Question 1

According to the textbook, in what ways can a new employee learn about the culture in which they will work? Please select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Whilst occasionally organizations run formalized induction training in which the culture is directly communicated to the staff, there are numerous ways in which the culture, particularly the informal culture, can be assessed. These informal parts of the culture are often subtle and are rarely explicit, but can be assessed by watching what goes on around you, looking at other people's behaviour, and trying to pick up what is seen as acceptable and unacceptable.

Question 2

According to _____ culture is the collective programming of the mind.

Accepted Answer

Hofstede
Explanation: According to Geert Hofstede culture is the collective programming of the mind. By this Hofstede implies that culture shapes the way that people think and act and it is how we tell the difference between one group of people and another. This quote emphasizes the importance of organizational culture and its significance both to how people think and also the act.

Question 3

According to Peters and Waterman, excellent companies have what in common?

Accepted Answer

Peters and Waterman argued that at the heart of successful companies there is a strong set of shared values which put the customer at the heart of the operation. They argued that this set of shared values, which many have claimed is organizational culture, is what made successful companies different from unsuccessful ones.

Question 4

Why, according to the management gurus, should managers be concerned about culture? Please select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Many management gurus have claimed that organizational culture has highly significant impacts on the level of productivity, motivation, and commitment of the staff. Culture is seen as important as it gives everyone in the organization a shared sense of purpose, which has many positive implications on the staff. Whilst anyone can buy equipment or set up bureaucratic processes, management gurus argue that culture is far harder to replicate and therefore forms an important source of competitive advantage.

Question 5

According to Peters and Waterman, managing employees through culture increases workers' ….? Please select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Peters and Waterman argued that managing people through culture produces a new way of managing people and a new type of worker. Rather than seeking to control people through top-down management (as Taylorism did) Peters and Waterman claimed that managing people through culture could give workers more freedom and autonomy, as they are managed through a shared sense of vision and values.

Question 6

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment.
-Sales or manufacturing

Accepted Answer

A work hard/play hard culture is characterized by employees who work intensely but also socialize and blow off steam together. This culture is often found in environments where there is a high emphasis on hitting sales targets or manufacturing quotas, as employees need to work hard to meet these goals but also need to release the stress and pressure that comes with such high-pressure jobs.

Question 7

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment.
-Stockbrokers, media, sports, or construction

Accepted Answer

The answer of Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture...

Question 8

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment.
-Government bureaucracies

Accepted Answer

Government bureaucracies are known for their Process culture, where rules and procedures are followed meticulously in order to ensure fairness, consistency, and efficiency. This culture is necessary for bureaucracies to function effectively and maintain public trust.

Question 9

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment.
-Pharmaceutical firm devising new drug

Accepted Answer

Deal and Kennedy's typology suggests that a "Bet-your-company culture" is where big stakes decisions are made, often with a long time horizon for seeing the results. A pharmaceutical firm devising a new drug fits this description well, as it involves significant investment and risk, with the outcome uncertain until the drug successfully passes through trials and regulatory approval, which can take years.

Question 10

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture.
-Decision making is concentrated on the centre, as the manager or founder of the organization. It is a tough and competitive environment.

Accepted Answer

In a power culture, decision making is centralized around the manager or founder, and the environment is competitive and focused on results.

Answer: B) Role culture 
 In a role culture, decision making is based on rules and procedures, and the environment is stable and structured.

Answer: C) Task culture 
 In a task culture, decision making is decentralized and focused on solving specific problems or completing projects. The environment is collaborative and flexible.

Answer: D) Personal or cluster culture 
 In a personal or cluster culture, decision making is based on personal relationships and interactions within a group. The environment is informal and may lack structure.

Question 11

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture.
-Bureaucracy in its purest form. Decision-making by senior managers, authority is by managers. Difficult to adapt to change.

Accepted Answer

This description best matches a role culture, where there is a clear hierarchy and decision-making is done by senior managers. It also mentions difficulty in adapting to change, which can be a characteristic of a role culture.

Question 12

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture.
-Focus is on getting the job done. Often people work in temporary project teams that are then disbanded.

Accepted Answer

The description fits a Task culture where the focus is on completing specific tasks efficiently and effectively. People in this culture work in temporary teams and then disband once the task is complete.

Question 13

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture.
-Individual freedom is key to this form of culture. There are no collective goals and formal hierarchy is rejected.

Accepted Answer

Personal or cluster culture emphasizes on individual freedom and rejects formal hierarchy.

Question 14

What are some of the weaknesses of cultural typologies? Please select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Cultural typologies can have a number of benefits to understanding organizational culture. They provide a good, quick way of understanding an organizational culture. They also provide a good link between the type of environment an organization is in and the type of culture that is produced. However, they often miss the more subtle aspects of organizational culture and the differences between different parts of an organization (i.e. different departments). Therefore, they are a good shorthand but should not be relied on.

Question 15

A _____ is a tool that senior managers can use to change the espoused beliefs of organizational members.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A _____ is a tool that senior...

Question 16

Match the description with the word.
-A solemn act or procedure to observe an event or occasion.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the word "rite" perfectly. A rite is a formal or solemn observance of an occasion or event. The other options, "ceremonies" and "rituals" are also related to formal observances but are more general and do not specifically imply solemnity. "Rite of renewal" is a specific type of rite, not a general term for formal observances.

Question 17

Match the description with the word.
-A public act, often planned and formal, which celebrates a particular event, achievement, or anniversary, largely planned by senior management or part of the organization's established calendar.

Accepted Answer

Ceremonies fit the description given. Rites and rituals may also fit the description to some extent, but the term "Rite of renewal" does not necessarily fit the given definition.

Question 18

Match the description with the word.
-They often have symbolic meaning that emphasizes important aspects of the organization's culture.

Accepted Answer

Rituals often have symbolic meaning that serves to emphasize important aspects of an organization's culture. Rites and ceremonies may also have symbolic meaning, but the emphasis on culture is more closely associated with rituals. Rite of renewal is a specific type of rite that emphasizes the renewal or rejuvenation of the organization or its members.

Question 19

Match the description with the word.
-Everyday habits that individuals do without thinking which once had meaning but have gradually become part of the everyday activities of the organization.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the definition of "rituals," which are repetitive actions or behaviors that hold symbolic meaning or significance, but have become a routine part of daily life or business operations.

Question 20

Match the description with the word.
-An act which is designed to reinforce the existing social order.

Accepted Answer

A "rite of renewal" is specifically designed to reinforce and rejuvenate the existing social order, often through traditional practices that emphasize continuity and stability.

Quiz 7: Organizational Culture

According to the textbook, in what ways can a new employee learn about the culture in which they will work? Please select all that apply.

According to _____ culture is the collective programming of the mind.

According to Peters and Waterman, excellent companies have what in common?

Why, according to the management gurus, should managers be concerned about culture? Please select all that apply.

According to Peters and Waterman, managing employees through culture increases workers' ….? Please select all that apply.

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment. -Sales or manufacturing

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment. -Stockbrokers, media, sports, or construction

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment. -Government bureaucracies

Deal and Kennedy's typology: Link the culture with an example of its environment. -Pharmaceutical firm devising new drug

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture. -Decision making is concentrated on the centre, as the manager or founder of the organization. It is a tough and competitive environment.

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture. -Bureaucracy in its purest form. Decision-making by senior managers, authority is by managers. Difficult to adapt to change.

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture. -Focus is on getting the job done. Often people work in temporary project teams that are then disbanded.

Handy's Four cultural categories: Link the descriptions to the right culture. -Individual freedom is key to this form of culture. There are no collective goals and formal hierarchy is rejected.

What are some of the weaknesses of cultural typologies? Please select all that apply.

A _____ is a tool that senior managers can use to change the espoused beliefs of organizational members.

Match the description with the word. -A solemn act or procedure to observe an event or occasion.

Match the description with the word. -A public act, often planned and formal, which celebrates a particular event, achievement, or anniversary, largely planned by senior management or part of the organization's established calendar.

Match the description with the word. -They often have symbolic meaning that emphasizes important aspects of the organization's culture.

Match the description with the word. -Everyday habits that individuals do without thinking which once had meaning but have gradually become part of the everyday activities of the organization.

Match the description with the word. -An act which is designed to reinforce the existing social order.