Question 1

Which term is used to describe the methods developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor to reduce waste and inefficiency in production?

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the methods developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor to reduce waste and inefficiency in production is "Principles of scientific management." Taylor's approach focused on analyzing and synthesizing workflows to improve economic efficiency and labor productivity.

Question 2

Almost_______ of Canadians aged 35 to 44 (including a whopping 43 percent of Torontonians in this age group) describe most days as stressful, and researchers attribute much of this stress to smart phones, apps, and devices designed to save labour, ease lives, and increase productivity-an irony of the modern world.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Almost_______ of Canadians aged 35 to 44...

Question 3

Why are bureaucracies sociologically significant?

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracies represent a fundamental change in social organization and how individuals relate to each other, shifting from personal to impersonal relationships in the context of administrative and organizational tasks.

Question 4

According to Rosabeth Moss Kanter, how do the "hidden values" of an organization operate?

Accepted Answer

Hidden values in an organization often operate as self-fulfilling stereotypes, influencing perceptions and behaviors that reinforce existing power structures and biases.

Question 5

Which term refers to an organization owned by members who collectively make decisions, determine goals, evaluate resources, set salaries, and assign work?

Accepted Answer

A co-operative is an organization owned and operated by its members who share the responsibilities and benefits, including decision-making and setting goals.

Question 6

Which term refers to the profound transformation in regional and global economies brought about by the sheer size, influence, and power of big-box department stores?

Accepted Answer

Walmartization refers to the profound transformation in regional and global economies due to the impact of large, multinational big-box retailers like Walmart. These stores significantly influence market practices, labor conditions, and supply chains worldwide.

Question 7

Which term refers to the orientations that characterize corporate work settings?

Accepted Answer

The term "corporate culture" refers to the orientations that characterize corporate work settings, encompassing values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms that influence how work is done and how people interact within the organization.

Question 8

What percentage of Canadian youths aged 15 to 24 volunteered in 2007?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What percentage of Canadian youths aged 15...

Question 9

Canadians love voluntary associations, using them to express a variety of interests, goals, opinions, and even dissatisfactions. What binds the members together?

Accepted Answer

Members of voluntary associations are typically bound together by shared interests, which is the common purpose or goal that brings them together to express their interests, goals, opinions, or dissatisfactions.

Question 10

Recently, the March of Dimes shifted its focus from raising funds for combating polio to raising funds for birth defect research. Which term is used to describe this shift in focus?

Accepted Answer

Goal displacement occurs when an organization shifts its focus from its original goals to new ones. In this case, the March of Dimes shifted from combating polio to birth defect research, exemplifying goal displacement.

Question 11

Which group consists of people who organize on the basis of a mutual interest?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary associations are groups of individuals who voluntarily enter into an agreement to form a body (or organization) to accomplish a purpose. Common examples include clubs, societies, and non-profit organizations, where membership is not mandatory and is driven by a shared interest or goal among its members.

Question 12

What term refers to the concentration of power in a formal organization and held by small, self-perpetuating elite?

Accepted Answer

The iron law of oligarchy is the term that describes the concentration of power within a formal organization, held by a small, self-perpetuating elite. This concept suggests that all forms of organization, regardless of how democratic they are at the start, will eventually and inevitably develop oligarchic tendencies, thus concentrating power in the hands of a few.

Question 13

Often women in a corporation will ask men to take the leadership in a project they want to have the organization become involved in. Why do women often ask a man to be the leader in proposing the project to executives?

Accepted Answer

Women may ask men to take the lead in proposing projects because they are aware of the "hidden culture" in the corporate world, which can include gender biases and stereotypes that might make it more difficult for women's ideas to be accepted or taken seriously by executives. This awareness influences their strategy to navigate these biases effectively.

Question 14

Norene Pupo is critical of volunteerism. She asks "Is voluntarism confused with________ ?"

Accepted Answer

Norene Pupo criticizes volunteerism by questioning if it is confused with coercion, suggesting that what is often presented as voluntary may actually involve elements of pressure or compulsion.

Question 15

What is one argument in favour of diversity training?

Accepted Answer

Diversity training facilitates understanding among employees and improves their ability to work together by fostering a more inclusive and respectful work environment.

Question 16

One of the difficulties of________ is that they spend huge amounts of time to decide even routine matters.

Accepted Answer

Co-operatives are organizations that are owned and controlled by their members. They are often formed to provide goods or services to their members at a lower cost than they could be obtained from a commercial organization. One of the difficulties of co-operatives is that they spend huge amounts of time to decide even routine matters. This is because co-operatives are democratic organizations, and all members have a say in the decision-making process. This can lead to lengthy and time-consuming discussions, even on relatively minor matters.

Question 17

After 244 years of production, the iconic ______announced that its 32-volume 2010 edition would be its last, as it succumbed to competition from Wikipedia and our thirst for instant, up-to-date information.

Accepted Answer

The Encyclopaedia Britannica announced that its 32-volume 2010 edition would be its last in print, transitioning to a digital format due to competition from online sources like Wikipedia and the demand for immediate, current information.

Question 18

What term refers to companies "without walls"?

Accepted Answer

Virtual organizations are often described as "without walls" because they typically operate with a network of workers connected digitally rather than in a traditional physical office space. This allows for flexibility and efficiency, leveraging technology to work remotely.

Question 19

When managers of bureaucracies try to increase access to opportunities on the basis of ability and contributions, distribute power more equally, and implement less rigid rules, they are attempting to________ .

Accepted Answer

These actions are aimed at making the work environment more supportive and engaging for employees, which aligns with the goal of humanizing the work setting to develop human potential.

Question 20

Marco works for a firm in which employees own 10 percent of the stock. Why is the firm that Marco works for more likely to be more profitable than other firms?

Accepted Answer

When employees own a portion of the company's stock, they are more likely to be committed to the company's success. This increased commitment can lead to higher productivity and, consequently, higher profitability. Employees who have a stake in the company's performance are more motivated to work efficiently and contribute to the company's success.

Quiz 10: Bureaucracy and the Corporation