Deck 11: Communication, Power, and Resistance

Question 1

Deep power can be created by the way we tend to represent universal interests as sectional in our everyday talk.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Referent, coercive, and reward power bases are all forms of positional power.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Employee resistance and dissent are always unethical.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Machiavellian employees tend to exercise power by giving orders and directive to others more than they receive them, especially during competitive situations.

Question 5

Employees tend to use circumvention to communicate dissent when they perceive their supervisor lacks competence or skill to handle the situation.

Question 6

Ideology refers to a general strategy for managing conflicts.

Question 7

According to the textbook authors, the exercise of power is best thought of as

A) influence.
B) power.
C) empowerment.
D) dominance.

Question 8

The brief scene from the Game of Thrones emphasizes what understanding of power that some social scientist also consider valid?

A) Power is something someone has.
B) Power is something that is attributed to someone.
C) Power is the same thing as influence.
D) Power is often unequally distributed leading to dominance.

Question 9

Which of the following is an appropriate definition of ideology?

A) Ideology is the idealistic view people have of reality.
B) Ideology is a set of criteria for evaluating actions as right or wrong.
C) Ideology is a set of beliefs about the role of people in society.
D) Ideology is the self-image a person has in a society.

Question 10

Which of the following is not associated with having an ideology?

A) Ideology is a framework for understanding reality.
B) Ideology is a set of criteria for evaluating actions as right or wrong.
C) Ideology provides individuals with an identity.
D) Ideology provides a set of ideas for changing society.

Question 11

Carol is more knowledgeable about technology than anyone else in her department. Other members almost always agree with her recommendations on technology purchases. This indicates that Carol has what type of power in her department?

A) expert
B) legitimate
C) reward
D) referent

Question 12

As secretary in the department, Carol can make things easy or hard on people by how quickly or slowly she processes their paperwork. Other members almost always agree with her suggestions that the department should do something even if they think it is a poor idea. This indicates that Carol has what type of power in her department?

A) expert
B) legitimate
C) reward
D) referent

Question 13

Many people in the department look up to Carol. When she starts eating a salad and then going for a brisk walk during lunch hour instead of going to the local burger place, many other employees start doing the same thing. This suggests that Carol has which type of power?

A) expert
B) legitimate
C) reward
D) referent

Question 14

Carol is the head of the department. People often privately disagree with some of her suggestions but tend to go along with her at meetings anyway because she is in charge. This suggests that Carol has what type of power?

A) expert
B) legitimate
C) rewards
D) referent

Question 15

A resource dependency understanding of power suggests which of the following is true?

A) If someone else has a higher position than you, that person has power over you.
B) If you believe that you have power over someone, you can influence them.
C) If someone else has something you want or need, that person has power over you.
D) If you attribute power to someone else, they have influence over you.

Question 16

Which of the following is not a resource dependency understanding of power?

A) If you attribute power to someone else, they have influence over you.
B) If someone else has something you want or need, that person has power over you.
C) If you have something someone wants or needs, you have power over that person.
D) If you depend on someone for certain things you need, that person has power over you.

Question 17

Unlike a resource dependency perspective on power, a social exchange view of power

A) views only one party as having resources to exchange.
B) views both parties as having resources to exchange.
C) considers resources to be the primary basis for power.
D) considers resources to be the primary basis for influencing behavior.

Question 18

From a social exchange view of power, a newcomer has some power in an organization because the newcomer

A) may have new ideas or information that old timers don't have.
B) is unaware of the rules and resources in the organization.
C) may have accepted the job with higher pay than the previous one.
D) is aware that others have more experience in their jobs.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of "deep structure power" rather than "surface power"?

A) the way unquestioned assumptions within the organization influence behaviors
B) the way communication is used to distribute directives and assignments for employees
C) the way those in management use their positions to gain compliance from subordinate
D) the way that coworkers use their experience and resources to influence peers to do what they want

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of "surface power" rather than "deep structure"?

A) the way unquestioned assumptions within the organization influence behaviors
B) the way communication distorts the contradictions within a system
C) the way individual interests are presented as universal interests
D) the way that individuals use their resources to influence others to do what they want

Question 21

The basic concept of "deep structure" power or rules in organizations concerns the way that

A) communication distorts the contradictions within a system.
B) unquestioned assumptions within the organization influence behaviors.
C) those with authority have the ability to create rules.
D) individual interests are presented as universal interests.

Question 22

According to the analysis of the Lucille Burger story, Watson's deep structure power is obscured in the story because

A) Lucille knew him and still asked him for his badge.
B) he only has to raise his hand to have someone get his badge.
C) Lucille follows the rules in asking him for his badge.
D) he did not have to follow the rules if he chose not to do so.

Question 23

The company president persuades a team of employees to work overtime "so the company continues to grow." This is probably an example of

A) the political function of ideology.
B) denying or transmuting contradictions.
C) naturalizing the present.
D) representing sectional interests as universal.

Question 24

The explanation of hegemonic participation is best summarized as

A) coercion that is so powerful in organizations that members have no control.
B) feminist organizations, which are superior to traditional organizations.
C) workplace democracy that delegitimizes oppressive organizational systems.
D) members of dominated groups participating in their own oppression.

Question 25

The company president persuades a team of employees to work overtime "because teams in our competitors' companies work overtime." This is probably an example of

A) denying or transmuting contradictions.
B) representing sectional interests as universal.
C) the political function of ideology.
D) naturalizing the present.

Question 26

The company president praises the employees for their work and tells them they will all be receiving raises but fails to mention that a number of employees are also being laid off at the same time. This is probably an example of

A) the political function of ideology.
B) naturalizing the present.
C) denying or transmuting contradictions.
D) representing sectional interests as universal.

Question 27

Which of the following is an example of covert rather than overt resistance to new work regulations?

A) Employees slow down their work so that supervisors know they are unhappy.
B) Employees do not follow new procedures when their supervisors are not present.
C) Employees request a meeting with management to voice their opinions.
D) Employees refuse to comply with the new procedures from their supervisors.

Question 28

Which of the following is an example of "real resistance" rather than "decaf resistance" to a new work regulation?

A) Workers complain to each other about the work regulation.
B) Workers request a meeting with management to voice their opinions.
C) Workers occasionally use the old procedures when management is not watching.
D) Workers occasionally work slowly by following the procedures exactly.

Question 29

Compare and contrast resource dependency and social exchange theories of power.

Question 30

Using French and Raven's five power bases, compare and contrast the power of a dictator to the power of a beloved athletic team captain.

Question 31

Explain a resource dependency view of power in an organizational setting. Then, explain how resource dependency changes for an employee who moves from being a newcomer to being an established member of the organization.

Question 32

What are the four ways employees voice their dissent? Label and define each. Then, rank them according to their perceived competence.

Question 33

Define and explain the five characteristics of deep structure power.

Question 34

Explain why deep structure can be difficult for employees to resist.

Question 35

Differentiate real from decaf resistance. Explain situations where employees may prefer to use one over the other. Consider issues of surface and deep structure power.

Question 36

Volunteers can also resist the exercise of power by paid employees in a nonprofit organization. What might real and decaf resistance look like in a volunteer organization setting?