Deck 15: Organizational Culture

Question 1

Nordstrom's has a lengthy employee handbook full of rules and regulations designed to emphasize quality in customer service.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Subcultures can arise from the personal characteristics of employees and managers or the conditions of the workplace.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Creating a safety culture can reduce accidents,improve employee retention and increase profitability due to reduced workers' compensation claims.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Research suggests that corporate strategy is the most important factor for business success,but organization culture is a close second.

Question 5

Researchers found a relationship between organizational success,measured by indicators like revenues,sales and market share,and organizational culture.

Question 6

The three levels of organizational culture are beliefs,assumptions and artifacts.

Question 7

Organizational culture is a system of shared assumptions,values and beliefs that show employees what are appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.

Question 8

The industry influence over culture suggests that it may not be possible to duplicate the culture of a firm in another industry.

Question 9

Organizational structure is the most important factor in the creation of an organization's culture.

Question 10

Individuals are more aware of their firm's culture when they have an opportunity to compare it with that of another firm.

Question 11

Employee perceptions of subcultures have little impact on employee performance or commitment to the organization.

Question 12

If performance pressures increase too much,individuals begin to see their peers as competitors and short-term results become important,which can create unethical behaviors.

Question 13

Founder values are a part of the company culture regardless of the success of the firm.

Question 14

A strong culture always outperforms a weak culture because of the consistency of expectations.

Question 15

Countercultures are never tolerated in an organization once they are identified.

Question 16

A founder's values could be one explanation for the difficulty encountered when trying to change a culture.

Question 17

Outcome-oriented cultures hold managers accountable for performance but not employees.

Question 18

Companies within the same industry generally have similar organizational cultures,but on occasion,they can be wildly different.

Question 19

Firms with an aggressive culture can face a number of lawsuits because of the focus on outperforming the competitor at all costs.

Question 20

The deepest or innermost level of organizational culture is values.

Question 21

The attraction-selection-attrition process is an example of a method that maintains a certain level of homogeneity in personalities and values within an organization.

Question 22

Person-organization misfit is one of the important reasons for employee turnover.

Question 23

Organizational cultures help determine who is hired by a firm.

Question 24

Extending benefits to full- and part-time employees as well as spouses and domestic partners can convey to those employees the people orientation of the firm.

Question 25

Culture is generally resistant to change efforts.

Question 26

All mission statements are effective because they describe who the companies are and what they do.

Question 27

Organization choice of individuals for employment is impacted by culture,but that culture also impacts the self-selection out of that process by some individuals.

Question 28

The behaviors that are punished,ignored or rewarded are likely to help determine how a culture evolves in a firm.

Question 29

Two conditions that help effect a cultural change include experiencing failure in a firm and changes in the external environment impacting the firm.

Question 30

Individuals high in agreeableness would likely seek out firms with aggressive cultures.

Question 31

A firm that uses a ranking system where employees are pitted against each other for the top rewards is more likely to have an aggressive culture.

Question 32

Onboarding activities in a firm produce higher levels of job satisfaction in new employees but have little impact on their organizational commitment long term.

Question 33

The inability to network is a major reason why new employees either leave their jobs voluntarily or are terminated within the first two years of employment.

Question 34

While managers and supervisors are very important in helping new employees adjust to a firm's culture,coworkers actually hamper the process.

Question 35

Mentors and protégés who had input into the matching process were no more satisfied with the outcome of the program then were those who were placed into a mentor-protégé pair.

Question 36

While a firm's physical layout impacts motivation and job satisfaction,it does little to convey company culture.

Question 37

A firm that rewards the achievement of goals only,and not the process to achieve those goals,is likely to have an outcome-based culture.

Question 38

It is less important to find an individual to serve as a mentor who personifies company values than to find an individual who is enthusiastic about participating in the program.

Question 39

Leader role modeling is an important influence in the creation or change in an organization's culture.

Question 40

Computer-oriented orientation programs are more cost effective and more effective in conveying the firm's culture than classroom-oriented programs.

Question 41

3M Corporation provides its employees time each week to generate ideas for new products.This practice is responsible for the development of such products as Post-it notes.3M has a(n)_____________ culture.

A)innovative
B)people-centered
C)detail oriented
D)aggressive

Question 42

The culture of a company is heavily impacted by the culture of its nation of origin.

Question 43

The first step in the cultural change process is changing leaders and the leadership team.

Question 44

Lincoln Manufacturing has a large sign posted at the entrance to the firm's parking area that keeps count of the number of days since the last accident in the firm.Currently,the number stands at 150.The count is changed every day in somewhat of a "ceremony," and every time another 50 days go by without an accident,the firm provides a free lunch to employees.Posters throughout the plant remind workers to wear protective clothing including earplugs,safety hats and glasses and safety shoes.Lincoln has what kind of culture?

A)person-oriented
B)aggressive
C)safety
D)stable

Question 45

Shared principles,standards and goals are

A)artifacts.
B)values.
C)beliefs.
D)assumptions.

Question 46

Making ethics assessment a regular part of performance evaluation can ensure ethical behavior becomes part of a firm's core values.

Question 47

Which of the following statements regarding organizational culture and its impact on the firm is INCORRECT?

A)Employees become more aware of their organization's culture when they have an opportunity to compare it to that of another firm.
B)Having a culture that fits with the company leads to good company performance,but having a culture that does not fit has no impact.
C)Organizational cultures that are hard to imitate can create a competitive advantage for a firm.
D)Organizational culture is an effective control mechanism for dictating employee behavior.

Question 48

Security,safety and social equality are all examples of

A)cultural assumptions.
B)cultural artifacts.
C)cultural values.
D)cultural orientations.

Question 49

Nordstrom is most recognized for and has been ranked in Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" because of its

A)upscale environment.
B)quality apparel.
C)service culture.
D)employee rewards.

Question 50

The Japanese culture emphasizes harmony,so it is highly unlikely a Japanese company would have an aggressive culture.

Question 51

Organizational culture consists of three levels:

A)assumptions,orientations,and beliefs.
B)beliefs,values,and artifacts.
C)artifacts,assumptions,and beliefs.
D)assumptions,artifacts,and values.

Question 52

The corner office,mahogany desks and credenzas,gold name plates on office doors and reserved parking places are examples of

A)cultural beliefs.
B)cultural assumptions.
C)cultural artifacts.
D)cultural values.

Question 53

Cultural assumptions

A)lie below the awareness level and reflect beliefs about human nature and reality.
B)are shared principles,standards and goals.
C)are a set of values unique to a limited cross-section of the organization.
D)are the visible and tangible elements of culture.

Question 54

The Internal Revenue Service has many rules and regulations with regard to tax code and the filing of returns.The organization is large and very bureaucratic.If an individual has issues with the agency,getting it resolved is a laborious process filled with "red tape" and takes an extensive amount of time and patience to resolve.The Internal Revenue Service has a(n)_________ culture.

A)team-oriented
B)stable
C)people-oriented
D)outcome-oriented

Question 55

"People are generally dishonest" is an example of a

A)cultural orientation.
B)cultural artifact.
C)cultural value.
D)cultural assumption.

Question 56

The visible and tangible elements of culture are

A)assumptions.
B)values.
C)artifacts.
D)beliefs.

Question 57

The school district has established achievement-oriented goals.Teachers are told that their instruction must thoroughly prepare students for high scores on the state achievement tests.Each nine-week grading period,teachers meet to discuss overall progress toward the goals set for increasing state achievement test scores.Recently the superintendent of the school district proposed establishing a bonus fund to reward teachers whose students' scores increased the most from year to year on those tests.This school has what kind of culture?

A)people-oriented
B)detail-oriented
C)aggressive
D)outcome-oriented

Question 58

Renovating the firm's facilities and updating a firm's logo can help enable a cultural change.

Question 59

The mother of the young man always has such difficulty getting him jeans to wear to elementary school.He needs the husky size and does not want any color EXCEPT the dark blue denim.The mother needs four pair of jeans.She usually purchases them at a major department store located in the mall near her home.She is at the mall today and is disappointed that only one pair in the size she needs is available.The salesclerk says that more should be available soon,but she is not sure exactly when.The day after the purchase,the phone rings in the mother's home.It is the salesclerk from the major department store reporting that three pairs of the husky jeans in the child's size have arrived and she is holding them for the mother.The mother thanks the clerk and asks how she got the mother's phone number."It took me some time,says the clerk,"but I found your receipt from yesterday and looked up your phone number through our computer system." This store has a _________ culture.

A)service
B)detail-oriented
C)stable
D)people-oriented

Question 60

A system of shared assumptions,values,and beliefs that shows employees what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior is

A)culture.
B)mission.
C)goals.
D)strategy.

Question 61

Those who emphasize achievement,results and action create a(n)_________ __________ culture in their organizations.

A)outcome-oriented
B)team-oriented
C)detail-oriented
D)people-oriented

Question 62

A company with a stable culture is

A)flexible,adaptable,and experiments with new ideas.
B)predictable,rule-oriented,and bureaucratic.
C)achievement-oriented,results-oriented,and action-oriented.
D)fair,supportive,and respects individual rights.

Question 63

Which of the following statements regarding culture creation is correct?

A)An organization's culture is shaped only by internal environmental factors.
B)New organization members are rarely taught the "way of business" in the firm; they simply acquire that knowledge through daily activities.
C)When the organization's way of doing business provides a successful adaptation to environmental challenges,those beliefs and values are retained.
D)Studies show the only factor consistently found to determine culture creation in a firm is the founder's values.

Question 64

The culture of Altmira Corporation is characterized by participative decision making,innovation and openness.The accounting department,however,is run using authoritarian decision making to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.Accounting manager Gordon Paul believes in tight control to prevent errors.The accounting department's culture could be classified as a

A)strong culture.
B)weak culture.
C)subculture.
D)counterculture.

Question 65

ABC Corporation has its sights clearly set on XYZ Company.The firm's employees often talk about "cutting XYZ off at the knees." Recently a lawsuit was filed against ABC by XYZ because ABC "raided" the middle-level management level of XYZ and hired away 5 of its 7 managers.ABC has a(n)____________________ culture.

A)service
B)outcome
C)stable
D)aggressive

Question 66

Which of the following statements regarding culture in organizations is INCORRECT?

A)Multiple subcultures can exist in a single organization.
B)Subcultures arise in a firm due to personal characteristics of managers and employees and the different conditions under which work is performed.
C)Countercultures are never tolerated by an organization once they are identified.
D)Employee perceptions on subcultures are related to employee commitment to the organization.

Question 67

People-oriented cultures

A)value fairness,supportiveness and respecting individual rights.
B)value competitiveness and outperforming competitors.
C)are flexible,adaptable,and experiment with new ideas.
D)emphasize precision and paying attention to details.

Question 68

Which of the following statements regarding culture dimensions is INCORRECT?

A)Employees tend to stay longer in people-oriented cultures.
B)Outcome-oriented cultures hold managers accountable for success,but not other employees.
C)In team-oriented cultures,managers have more positive relationships with their subordinates than in other cultures.
D)Proactive behavior tends to emerge often in service companies.

Question 69

The marketing department at Langston Industries meets once a week for a pizza luncheon after which the marketing manager holds his weekly "venting session" where department members can express their concerns about what is going right and wrong in the department and firm.The finance department,on the other hand,never meets.The finance manager simply sends emails to his subordinates each Monday with a list of the items to be accomplished each week and tries to get around to seeing each individual sometime during the week for any questions the employee might have.Langston appears to have _________ in its organization.

A)countercultures
B)subcultures
C)onboarding
D)strong cultures

Question 70

Strong cultures

A)facilitate the changes that must occur in firms during mergers and acquisitions.
B)outperform weak cultures regardless of the volatility of the environment.
C)are no more difficult to change than weak cultures.
D)are evidenced by consensus among employees on the values of the company.

Question 71

To ensure all cast members share the history of Walt Disney World,new hires at the resort must take the courses on traditions at Disney.With these classes,the Walt Disney Company is creating a

A)weak culture.
B)counterculture.
C)strong culture.
D)subculture.

Question 72

A culture that emphasizes precision and paying attention to details is

A)a service culture.
B)an aggressive culture.
C)a detail-oriented culture.
D)an outcome-oriented culture.

Question 73

Firms that are flexible,adaptable and experiment with new ideas are _________ firms.

A)aggressive
B)innovative
C)stable
D)outcome-oriented

Question 74

Shared values and beliefs that are in direct opposition to the values of the broader organizational culture represent a

A)strong culture.
B)weak culture.
C)subculture.
D)counterculture.

Question 75

The firm places its employees into five-person groups and gives them projects that are to be completed by each group with minimum direction from a project leader.Compensation in the firm is divided into two parts-that earned for your primary job,and that earned for work in your group.Once each year,training seminars are conducted for all company employees to learn the latest techniques in collaboration.This firm has a(n)____________ culture.

A)people-oriented
B)detail-oriented
C)team-oriented
D)outcome-oriented

Question 76

A defined set of values unique to a limited cross-section of the organization is

A)a subculture.
B)a counterculture.
C)a strong culture.
D)a service culture.

Question 77

At Walt Disney World,guests staying at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa find thick white terrycloth robes hanging in the cupboard when they arrive in the room.Maids do not just place washcloths in the bath area; they form the washcloths into animals and arrange them on the vanity ready for a photograph.At night mints appear on the pillows and when the beds are made in the morning,any plush animals children have purchased or brought from home will be arranged in an entertaining formation on the finished bed.These examples suggest that Walt Disney Company is _______ __________.

A)people-oriented.
B)detail-oriented.
C)team-oriented.
D)outcome oriented.

Question 78

Which of the following statements regarding founder's values is INCORRECT?

A)Founder values continue to be reflected in a firm only to the extent they continue to aid the firm's success.
B)The difficulty in changing firm culture can be,at least,partially attributed to the shaping provided by founder values.
C)Founder values can provide a competitive advantage for a firm.
D)Founder values lay the cornerstone of the firm's culture,but values have a rapidly decreasing impact as the firm grows and ages.

Question 79

The firm pays above average wages to its employees.Each employee is given at least two weeks of vacation and any time family matters arise and time is needed,flexible arrangements are made to facilitate the employee.Each Thanksgiving,a turkey is provided to each employee,$15 gift certificates are given for the Christmas holiday,and during the summer,the firm pays for each employee and one other individual to attend an expense-paid day at the local amusement park.This firm seems to be a(n)_________ company.

A)outcome-oriented
B)service-oriented
C)people-oriented
D)team-oriented

Question 80

Companies that are collaborative and emphasize cooperation among employees have a(n)__________ _________ culture.

A)people-oriented
B)outcome-oriented
C)detail-oriented
D)team-oriented