Deck 4: Role and Style of the Od Practitioner

Question 1

A practitioner utilizing the pathfinder style uses several processes,which include group problem solving and decision making and communications.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Closure refers to the tendency of an individual to be closed-minded to new information.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

It is a mistake for an OD practitioner to assume that all organizations must and should have an OD program simply because most or?ganizations can benefit greatly from one.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When the basic value system of the OD practitioner is not compatible with the organization's culture,it is incumbent upon the practitioner not to enter into a relationship with the client.

Question 5

An internal practitioner has more leverage than an external practitioner.

Question 6

When an OD practitioner acts authentically,he/she is practicing "do as I say,not as I do."

Question 7

A basic assumption underlying the OD practitioner's role holds that it is the responsibility of the practitioner to identify problems,perform diagnosis,and solve problems of the client system.

Question 8

The client target system is the element of organizational unit(s)to be changed.

Question 9

One of the functions of an OD practitioner is to assist in an analysis of problem areas and in planning change strategies.

Question 10

The external-internal practitioner team is one of the least effective approaches to facilitate a change program.

Question 11

Once an impression is made,that impression is difficult to change.

Question 12

The OD process practitioner operates on the belief that the individual who is a part of the sociotechnical system is the basic building block of an organization.

Question 13

The OD practitioner must deal reactively with changing competitive forces.

Question 14

OD practitioners operate from one basic style and approach,that of the pathfinder style,regardless of the client system.

Question 15

In the gamesmanship mode,members measure high on shared ideas and low on responsibility.

Question 16

The analyzer style of practitioner includes low emphasis on effectiveness and high emphasis on morale.

Question 17

Within the first stage of building a practitioner-client relationship includes forming initial perceptions and assessments.

Question 18

The formalization of a contract and the operating ground rules includes the fees,point of contact,the schedule,and confidentiality of data or information.

Question 19

External practitioners have greater freedom of operation than internal practitioners.

Question 20

The practitioner's style is influenced by the target organiza?tion's readiness for change,level of resistance,and culture.

Question 21

The best practitioner style is the _____ style.

A)pathfinder
B)analyzer
C)persuader
D)cheerleader
E)none of the above

Question 22

In the pathfinder style,confrontation and conflict _____.

A)are unnecessary practices
B)are negative reinforcement
C)are a means to problem solving if used properly
D)are the best means of gaining organizational consensus
E)are effectively used by a practitioner using the persuader style

Question 23

An analyzer practitioner usually _____.

A)emphasizes effectiveness
B)uses a rational approach to problem solving
C)relies heavily on quantitative measures
D)all of the above
E)answers b and c

Question 24

Prior knowledge of informal organizational values,norms,and processes is an advantage in using a(n)_____.

A)stabilizer style practitioner
B)external practitioner
C)analyzer style practitioner
D)internal practitioner
E)all of the above

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT true regarding OD practitioners?

A)Internal practitioners may be biased and less objective than external practitioners.
B)External practitioners usually have less influence than internal practitioners.
C)External practitioners are frequently an unknown quantity in terms of actual abilities and effectiveness.
D)Internal practitioners can have the disadvantage of being seen as part of the problem.
E)External practitioners can bring objectivity to the organization.

Question 26

High effectiveness and high member satisfaction characterize the _____ practitioner style.

A)pathfinder
B)cheerleader
C)stabilizer
D)persuader
E)analyzer

Question 27

The practitioner style that gives primary emphasis to employee relationships and morale is the _____ style.

A)stabilizer
B)analyzer
C)persuader
D)cheerleader
E)pathfinder

Question 28

The role of the practitioner will most often depend on _____.

A)the nature of the change
B)the structure of the organization
C)the involvement of management
D)the goals of the employees
E)the degree of team work of the organization members

Question 29

A practitioner style that seeks both a high degree of effectiveness and high member satisfaction,believing that effectiveness is possible when all members are involved and when problem solving is accomplished through teamwork,is the _____ style.

A)analyzer
B)cheerleader
C)persuader
D)stabilizer
E)pathfinder

Question 30

The practitioner who works in the stabilizer style tries to _____.

A)keep from rocking the boat
B)maintain a low profile
C)emphasize efficiency
D)answers a and b
E)answers b and c

Question 31

An OD practitioner would consider a client's attempt at manipulation as a critical warning signal.

Question 32

Which of the following is more likely to be true about the external practitioner than about the internal practitioner?

A)has increased leverage
B)knows who to see in the organization to get information
C)is highly knowledgeable of the organization's technology
D)is more aware of external market and competitive conditions
E)answers a and d

Question 33

Which of the following is more likely to be true of an internal practitioner as opposed to an external practitioner?

A)familiar with the client system
B)not affected by the existing power network
C)independent of the organization for promotions
D)brings in a new perspective
E)knowledgeable of other industries

Question 34

Advantages of external practitioners over internal practitioners include the following:

A)greater objectivity
B)positive role
C)more technical knowledge and skill
D)more experience in dealing with diverse problems
E)all of the above

Question 35

An advantage of an external practitioner over an internal practitioner is _____.

A)more experience with the power structure
B)a willingness to compromise
C)an independence from structural authority levels
D)all of the above
E)answers b and c

Question 36

Often the most effective change program utilizes the _____.

A)external practitioner
B)external-internal practitioner team
C)persuader style of practitioner
D)stabilizer style of practitioner
E)internal practitioner

Question 37

The use of an external-internal practitioner team _____.

A)is a duplication of resources
B)is required in order to provide the necessary influence to initiate change
C)will provide close adherence to top management's requirements
D)is probably the most-effective approach
E)all of the above

Question 38

The internal practitioner has certain advantages over the external practitioner.Which one of the following is an advantage of the internal practitioner?

A)not affected by the organization's power structure
B)specialized practitioner skills
C)objective at looking at situations
D)not familiar with the organization's norms
E)knowledgeable of the organization's structure and workings

Question 39

Which of the following does NOT represent an OD approach to change?

A)identifying a gap between the current situation and the desired situation
B)random or haphazard change
C)determining where the organization currently is
D)taking into consideration long-range implications
E)none of the above

Question 40

The phrase "firefighting" is used to describe which type of organizational change?

A)random or haphazard
B)internal environment
C)improvement promotion
D)organization development
E)none of the above

Question 41

Where members keep their true feelings about self-fulfillment and organizational effectiveness to themselves is a practitioner-client relationship mode based upon _____.

A)gamesmanship
B)charisma
C)consensus
D)fear
E)answers b and c

Question 42

The process of selecting an appropriate practitioner is usually one of _____.

A)compromise
B)collective bargaining
C)mutual assessment
D)reading of the practitioner's resume and recommendations
E)none of the above

Question 43

Most OD practitioners agree that an open and _____ relationship between the practitioner and the client is desirable.

A)long-lasting
B)agreeable
C)spontaneous
D)trusting
E)all of the above

Question 44

Closure can best be described as _____.

A)a process involved with perception to block out any unfavorable facts
B)a process involved with perception where missing information is filled in
C)to analyze carefully the perception
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 45

When a skeptical,passive view by client members of an OD program is present,it is identified as the _____ mode of client-practitioner relationship.

A)apathetic
B)power
C)integrative
D)charismatic
E)integrative

Question 46

The practitioner-client relationship _____.

A)sets the tone of the program
B)includes the organizational unit to be studied
C)should be planned and developed
D)all of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 47

Communication responses useful to the practitioner in developing a trust relationship include _____.

A)giving advice
B)self-disclosure and reflection on what the client has stated
C)advising the client on what the problem is so the client will gain confidence of the practitioner's abilities
D)a combination of these factors
E)none of the above

Question 48

The screening of information to form perceptions is known as _____.

A)biased viewpoints
B)restrained opinions
C)selective perception
D)interpretation
E)closure

Question 49

Four possible modes in the practitioner-client relationship are _____.

A)the compatible mode,the friendly mode,the consensus mode,and the agreeable mode
B)the apathetic mode,the gamesmanship mode,the involved mode,and the power mode
C)the apathetic mode,the power mode,the conflict mode,and the charismatic mode
D)the apathetic mode,the gamesmanship mode,the charismatic mode,and the motivated mode
E)none of the above

Question 50

Helping the client organization to improve its own skills and problem-solving abilities _____.

A)is unnecessary if you are using an internal practitioner
B)is an objective of practitioners in most cases
C)is applied only in extreme instances
D)is a worthy objective but seldom sought by the practitioner
E)none of the above

Question 51

Criteria used in choosing whether or not to form a client/practitioner relationship are _____.

A)congruence of values between the client and the practitioner
B)client system attitudes toward OD
C)appropriateness of OD to solve the system's problems.
D)all of the above
E)answers a and c

Question 52

The relationship between the practitioner and the client should be _____.

A)competitive
B)challenging
C)cordial
D)collaborative
E)undefined so as to remain open to change

Question 53

Before starting an OD project,the practitioner should obtain answers to which of the following?

A)Are the key people involved?
B)Are the learning goals of OD appropriate?
C)Is the cultural state of the client system ready for OD?
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 54

In the practitioner-client relationship modes,which of the following is the most preferred and includes high responsibility with a complete openness of sharing ideas and feelings?

A)integrative
B)gamesmanship
C)consensus
D)charismatic
E)empathetic

Question 55

Dependency of the client upon the practitioner _____.

A)is typically a factor at the beginning of the client-practitioner relationship
B)often lessens between the client and practitioner as the relationship continues
C)denotes a problem in any client-practitioner relationship
D)all of the above
E)answers a and b

Question 56

The function of the OD practitioner in the intervention process includes _____.

A)operating in an expert manner so that the client will accept the knowledge and professionalism of the practitioner
B)defining clearly the problem and solution for the client
C)quickly defining the problem for the client in order to gain the client's confidence
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 57

In the intervention process,there will ideally be established a _____ relationship between the practitioner and the client.

A)collaborative
B)psychological
C)friendly
D)social
E)competitive

Question 58

Essential to the practitioner relationship and problem identification is _____.

A)determining who the "real" client is
B)support by all lower-echelon employees
C)friendly interaction
D)being perceived as an expert
E)all of the above

Question 59

The process when an individual perceives more than is actually apparent is _____.

A)interpretation
B)closure
C)disruptive conditioning
D)selective perception
E)answers a and d

Question 60

Factors that contribute to an individual's perceptions are _____.

A)stress and pressure one is working under
B)past experiences
C)types of incentives or rewards involved
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 61

What are the elements in a system's view of the change relationship? Explain.

Question 62

The most constructive mode between a practitioner and a client to further organizational change is _____.

A)apathetic
B)gamesmanship
C)consensus
D)charismatic
E)integrative

Question 63

How can the relationship of mutual trust between the client and the practitioner be facilitated? Why is it necessary?

Question 64

The external practitioner should enter into a formal contract with the client to _____.

A)determine the fees and the number of hours to work
B)state anticipated results
C)detail operating ground rules
D)all of the above
E)answers b and c

Question 65

Warning signals for the practitioner to look out for are_____.

A)superficial commitment to change
B)level of power to influence change
C)being used as a weapon for one member of the client organization against another
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 66

Describe an ideal OD practitioner-client relationship.Contrast this with the worst possible-case scenario.

Question 67

Eric Neilsen has identified four possible modes in the practitioner-client relationship.Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A)the apathetic mode
B)the gamesmanship mode
C)the consensus mode
D)the charismatic mode
E)the empathetic mode

Question 68

What is normally part of the client-practitioner contract?

A)the point of contract
B)the role of the change agent
C)the fees
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 69

There is an open sharing of ideas and feelings between members in the _____ practitioner-client mode.

A)agreeable
B)power
C)consensus
D)charismatic
E)empathetic

Question 70

Why is it necessary to establish a contractual agreement between the external practitioner and the client organization?

Question 71

Of the four practitioner-client relationship modes (apathetic,gamesmanship,charismatic,and consensus),which do you think is preferred for an effective OD program? Support your position.