Deck 14: Organizational Culture, Creativity, and Innovation

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a healthy organizational culture?

A) Everyone is humble.
B) People are held accountable.
C) People are not free to take risks.
D) The commitment to doing things well is high.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

An organization with a hierarchy culture is best described by all of the following EXCEPT:

A) internal focus.
B) emphasis on stability.
C) emphasis on production.
D) emphasis on control.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to the competing values framework, the cultures of organizations differ with respect to the values of ________.

A) flexibility and discretion versus stability, order, and control
B) internal affairs versus what is happening in the external environment
C) Both "A" and "B"
D) Neither "A" nor "B"

Answer 3

C

Question 4

"Just like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" represents which of the following tools for transmitting culture?

A) Slogans
B) Symbols
C) Stories
D) Jargon

Question 5

Nissan has telemarketers call customers after they've bought a car, had a car serviced, or done business with a Nissan dealer to check on their satisfaction and to ask for ways to improve their service. Nissan provides feedback cards in the showrooms for customer use. These are examples of Nissan building the organizational cultural value of:

A) a willingness to take risks.
B) interest in new ideas.
C) openness to communication.
D) sensitivity to others.

Question 6

During his interview, John was told that work hours were 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, he noticed after about three weeks that the "up and coming" managers tended to show up by 6:30 a.m. and did not go home until around 7:00 p.m. This is an example of organizational culture's role of:

A) providing a sense of identity for its members.
B) clarifying standards of behavior.
C) communicating the organization's mission.
D) determining what constitutes innovation.

Question 7

Organizations that have a strong internal focus along with a high degree of flexibility and discretion are said to have a(n):

A) market culture.
B) clan culture.
C) adhocracy culture.
D) competing values culture.

Question 8

Organizations that emphasize flexibility while also paying a great deal of attention to the external environment are said to have a(n):

A) market culture.
B) clan culture.
C) adhocracy culture.
D) competing values culture.

Question 9

The distinctive, overarching "personality" of an organization is known as:

A) its subculture.
B) its dominant culture.
C) the organizational climate.
D) extrinsic task motivators.

Question 10

Bank of America has been described as very conservative and slow to innovate or try new ideas; in contrast, employees at The Limited are discouraged from making "safe" choices. This difference represents which aspect of organizational culture?

A) Willingness to take risks
B) Interest in having employees generate ideas
C) Openness of available communication
D) Sensitivity to the needs of customers and employees

Question 11

Organizations that are concerned with stability and control but are external in their orientation are said to have a(n):

A) market culture.
B) clan culture.
C) adhocracy culture.
D) competing values culture.

Question 12

Companies with a strong culture are likely to have all of the following EXCEPT:

A) clear philosophy.
B) considerable time spent on communicating values and beliefs.
C) widely accepted and rooted values.
D) less screening of new employees.

Question 13

The use of plants and flower arrangements to create the look of friendly, person-oriented culture represents which of the following tools for transmitting culture?

A) Slogans
B) Symbols
C) Stories
D) Jargon

Question 14

When interpreting an organization's culture, it is important to remember that:

A) organizational culture will not change over time.
B) companies actually contain multiple cultures.
C) there is a best culture for every organization.
D) innovation is a function of people, not companies.

Question 15

If a company shapes its culture around a strategy like price leadership or high quality products, its culture is growing out of the factor of:

A) the organization's experience with the external environment.
B) the company's founders.
C) internal interactions, contact between groups within the organization.
D) the subcultures within the organization.

Question 16

In the transmission of organizational culture, material objects that connote meanings that extend beyond their intrinsic content are called:

A) statements of principle.
B) symbols.
C) experiences of shared meaning.
D) stories.

Question 17

The cognitive framework consisting of attitudes, values, behavioral norms, and expectations shared by organization members, is referred to as:

A) organizational culture.
B) intrinsic task motivation.
C) innovation.
D) technology.

Question 18

Organizational culture plays several important roles, such as:

A) providing a sense of identity for its members.
B) orienting employees to the external environment.
C) providing a list of rules for outsiders to follow in their interactions with the organization.
D) All of the above.

Question 19

A key factor contributing to the emergence of culture in a company is ________.

A) the influence of company founders
B) the company's experiences with the external environment
C) Both "A" and "B"
D) Neither "A" nor "B"

Question 20

Bill is considering working for Dayton Computers. He notices that the company shows respect for individuals' rights, is fair, and supportive. He is assessing the organizational cultural element of:

A) willingness to take risks.
B) interest in having employees generate ideas.
C) openness of available communication.
D) the value placed on people.

Question 21

During new employee orientation, the facilitator explains how the founder of the company came from overseas with no money and unable to speak the language, but by hard work was able to build this company in 15 years to its current size. This is example of the organizational culture transmission tool:

A) statements of principle.
B) symbols.
C) experiences of shared meaning.
D) stories.

Question 22

Being honest and open is most important in what activity of a cultural due diligence analysis?

A) Assessing intellectual capital
B) Auditing the prevailing culture
C) Involving different people from both companies in designing the new enterprise
D) Communicating early and often

Question 23

________ is the process of reframing familiar problems in unique ways.

A) Productive forgetting
B) Divergent thinking
C) Intrinsic task motivation
D) Cross-functional symbiosis

Question 24

Forest Mars, the founder of the candy company M&M Mars, published the "Five Principles of Mars," which still guide the company today. This publication exemplifies which of the following tools for transmitting culture?

A) Written statements of principle
B) Symbols
C) Ceremonies
D) Slogans and mottoes

Question 25

The growing ethnic and cultural diversity of employees is one example of how ________ is/are causing change in organizational cultures.

A) innovation and creativity
B) the composition of the workforce
C) mergers and acquisitions
D) planned organizational change

Question 26

According to the text, culture clashes are likely to occur in:

A) market culture.
B) mergers and acquisitions.
C) adhocracy culture.
D) competing values culture.

Question 27

The use of special language represents which of the following tools for transmitting culture?

A) Slogans
B) Symbols
C) Stories
D) Jargon

Question 28

When someone is trying to be creative and use a series of "rules" to approach tasks in novel ways, they are building their creativity by:

A) embedding a new contract.
B) developing the ability to productively forget.
C) using a creativity heuristic.
D) learning to think more complexly.

Question 29

Utilizing customer opinion and information is part of what activity of the cultural due diligence audit?

A) Assess intellectual capital
B) Audit the prevailing culture
C) Involve different people from both companies in designing the new enterprise
D) Communicate early and often

Question 30

Organizational cultures change over time due to:

A) the changing characteristics of the workforce.
B) changes in an organization's external environment.
C) government policies.
D) All of the above.

Question 31

Throwing a party to celebrate the move to a new facility represents which of the following tools for transmitting culture?

A) Slogans
B) Symbols
C) Ceremonies
D) Jargon

Question 32

The merger of Nabisco and R.J. Nabisco is an example of the importance of ________ for the success of a merger.

A) organizational culture
B) the composition of the workforce
C) innovation and creativity
D) planned organizational change

Question 33

A cultural due diligence analysis should be done to ensure compatibility before a ________ has been finalized.

A) corporate downsizing initiative
B) stealth marketing campaign
C) SWOT analysis
D) merger or acquisition

Question 34

Explicit statements about the company's moral and ethical values are called:

A) statements of principle.
B) symbols.
C) experiences of shared meaning.
D) codes of ethics.

Question 35

Two HR professionals were talking in the hallway about OSHA coming to visit and how much they dreaded it. A fellow manager came up and suggested they simply try to be out of the office when he stopped in. They laughed and explained that OSHA was actually a government health and safety organization coming for an inspection and they couldn't just be gone. This is example of the organizational culture transmission tool:

A) statements of principle.
B) jargon.
C) experiences of shared meaning.
D) stories.

Question 36

In the discussion of individual creativity, any concern that the individual has the physical skills necessary to create or innovate is a discussion of:

A) creativity-relevant skills.
B) intrinsic task motivation.
C) extrinsic task environment.
D) domain-relevant skills.

Question 37

Ana is helping her employees break their mental sets and think more complexly in order to improve their creativity. Ana is helping them to develop their:

A) creativity-relevant skills.
B) intrinsic behavioral skills.
C) affect-based skills.
D) domain-relevant skills.

Question 38

Before a merger or acquisition is finalized, many experts recommend that a cultural due diligence analysis should be conducted. During such an analysis, the comparison of the fundamental aspects of the cultures of both organizations would involve ________.

A) assessing intellectual capital
B) auditing the prevailing cultures
C) involving different people from both companies in designing the new enterprise
D) communicating early and often with people at all levels of both organizations

Question 39

The Body Shop International's explicit statement concerning its commitment to environmental issues is an example of the organizational culture transmission tool of:

A) statements of principle.
B) symbols.
C) ceremonies.
D) stories.

Question 40

Interviewing people in both organizations to determine "who really knows what to do and how to do it" is a part of what activity of the cultural due diligence analysis?

A) Assess ing intellectual capital
B) Auditing the prevailing culture
C) Involving different people from both companies in designing the new enterprise
D) Communicating early and often

Question 41

The first step in the creative process is:

A) allow ideas to incubate.
B) document insight.
C) verify ideas.
D) prepare to be creative.

Question 42

The final stage of the creativity process is:

A) preparation.
B) allow ideas to incubate.
C) document insight.
D) verify ideas.

Question 43

Companies engaging in ________ bring about change in the market.

A) radical innovation
B) disruptive innovation
C) incremental innovation
D) manufacturer innovation

Question 44

Generally, training people to be more creative involves two key practices. ________ is one of the practices involved in promoting creativity.

A) Taking the time to understand the problem.
B) Encouraging openness to new experiences
C) Maximizing the search for optimal solutions
D) Both "A" and "B"

Question 45

Companies making ________ explore new technology and operate under highly uncertain conditions.

A) radical innovations
B) disruptive innovations
C) incremental innovations
D) manufacturer innovations

Question 46

Giving employees freedom to control their own behavior is part of which approach to developing creative work environments?

A) Provide exposure to other creative people
B) Provide autonomy
C) Allow ideas to cross-pollinate
D) Make jobs intrinsically interesting

Question 47

The stage of the creative process that involves gathering the appropriate information and concentrating on the problem is:

A) allowing ideas to incubate.
B) documenting insight.
C) verify ideas.
D) preparing to be creative.

Question 48

The top 50 most innovative companies enjoyed annual profit margin growths that were ________ as compared to the average Standard & Poor's Global 1200 companies.

A) a little higher
B) considerably higher
C) a little lower
D) significantly lower

Question 49

Companies engaging in ________ exploit existing technology and operate under conditions in which uncertainty about the future is low.

A) radical innovation
B) disruptive innovation
C) incremental innovation
D) manufacturer innovation

Question 50

Introducing goods that are new or substantially improved is considered what target of innovation?

A) Service innovation
B) Process innovation
C) Product innovation
D) Supply chain innovation

Question 51

According to the creative process model, allowing ideas to incubate means to:

A) sleep on it.
B) gather the appropriate information and concentrate on the problem.
C) brainstorm.
D) break mental sets and take new perspectives.

Question 52

The three basic components of creativity in individuals and teams are ________.

A) cognitive skills, intrinsic motivation, and appropriate resources
B) skills in the task domain, skills in the communication domain, and intrinsic motivation
C) domain-relevant skills, creativity-relevant skills, and intrinsic motivation
D) skills in the task domain, intrinsic motivation, and appropriate resources

Question 53

Improvements in production or delivery methods are considered what target of innovation?

A) Service innovation
B) Process innovation
C) Product innovation
D) Supply chain innovation

Question 54

Intrinsic task motivation tends to be high when:

A) an employee is using a creativity heuristic in his/her thinking.
B) the employee has a personal interest in the task.
C) the company offers a significant financial reward.
D) all of these conditions are present.

Question 55

Working on several projects at once is part of which approach to developing creative work environments?

A) Provide exposure to other creative people
B) Provide autonomy
C) Allow ideas to cross-pollinate
D) Make jobs intrinsically interesting

Question 56

Faster delivery of packages is considered an example of what target of innovation?

A) Service innovation
B) Process innovation
C) Product innovation
D) Supply chain innovation

Question 57

To build creativity-related skills, an individual should:

A) learn to break complex processes into their simplest parts.
B) develop the ability to forget unproductive ideas.
C) reinforce existing paradigms and perspectives.
D) do all of these.

Question 58

Improvements in packaging are considered examples of what target of innovation?

A) Service innovation
B) Process innovation
C) Product innovation
D) Marketing innovation

Question 59

When fostering creativity, it helps to:

A) minimize divergent thinking.
B) simplify the task at hand.
C) avoid the use of similes and metaphors.
D) practice productive forgetting.

Question 60

The component of creativity that focuses on what people are willing to do is:

A) creativity-relevant skills.
B) domain-relevant skills.
C) affect-based skills.
D) intrinsic task motivation.

Question 61

It is at this Stage in the organizational innovation process when other parts of the organization become involved in the process.

A) Stage 2 - setting the stage
B) Stage 3 - producing the ideas
C) Stage 4- testing and implementing the ideas
D) Stage 5 - outcome assessment

Question 62

Betsy is creating a mission statement and focusing on motivation. She is ________ for innovation.

A) setting the agenda
B) setting the stage
C) producing the ideas
D) testing and implementing the ideas

Question 63

________ of the organizational innovation process may involve narrowing down broad goals and gathering the resources needed to meet them.

A) Stage 1 - setting the agenda
B) Stage 2 - setting the stage
C) Stage 3 - producing the ideas
D) Stage 4- testing and implementing the ideas

Question 64

Table 14.2
As an innovation consultant, you work with a number of firms. Better Mousetraps builds inexpensive but sophisticated mousetraps. They have very capable designers and engineers who are highly motivated by a personal desire to rid the world of mice, yet innovation is low. The CEO asks you to conduct some creativity training. You lead the key designers through a process for coming up with new ideas by reframing common problems in unique ways to come up with multiple or alternative solutions. Along with the training, you interview the designers and engineers and discover that they are not clear on what the CEO wants. You also find they perceive a corporate bias towards the status quo, not an encouragement to innovate.
Refer to Table 14.2. Your interviews of employees has uncovered a weakness in which organizational component for innovation?

A) The way innovation is managed
B) The resources to innovate
C) The motivation to innovate
D) None of these.

Question 65

Revising the basic way that business is done is an example of what target of innovation?

A) Service innovation
B) Business model innovation
C) Organizational innovation
D) Marketing innovation

Question 66

Changes in pivotal organizational practices are considered examples what target of innovation?

A) Organizational innovation
B) Process innovation
C) Product innovation
D) Marketing innovation

Question 67

While an organization's culture builds a sense of identity for employees, it has little effect on their commitment to the organization's mission or purpose.

Question 68

A key organizational component necessary to foster innovation is ________.

A) an unrelenting sense of urgency
B) formalized rules and regulations
C) a culture that encourages innovation
D) a hierarchical communication structure

Question 69

Table 14.2
As an innovation consultant, you work with a number of firms. Better Mousetraps builds inexpensive but sophisticated mousetraps. They have very capable designers and engineers who are highly motivated by a personal desire to rid the world of mice, yet innovation is low. The CEO asks you to conduct some creativity training. You lead the key designers through a process for coming up with new ideas by reframing common problems in unique ways to come up with multiple or alternative solutions. Along with the training, you interview the designers and engineers and discover that they are not clear on what the CEO wants. You also find they perceive a corporate bias towards the status quo, not an encouragement to innovate.
Refer to Table 14.2. What creativity component seems to be weak at Better Mousetraps?

A) Domain-relevant skills
B) Creativity-relevant skills
C) Intrinsic task motivation
D) Affective identity

Question 70

The nurturing of an innovation takes place in this stage, and it is where most ideas are killed.

A) Stage 2 - setting the stage
B) Stage 3 - producing the ideas
C) Stage 4- testing and implementing the ideas
D) Stage 5 - outcome assessment

Question 71

The most important organizational cultural element for managing innovation is:

A) the ability to apply time pressure on employees without making them quit.
B) the balancing of goals, rewards, and time pressure.
C) the firm's senior leadership.
D) market research.

Question 72

Experience and research show that effective innovation management involves:

A) the imposition of severe time pressures.
B) linking all forms of innovation and creativity to financial rewards.
C) a permissive-directive style of organizational leadership.
D) linking innovation to the corporate mission.

Question 73

Table 14.1
Graduate students are studying their university's organizational culture. Tanya is examining the extent to which the university makes it easy for students to register for classes and for professors to get clerical support for their classes. Tia has focused on the university's concern about liability and how much it allows professors to experiment with new teaching methods, conduct experiments in classes, etc. Bill has found that there is little expectation that faculty will make independent decisions. Almost everything has to pass through a committee. Students feel like mushrooms; they are kept in the dark and dumped on. As a consequence, faculty members do their own thing and go home. Alumni giving is minimal since most graduates are happy to escape. There is little social consciousness on campus.
Refer to Table 14.1. Tia's research is on the ________ element of organizational culture.

A) sensitivity to the needs of customers and employees
B) interest in having employees generate new ideas
C) willingness to take risks
D) openness of available communication opportunities

Question 74

Table 14.2
As an innovation consultant, you work with a number of firms. Better Mousetraps builds inexpensive but sophisticated mousetraps. They have very capable designers and engineers who are highly motivated by a personal desire to rid the world of mice, yet innovation is low. The CEO asks you to conduct some creativity training. You lead the key designers through a process for coming up with new ideas by reframing common problems in unique ways to come up with multiple or alternative solutions. Along with the training, you interview the designers and engineers and discover that they are not clear on what the CEO wants. You also find they perceive a corporate bias towards the status quo, not an encouragement to innovate.
Refer to Table 14.2. Your creativity training is an example of:

A) divergent thinking.
B) helping designers to understand complexities.
C) the use of productive forgetting.
D) keeping options open.

Question 75

Table 14.1
Graduate students are studying their university's organizational culture. Tanya is examining the extent to which the university makes it easy for students to register for classes and for professors to get clerical support for their classes. Tia has focused on the university's concern about liability and how much it allows professors to experiment with new teaching methods, conduct experiments in classes, etc. Bill has found that there is little expectation that faculty will make independent decisions. Almost everything has to pass through a committee. Students feel like mushrooms; they are kept in the dark and dumped on. As a consequence, faculty members do their own thing and go home. Alumni giving is minimal since most graduates are happy to escape. There is little social consciousness on campus.
Refer to Table 14.1. Bill's research in on the organizational cultural element of:

A) sensitivity to the needs of customers and employees.
B) interest in having employees generate new ideas.
C) value placed on taking risks.
D) openness of available communication opportunities.

Question 76

A strong organizational culture is necessary for the culture to have a positive impact on productivity.

Question 77

Table 14.1
Graduate students are studying their university's organizational culture. Tanya is examining the extent to which the university makes it easy for students to register for classes and for professors to get clerical support for their classes. Tia has focused on the university's concern about liability and how much it allows professors to experiment with new teaching methods, conduct experiments in classes, etc. Bill has found that there is little expectation that faculty will make independent decisions. Almost everything has to pass through a committee. Students feel like mushrooms; they are kept in the dark and dumped on. As a consequence, faculty members do their own thing and go home. Alumni giving is minimal since most graduates are happy to escape. There is little social consciousness on campus.
Refer to Table 14.1. Tanya is examining the ________ element of organizational culture.

A) sensitivity to the needs of customers and employees
B) interest in having employees generate new ideas
C) value placed on taking risks
D) openness of available communication opportunities

Question 78

A number of great innovations were initially rejected or turned down, including:

A) the movie Star Wars.
B) movies with sound tracks.
C) the Beatles
D) All of the above.

Question 79

During ________ of the organizational innovation process, new ideas are generated and tested.

A) Stage 1 - setting the agenda
B) Stage 2 - setting the stage
C) Stage 3 - producing the ideas
D) Stage 4- testing and implementing the ideas

Question 80

Organizational culture is a cognitive framework of the attitudes, values, norms, and expectations shared by the organization's members.