Question 1

People resist change because:

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Waddell, Cummings and Worley report that change is less likely to 'hurt' when the organisation is aware that the change is inevitable.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Organisational practices in Scandinavian cultures tend to be highly participative and egalitarian.

Accepted Answer

Scandinavian cultures often prioritize collaboration and collective decision-making, resulting in participative and egalitarian organizational practices.

Question 4

Resistance to change is often cited as:

Accepted Answer

Resistance to change is often seen as a distinguishing feature of a failed change initiative because it indicates that the change was not effectively managed or communicated.

Question 5

Change agents must ensure that the organisation vocalises the change process, otherwise silence might be perceived as a lack of planning by top management.

Accepted Answer

It is important for change agents to communicate the change process throughout the organization to avoid any misconceptions or doubts about the lack of planning or uncertainty among employees.

Question 6

Erwin and Garman's framework for addressing resistance to change does not recognise:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Erwin and Garman's framework for addressing resistance...

Question 7

Much of the literature on change focuses on:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Much of the literature on change focuses...

Question 8

The drivers of responses to change include:

Accepted Answer

All of the choices are drivers of responses to change. Economic drivers can affect individuals or organizations by either increasing or decreasing the resources available to them during the change. The impact on social functions refers to how the change affects the social dynamics of a community. Threats to interpersonal relationships occur when the change creates new tensions or conflicts that can lead to strained relationships between individuals. Uncertainty refers to a lack of clarity or understanding about the change, which can create anxiety and stress for those involved. All of these factors can influence how individuals or organizations respond to change.

Question 9

Continuous incremental change remains the most effective way of dealing with new levels of environmental complexity.

Accepted Answer

Continuous incremental change may not be sufficient to address new levels of environmental complexity, which often require more innovative and transformative approaches.

Question 10

Empathy and support include:

Accepted Answer

Empathy and support involve understanding others' perspectives and suspending judgment, which aligns with choice A.

Question 11

Sources of resistance to change do NOT include:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sources of resistance to change do NOT...

Question 12

Individuals and groups tend to deal with change in different ways depending on the situation.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true as people have different responses and coping mechanisms when faced with change, which is influenced by various factors such as personality, culture, and past experiences.

Question 13

Cultural context and economic development have little influence on the way organisation development (OD) is carried out in different countries.

Accepted Answer

Cultural context and economic development play a significant role in shaping the approach towards organisational development in different countries. Factors such as leadership styles, communication strategies, and HR practices are often influenced by the cultural and economic context of a country. For instance, in collectivistic cultures, there may be a greater emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, while in individualistic cultures, there may be a greater focus on individual performance and competition. Similarly, economic factors such as labour laws, taxation policies, and market conditions can also impact the way OD is carried out. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that these factors have little influence on the approach towards OD in different countries.

Question 14

South Africans have customarily favoured relatively low levels of power distance.

Accepted Answer

South Africans typically exhibit relatively high levels of power distance, indicating a societal acceptance of hierarchical order and unequal power distribution without the need for further justification.

Question 15

The various sources of resistance can be linked to the stage of the change process.

Accepted Answer

Different sources of resistance can arise at different stages of change, such as resistance to the need for change, resistance to the specific change being proposed, or resistance to the implementation of the change. Understanding where the resistance is coming from can help to address it effectively.

Question 16

In designing and implementing planned change for organisations operating outside the home country, organisation development (OD) practice must account for generally lower levels of education and literacy skills.

Accepted Answer

Organisation Development (OD) practice must be tailored to the specific cultural, economic, and educational contexts of the country in which an organization is operating, rather than assuming lower levels of education and literacy skills universally.

Question 17

According to Falkenburg et al, negative reactions to change are normal and managing resistance is thought to be critical to successful change programs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Falkenburg et al, negative reactions...

Question 18

In low-context cultures, knowledge of local mannerisms, customs and rituals is required to understand the meaning of communicated information.

Accepted Answer

In high-context cultures, knowledge of local mannerisms, customs and rituals is required to understand the meaning of communicated information. In low-context cultures, communication is more explicit and relies less on shared cultural knowledge.

Question 19

To reduce resistance to change, the organisation development (OD) practitioner might:

Accepted Answer

Communicating change information through a new or different channel can help reduce resistance by ensuring that the message is effectively received and understood by all stakeholders.

Question 20

The habit of following common procedures and the cost of resources invested in established systems are the source of technical resistance to change.

Accepted Answer

Technical resistance to change often arises due to the habit of following established procedures and the investment of resources in established systems, which can make it difficult to adopt new technologies or processes.

Quiz 4: Managing Resistance and Organisational Culture