commonly used to convey and reinforce organizational culture.

Question 12

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

The company is visibly punishing unethical acts by firing the top managers who misused the company credit cards.

Question 13

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 lack of individual offices suggests that Alcoa values equality among its employees, as there is no visible hierarchy or favoritism towards certain individuals.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Encouraging unbridled competition can often lead to unethical behavior as individuals may engage in unethical practices to gain a competitive advantage. The other options (A, C, D, and E) all contribute to creating a more ethical culture by promoting ethical behavior, setting expectations, and providing support and resources for employees to act with integrity.

Question 15

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 16

What does a positive organizational culture do?

Accepted Answer

A positive organizational culture emphasizes individual growth, where employees are encouraged to improve their skills and work towards achieving their personal and professional goals. This in turn creates a sense of fulfillment and job satisfaction amongst employees, leading to improved performance, lower turnover rates and a more engaged workforce.

Question 17

Company chants are used to ________.

Accepted Answer

Company chants are usually repeated phrases or slogans that communicate the values and culture of the company to its employees. They serve to reinforce the company's identity and help employees understand what the company stands for.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a message conveyed by material symbols?

Accepted Answer

Material symbols can convey messages about the importance of certain individuals or groups, the acceptability of certain behaviors, and the values and culture of the organization. However, they cannot directly convey the marketing strategy of the organization, which is typically communicated through other channels such as advertising and public relations.

Question 19

Aggressiveness, innovation, and risk taking are called the ________ of the culture of the organization.

Accepted Answer

Core values are the fundamental beliefs or guiding principles that dictate behavior and actions within an organization. Aggressiveness, innovation, and risk-taking are examples of core values that define the culture of an organization. Foundational values, institutional traits, significant traits, and unique values may also be important cultural aspects, but they do not specifically refer to these three characteristics.

Question 20

Phil is new at JPS Corp., but after a week he already knows that the founder of the corporation started the business in his garage with only $4,000 and one client. This information was most likely transmitted to Phil by way of ________.

Accepted Answer

Stories are a common way to transmit corporate culture and history, often sharing the origins, challenges, and successes of the company in a memorable and engaging manner.

Quiz 15: Organizational Culture