Question 1

Joan Woodward argued which of the following on the basis of her research on the best fit between production technologies and management approaches?

Accepted Answer

Joan Woodward argued that bureaucracies are most appropriate in industries with mass-production technology based on her research on the best fit between production technologies and management approaches.

Question 2

Which of the following is a primary criticism of the human relations approach to management?

Accepted Answer

The human relations approach assumes that industrial harmony is healthy and that conflict in the workplace is abnormal and destructive, which is not always true. Conflict can sometimes lead to positive change and growth in an organization.

Question 3

Kareem has worked for a large technology company for the past 10 years. During his last performance review, his manager told him his efficiency is declining because he is trying too hard to follow organizational rules and job procedures. Which of the following terms best describes Kareem's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Kareem's behaviour is described as trying too hard to follow organizational rules and job procedures, which is characteristic of a bureaucratic personality. This type of personality is characterized by an overwhelming respect for rules, regulations, and protocols, which can sometimes result in inefficient work processes.

Question 4

According to Frederick Winslow Taylor, workers were primarily motivated by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

According to Frederick Winslow Taylor's theory, workers were primarily motivated by economic gain, meaning they worked for wages or financial incentives. Taylor believed that workers could be motivated to increase productivity if they were paid according to the amount of work they did, which would increase their economic gain.

Question 5

Which of the following is correct about Burns and Stalker's study of work organization in the 1950s?

Accepted Answer

Burns and Stalker's study found that there was a continuum of organizational forms, ranging from mechanistic to organic, depending on the type of technology used in the organization. This contradicts option A, which suggests all organizations had the same structure and management style. Option B is also incorrect as Burns and Stalker did find that technology impacted the level of bureaucracy in an organization. Option C is not supported by Burns and Stalker's findings as they found that management styles could be either closed or open depending on the type of organization.

Question 6

Jane, a manager in a house-cleaning company, believes that the values, psychological needs, and attitudes of her workers all shape their work behaviour. With which of the following management approaches do her beliefs fit best?

Accepted Answer

Jane's beliefs align with the human relations approach, which emphasizes the importance of employee satisfaction and motivation in achieving organizational goals. This approach recognizes that factors such as values, psychological needs, and attitudes of workers can significantly impact their work behavior. Scientific management (A) focuses on optimizing task efficiency and standardization, while management ideology (B) is a vague term that does not fit with Jane's specific beliefs. The informal side of organizations (D) refers to the social interactions and relationships among employees and does not directly address Jane's beliefs about work behavior.

Question 7

Which of the following is most correct about scientific management?

Accepted Answer

Scientific management emphasizes the subdivision of complex tasks into smaller, more specialized tasks to improve efficiency. It does not involve the use of robots or give workers a lot of autonomy, nor does it represent a "human relations" approach.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes a central argument about bureaucracies made by Melville Dalton in his 1959 study Men Who Manage?

Accepted Answer

Melville Dalton argued that managers in bureaucracies often break the rules in order to achieve their objectives, even if doing so goes against the principles of the organization. This is one of the central arguments of his book Men Who Manage.

Question 9

Which of the following was demonstrated by the Hawthorne Studies?

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne Studies demonstrated that the results of social experiments can be confounded by subjects' awareness of being part of a study. The studies found that worker productivity increased not because of changes in working conditions, but because workers were being observed and felt like their work was important. This phenomenon became known as the Hawthorne effect. The studies did not address the other options listed.

Question 10

Which of the following criticisms did Alvin Gouldner make about bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following criticisms did Alvin...

Question 11

In general, which of the following is the most important role of managers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In general, which of the following is...

Question 12

Managers of Best Electric Cars try to motivate their workers by reminding them that each person in the company is part of a team in constant competition with foreign companies and that if they work together to increase production and improve quality, the company, their community, and Canada will all benefit. Which of the following terms would Amitai Etzioni use to describe this management strategy?

Accepted Answer

This management strategy is normative because it appeals to the employees' sense of community and shared values. It emphasizes teamwork and the common good, rather than coercion or individual gain (coercive and utilitarian) or treating employees as a mere means to an end (human capital).

Question 13

According to Max Weber, which of the following is correct about "bureaucratic" hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that bureaucratic hierarchy helps to coordinate and integrate many specialized tasks, making it efficient and effective. He did not believe that it was essential for pre-capitalist systems of production, nor did he believe that authority was evenly distributed. While bureaucracy is often associated with capitalist societies, Weber argued that it was also present in other forms of organization.

Question 14

Which of the following observations was central to Gerhard Lenski's theory about changing levels of inequality over the past centuries?

Accepted Answer

Lenski's theory posits that the transition to industrial capitalism from pre-industrial societies brought about reduced levels of social inequality due to increased wealth production and broader distribution of resources.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a core principle of scientific management?

Accepted Answer

Increasing individual workers' decision-making authority goes against the core principle of scientific management, which emphasizes managerial control and standardization of work processes. The other three choices (A, B, and C) are core principles of scientific management.

Question 16

Which of the following general approaches to management would best characterize the management approach adopted by Best Electric Cars (see Q. 15)?

Accepted Answer

Best Electric Cars emphasizes on creating a positive work environment and promoting employee satisfaction, which are the key principles of human relations approach to management.

Question 17

Jenn is a human resources manager for a large Crown corporation. Rather than following organizational policy, Jenn has hired and promoted a number of individuals who were on her university hockey team. Which of the following best describes Jenn's actions?

Accepted Answer

Jenn's actions are an example of freewheeling, where an individual acts without regard for organizational policies or procedures. She is giving preference to individuals based on personal connections rather than merit or organizational standards.

Question 18

Which of the following is a central principal of human relations theory?

Accepted Answer

Human relations theory emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships, communication, and employee satisfaction within the workplace, suggesting that industrial harmony leads to increased productivity and employee well-being.

Question 19

Which of the following work settings would be most likely to employ the practices of Taylorism?

Accepted Answer

Taylorism, also known as scientific management, is a management approach that emphasizes efficiency and productivity through standardization and division of labor. A telephone call center is a work setting that often involves repetitive tasks and standardized procedures, which would make it the most likely to employ the practices of Taylorism.

Question 20

Which of the following criticisms have organizational researchers made about bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

Organizational researchers have often criticized bureaucracies for being resistant to change.

Quiz 8: Organizing and Managing Work