Deck 14: Power, Politics, and Organizational Justice

Question 1

Roger at XYZ International has the ability to given bonuses to employees as part of a corporate compensation program. This is an example of ____ power.

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

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Who will usually have the greatest potential influence on the actions of subordinates?

A)A leader with position power
B)An informal leader
C)A leader with personal power
D)A formal leader
E)A leader with both personal and position power

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Referent power, as well as some aspects of expert, coercive, and reward power, can all contribute to

A)psychological power.
B)personal power.
C)position power.
D)authority.
E)legitimate power.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Kelly is an up-and-coming executive who is charismatic. Kelly is likely exhibiting ____ power.

A)coercive
B)emulation
C)personal
D)referent
E)legitimate

Question 5

The primary bases of positional power include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)referent power.
B)legitimate power.
C)expert power.
D)coercive power.
E)reward power

Question 6

All of the following describe influence EXCEPT:

A)influence can be dramatic or subtle.
B)the target of influence can be a person or a group.
C)influence can be used in ways that are beneficial or harmful.
D)influence affects behaviors and attitudes but not perceptions.
E)influence is a major force in organizations managers cannot afford to ignore.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is NOT true about personal power?

A)Followers of leaders with personal power tend to be acting from choice.
B)An informal leader will have some measure of personal power.
C)Leaders with strong personal power should avoid using position power.
D)Personal power is often exercised through rational persuasion.
E)Leaders with personal power tend to exact greater loyalty from their followers than leaders with position power.

Question 8

____ power is granted by virtue of one's position in the organization.

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

Question 9

____ power exists when a person wants to be like someone else.

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

Question 10

Examples of reward power include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)pay.
B)work assignments.
C)promotion.
D)praise.
E)all of the above are examples of reward power.

Question 11

The negative reasons people engage in impression management include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)take credit work for the work of others.
B)people may exaggerate personal accomplishments.
C)to further their own career.
D)people may falsify their personal accomplishments.
E)none of the above.

Question 12

Influence should actually be seen as the ____ of the process of one person attempting to affect another.

A)benchmark
B)standard
C)cornerstone
D)reinforcement
E)coercion

Question 13

When a worker is willing to carry out a manager's work request because an issue is important to the manager, he or she is exhibiting

A)acceptance.
B)commitment.
C)compliance.
D)accordance.
E)loyalty.

Question 14

Power is distinguished from influence due to the element of

A)reward ability.
B)influence.
C)control.
D)effectiveness.
E)efficiency.

Question 15

Referent power involves all of the following EXCEPT:

A)trust.
B)similarity.
C)acceptance.
D)promotions.
E)affection.

Question 16

Regardless of the leader's traits or behaviors, leadership only matters if ____ actually occurs.

A)sacrifice
B)authority
C)influence
D)impression management
E)politics

Question 17

____ power exists when a person controls valuable information.

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

Question 18

____ power exists when a person has the ability to punish or harm someone else.

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

Question 19

The most widely used and recognized analysis of the bases of power is the framework developed by ____ and ____.

A)Shultz; Smith
B)Smith; Donald
C)Gross; Shultz
D)French; Raven
E)Greenhouse; Passikoff

Question 20

The ability to affect the perceptions, attitudes, or behaviors of others is known as

A)control.
B)legitimacy.
C)coercion.
D)influence.
E)management.

Question 21

Before trying to manage political behavior, one should understand all of the following EXCEPT:

A)the fact that political behavior in organizations is pervasive.
B)the reasons for political behavior.
C)the strategies for limiting the effects of political behavior.
D)the common techniques for using political behavior.
E)the basic tactics for eliminating political behavior.

Question 22

Offering incentives that are desirable to workers is an example of how to effectively use ____ power.

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

Question 23

The reasons for political behavior include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)ambiguous goals.
B)scarce resources.
C)organizational change.
D)nonprogrammed decisions.
E)organizational loyalty.

Question 24

From a somewhat mechanistic standpoint, managers may enhance their referent power by all of these EXCEPT

A)choosing subordinates who have backgrounds similar to their own.
B)defending subordinates' interests.
C)engaging in role modeling.
D)treating subordinates fairly.
E)choosing a laissez faire system.

Question 25

What is the reasoning behind role modeling?

A)Having managers act out the role of the subordinate gives them a better understanding of the subordinate's feelings.
B)A manager should select subordinates who are similar to him or her.
C)Having subordinates act out the role of manager in contrived settings gives them a better understanding of directives.
D)A leader behaves in the same way that he or she wants subordinates to behave.
E)A leader is more likely to build referent power if he or she is sensitive to others' needs and feelings.

Question 26

Trying to eliminate political behaviors within organizations will probably

A)decrease interdepartmental conflict.
B)increase a manager's power base.
C)increase political behavior.
D)violate the cannons of justice.
E)reduce skill-based pay.

Question 27

Techniques of political behavior include all of the following EXCEPT

A)controlling the agenda.
B)game playing.
C)leveraging technology.
D)using consultants.
E)building coalitions.

Question 28

After Adam filed a discrimination complaint, he felt that his case was not handled properly and that he was not given a fair hearing. He started complaining, which had a negative impact on employee morale and the organization's culture. Adam experienced a lack of

A)equal opportunity employment.
B)empowerment.
C)procedural justice.
D)equity in the workplace.
E)legal issues in business.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a way that managers can use expert power?

A)Avoiding threatening the self-esteem of subordinates
B)Subtly promoting an image of expertise
C)Recognizing employee concerns
D)Keeping education, experience, and accomplishments private
E)Acting confidently and decisively

Question 30

Ricardo strongly disagrees with a new program that is being developed and wants to prevent the program from moving forward. Ricardo manages to fill up the department meeting agenda with other issues, so the new program is therefore not discussed. Which political behavior technique has Ricardo used?

A)Building image
B)Controlling the agenda
C)Using outside experts
D)Game playing
E)Controlling decision parameters

Question 31

Joanne's boss recently overlooked her for a promotion. Later, Joanne discovered that one page of her resume was missing when it was delivered to her boss with her application. Due to the incomplete resume, Joanne is likely to experience which category of injustice?

A)Procedural
B)Interpersonal
C)Informational
D)Gender-based
E)Distributive

Question 32

Staying informed, recognizing employee concerns, and acting confident are guidelines for using ____ power.

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

Question 33

According to a survey on how political behavior is perceived by managers,

A)none of the respondents felt political behavior could be used in a constructive manner.
B)most respondents felt that political behavior was unnecessary for the success of top executives.
C)few of the respondents believed political behavior influenced salary decisions in their organizations.
D)a majority of respondents indicated they believed political behavior was more relevant at higher levels of the organization.
E)almost all of the respondents indicated that political behavior affected hiring decisions in their organizations.

Question 34

Which power is the most difficult form of power to exercise?

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

Question 35

Political behavior, according to the model presented in the text, is seen as ethical if

A)it results in higher profits.
B)it helps avoid costly litigation.
C)it is used as a means for "getting ahead" in an organization.
D)it respects the rights of all affected parties.
E)it changes the nature of labor relations.

Question 36

Limiting the effects of political behavior include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)open communication.
B)reduce uncertainty.
C)being aware of the causes.
D)being aware of the techniques.
E)ambiguous goals.

Question 37

The best approach to managing political behavior is to

A)try to eliminate political behavior on a situation-by-situation basis.
B)leave it alone.
C)take a determined stance against all forms of this behavior.
D)stay aware of it but try to keep out of it.
E)recognize that political behavior is inevitable and try to minimize its negative impact.

Question 38

The extent to which employees perceive the allocation of rewards in the organization to be fair is called

A)procedural justice.
B)interpersonal justice.
C)distributive justice.
D)reflective justice.
E)informational justice.

Question 39

A guideline for using legitimate power is

A)engaging in role modeling.
B)maintaining credibility.
C)explaining reasons for a request.
D)verifying compliance.
E)revealing accomplishments and awards.

Question 40

In general, how do leaders exercise legitimate power?

A)Issuing formal requests
B)Maintaining credibility
C)Making requests in a demanding tone
D)Keeping aware of information that is relevant and that may be needed by the organization
E)Keeping aware of subordinates' actions

Question 41

In organizations with a mechanistic and bureaucratic nature, the lines of legitimate power are often closely specified and strictly followed.

Question 42

Compliance from employees is likely when a manager uses ______ and _____ powers.

A)legitimate; reward
B)coercive; referent
C)expert; coercive
D)reward; expert
E)referent; expert

Question 43

Commitment from employees is very unlikely when a manager uses ______ power.

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

Question 44

In its most basic sense, impression management is always wrong and manipulative.

Question 45

Susan was just told by her supervisor Maggie that if Susan did not do what Maggie was asking, she would transfer Susan to a dead-end branch in a remote town where Susan would have no career left with the company. This is an example of ____ power.

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

Question 46

Referent power is power through identification.

Question 47

In most cases expert power tends to follow exact lines of authority.

Question 48

Influence is the ability to affect the perceptions, attitudes or behaviors of others.

Question 49

Expert power involves the control over informational resources.

Question 50

A direct and intentional effort by someone to enhance his/her image in the eyes of others is called

A)impression management.
B)playing politics.
C)legitimate power.
D)organizational loyalty.
E)positional power.

Question 51

Position power is power that resides in a person's individual characteristics, regardless of the span of control.

Question 52

In many ways an individual with personal power may be able to exact greater loyalty and dedication from followers than someone with only position power.

Question 53

Power and influence are essentially interchangeable terms.

Question 54

The more important the information and the fewer the alternative sources for acquiring it, the greater the degree of expert power.

Question 55

Leadership only matters if influence has occurred.

Question 56

Influence can be beneficial or harmful, and dramatic or subtle.

Question 57

____ justice relates to the degree of fairness people see in how they are treated by others in their organization.

A)Procedural
B)Interpersonal
C)Informational
D)Gender-based
E)Distributive

Question 58

The reason for the label "legitimate" in "legitimate power" is that the organization says it is all right for people having power to direct the activities of others.

Question 59

Reward power is limited to material rewards such as pay or work assignments.

Question 60

Getting involved with successful projects is an example of impression management.

Question 61

Coercive power exists when one person has the ability to punish or harm someone else.

Question 62

Simply being aware of the causes and techniques of political behavior can help a manager check their effects.

Question 63

Reducing uncertainty is one very effective technique for restraining the impact of political behavior.

Question 64

Many techniques can be used in the practice of political behavior.

Question 65

Leadership is the use of noncoercive _______ to direct and coordinate the activities of group members to meet goals.

Question 66

The threat to transfer someone to a branch office in an undesirable location can be interpreted as a form of ________ power.

Question 67

Procedural justice refers to people's perceptions of the fairness with which rewards and other valued outcomes are distributed within the organization.

Question 68

Legitimate, reward, and some aspects of coercive and expert power can all contribute to _______ power.

Question 69

A manager might enhance his or her expert power by not threatening subordinates' self-esteem.

Question 70

_______ is a major force in organizations that managers cannot afford to ignore.

Question 71

To the extent that praise and acknowledgment from a manager can help satisfy such needs as the desire for recognition and acceptance, the manager has a form of ______ power.

Question 72

In general, legitimate power is exercised through a formal request that subordinates do what the leader wishes.

Question 73

Informational justice relates to the degree of fairness people see in how they are treated by others in their organization.

Question 74

People may engage in _______ to boost their own self-esteem.

Question 75

At its extreme, coalition building, which is frequently used in political bodies, may take the form of blatant reciprocity.

Question 76

Power and political behavior are likely to play an important role in perceptions of informational justice.

Question 77

_______ power usually surfaces as imitation.

Question 78

Because of his or her position in an organization, a manager has ________ power over his or her subordinates.

Question 79

In many ways position power is the same as ________.

Question 80

A key research scientist who possesses information crucial for new scientific breakthroughs exhibits _______ power.