Deck 14: Conflict, Power and Politics

Question 1

The assignment of loyal people to key positions, building coalitions, expansion of networks, and making direct appeal all reflect which one of the following?

A) Tactics for coping with uncertainty
B) Political tactics for using power
C) Tactics for increasing the power base
D) Tactics for building strong labour-management teams
E) Tactics for enhancing collaboration

Answer 1

B

Question 2

power is derived from personal characteristics: people admire the manager and want to be like or identify with the manager out of respect and admiration.

A) Expert
B) Referent
C) Reward
D) Legitimate
E) Coercive

Answer 2

B

Question 3

John is a union member and Nikki is a member of management. They are currently engaged in a process to discuss the particulars of an agreement that will specify each party's responsibilities for the next three years. John and Nikki are most likely engaged in
)

A) collective bargaining
B) organizational politics
C) confrontation
D) intergroup conflict
E) political tactics for increasing power

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Of the following statements, which one would be considered false regarding the concept of authority?

A) Positions located at the bottom of an organization's hierarchy have more formal authority than those at the top.
B) Authority is accepted by subordinates.
C) Authority is a force for achieving desired outcomes.
D) People have authority because of the positions they hold, not because of personal characteristics.
E) Authority exists along the formal chain of command.

Question 5

Network centrality means being centrally located in the organization and having access to information and people that are critical to the company's success.

Question 6

All but which one of the following is a tactic for enhancing collaboration within organizations?

A) Create integration devices
B) Use negotiation
C) Practice member rotation
D) Schedule intergroup consultation
E) Prohibit confrontation

Question 7

Confrontation occurs when parties that are not in conflict directly engage one another and try to work out their differences.

Question 8

mean(s) being centrally located in the organization and having access to information and people that are critical to the company's success.

A) The "domains of political activity"
B) One way to cope with uncertainty
C) Network centrality
D) Collective bargaining
E) Dependency

Question 9

The research and development department's functions at ABC International cannot be performed by other readily available resources. This department can be said to have its power determined by .

A) centrality
B) financial resources
C) nonsubstitutability
D) coping with uncertainty
E) dependency

Question 10

Strategic contingencies are events and activities inside an organization that are non- essential for attaining organizational goals.

Question 11

William is in a managerial position with his company. He believes in using power and any other available resource necessary to influence his workers into producing desired results. William is determined to gain significant recognition within the organization and does not care whether he has to use deception or dishonesty to achieve it. Which one of the following is he most likely practicing?

A) Effective authority
B) Tactics for enhancing collaboration
C) Positive organizational politics
D) Negative organizational politics
E) Confrontation

Question 12

Intergroup conflict can be defined as the behaviour that occurs among organizational groups when participants identify with one group and perceive that other groups may block their group's achievements or expectations.

Question 13

Mattheus is the manager of The Bottom Page organization in Frankfurt. Part of his duties includes the ability to provide promotions or raises to his deserving employees. Based on this information, Mattheus has which type of power at his organization?

A) Legitimate power
B) Expert power
C) Coercive power
D) Reward power
E) Referent power

Question 14

Which of the following is not a tactic for increasing the power base?

A) Satisfy strategic contingencies.
B) Make a direct appeal.
C) Enter areas of high uncertainty.
D) Provide readily available resources.
E) Create dependencies.

Question 15

Each department at Chitra's organization has a group associated with it. The production group members believe that members of the accounting group are interfering with their achievement of goals and expectations. It is most probable these groups are experiencing which one of the following?

A) Coping with uncertainty
B) Organizational politics
C) Competition
D) Ineffective collective bargaining
E) Intergroup conflict

Question 16

Which one of the following is not a strategic contingency that influences horizontal power among organizational departments?

A) Centrality
B) Financial resources
C) Substitutability
D) Coping with uncertainty
E) Dependency

Question 17

Of the following, which one would not be an effective method for the creation of an effective integration device?

A) Use an integrator
B) Establish task forces
C) Encourage autonomous work performance
D) Bring representatives of conflicting departments together to problem solve
E) Develop teams

Question 18

Which one of the following statements does not represent the concept of empowerment?

A) The workers at Bend-It Manufacturing have numerous available opportunities to learn new production methods to improve their jobs.
B) At Sandy's company, all directives and guidelines are generated only by the members of upper management.
C) Marcus is free to exercise his own judgment in dealing with any customer product complaints.
D) The employees of Tom's refinery company are encouraged to form quality circles or self- directed work teams.
E) The employees of TT & T are encouraged to provide new thoughts and ideas to their managers on ways to improve the company.

Question 19

interdependence means that departments mutually exchange materials and information.

A) Uncertain
B) Organizational
C) Sequential
D) Reciprocal
E) Pooled

Question 20

Competition is rivalry among groups in the pursuit of a common prize, whereas conflict presumes frustration of goal achievement.