Question 1

Sean, a manager, threatens Will, his employee, with a decrement in salary if Will reveals the embezzling habits of Sean to the auditor.In this scenario, Sean is using his coercive power.​

Accepted Answer

Coercive power involves the use of threats or punishment to control or influence behavior, which is evident in Sean's threat to decrease Will's salary if he reveals Sean's embezzling habits.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true of reward power?​
A)​It is effective when managers are not explicit about the behavior being rewarded and do not make the connection clear between the behavior and the reward.
B)It is based on interpersonal interaction.​
C)It can lead to better performance, but only as long as an employee sees a clear and strong link between performance and rewards.​
D)It has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction.​

Accepted Answer

Reward power can lead to better performance, but only if the employee sees a clear and strong link between performance and rewards. It is important for managers to be explicit about the behavior being rewarded and make the connection clear to ensure the effectiveness of reward power. Choices A and B are incorrect because managers should be explicit and interpersonal interaction is not the basis of reward power. Choice D is incorrect because reward power is just one of several types of power, and does not have the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction.

Question 3

Women tend to view political behavior more favorably than do men.​

Accepted Answer

Research generally shows that women are often more critical of political behavior and may have different perspectives on political issues compared to men.

Question 4

The positive face of power is personal power.​

Accepted Answer

The positive face of power is often referred to as "social power" or "influence," which is used to benefit others and achieve collective goals, rather than "personal power," which is self-serving.

Question 5

Referent power is the power that exists when an agent has specialized knowledge or skills that a target needs.​

Accepted Answer

Referent power is based on the target's identification with, attraction to, or respect for the power holder, not on specialized knowledge or skills.

Question 6

For an agent to have referent power over a target, the agent should be superior to the target.​

Accepted Answer

Referent power is not based on superiority, but on the admiration or respect that the target has for the agent. It is derived from the target's identification with, or liking for, the agent. It can be held by someone who is not superior to the target, but rather someone who is perceived as trustworthy, likable, or respected.

Question 7

To use reward power effectively, a manager should:​
A)​make the connection clear between the behavior being rewarded and the reward.
B)not be explicit about the behavior being rewarded.​
C)inform subordinates of rules and penalties.​
D)not select subordinates similar to himself/herself .​

Accepted Answer

To use reward power effectively, a manager should make the connection clear between the behavior being rewarded and the reward. This helps to ensure that the reward is given for the desired behavior and encourages more of that behavior in the future. Option B is incorrect because being explicit about the behavior being rewarded is important. Option C is unrelated to reward power, as it refers to coercive power. Option D is also unrelated to reward power, as it refers to the concept of homophily.

Question 8

Enlarging an individual's zone of indifference is best accomplished with _____.​
A)​authority
B)ingratiation​
C)power​
D)consultation​

Accepted Answer

Power is the ability to influence others and can effectively expand an individual's zone of indifference, which is the range within which they are willing to accept and comply with directives without questioning.

Question 9

When employees perceive that there are dominant interest groups or cliques at work, they are less satisfied with pay and promotions.​

Accepted Answer

This statement is supported by research in organizational psychology, which suggests that employees are likely to feel excluded or unfairly treated if they perceive that certain groups have greater influence or access to resources than others. This can lead to reduced job satisfaction and lower levels of commitment and engagement.

Question 10

Coercive power is power based on an agent's ability to control rewards that a target wants, such as salary increases, bonuses, and promotions.​

Accepted Answer

Coercive power is based on the ability to deliver punishments or undesirable consequences, not rewards. Rewards are associated with reward power.

Question 11

A guideline for the ethical use of legitimate power is that managers should inform subordinates of rules and penalties.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of A guideline for the ethical use of...

Question 12

In the context of power, the person using power is known as a(n)_____.​
A)​agent
B)target​
C)philanthropist​
D)altruist​

Accepted Answer

In the context of power, the person using power is known as an agent. They are the ones who have control or influence over others, either through formal or informal means. The target, on the other hand, is the individual or group who is subject to the power being used by the agent. Philanthropist and altruist are not related to the concept of power.

Question 13

Expert power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction in comparison to the other forms of power.​

Accepted Answer

Research studies have shown that expert power, which is based on an individual's knowledge, skills, and expertise, has a strong positive relationship with performance and job satisfaction, whereas other forms of power such as coercive, reward, and referent power, have weaker relationships with these outcomes.

Question 14

In the context of power, the recipient of the attempt to use power is known as a(n)_____.​
A)​target
B)Machiavellian​
C)agent​
D)altruist​

Accepted Answer

A target is the person who is being targeted by the attempt to use power. This could be in the form of persuasion, coercion, or manipulation. The target may or may not be aware of the attempt to exercise power over them. The term "recipient" is usually used in a more general sense and does not necessarily apply specifically to power dynamics. The other options, B) Machiavellian, C) agent, and D) altruist, are not relevant to the context of power dynamics and do not describe the recipient of power.

Question 15

Empowerment should begin with job context and proceed to job content.​

Accepted Answer

Empowerment typically begins with job content, focusing on giving employees autonomy and control over their work tasks, and can then extend to job context, involving aspects like work environment and conditions.

Question 16

To use reward power effectively, employees must believe that a manager has the right to tell them what to do.​

Accepted Answer

Reward power is based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable, not on the belief that someone has the right to tell them what to do, which relates more to legitimate power.

Question 17

Influence is only exercised upward within an organization.​

Accepted Answer

Influence can be exercised both upward and downward within an organization. Leaders can influence their subordinates, and subordinates can influence their leaders. Lateral influence also exists between colleagues at the same level in the organization.

Question 18

When both men and women witness political behavior, they view it negatively if the agent is of their gender and the target is of the opposite gender.​

Accepted Answer

Research on perceptions of political behavior often shows that reactions can vary based on the observer's and participants' gender, but there is no universal rule that people view political behavior negatively only if the agent is of their gender and the target is of the opposite gender. Perceptions can be influenced by a variety of factors including the nature of the behavior, societal norms, and individual biases.

Question 19

Reward power leads to better performance, but only as long as the employee sees a clear and strong link between performance and rewards.​

Accepted Answer

Reward power can motivate employees to perform better, but it is essential that the employees perceive a clear and strong connection between their performance and the reward. If the reward is not perceived as significant or there is ambiguity surrounding the connection between reward and performance, then the use of reward power may not lead to improved employee performance.

Question 20

If a manager makes a request to his or her employee and the employee thinks that the manager has no right to make that request, then the request falls outside the employee's:​
A)​political behavior.
B)zone of indifference.​
C)referent power.​
D)job content.​

Accepted Answer

The zone of indifference is the area in which an employee is willing to comply with a manager's request without questioning the legitimacy of the request. If the employee believes that the manager has no right to make the request, then it falls outside the employee's zone of indifference. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The other options do not accurately describe the situation presented. Political behavior relates to the use of power to achieve goals, referent power refers to the influence a person has over others due to their personality or behavior, and job content refers to the tasks and responsibilities assigned to an employee's role.

Quiz 11: Power and Political Behavior

Sean, a manager, threatens Will, his employee, with a decrement in salary if Will reveals the embezzling habits of Sean to the auditor.In this scenario, Sean is using his coercive power.

Which of the following statements is true of reward power?

Women tend to view political behavior more favorably than do men.

The positive face of power is personal power.

Referent power is the power that exists when an agent has specialized knowledge or skills that a target needs.

For an agent to have referent power over a target, the agent should be superior to the target.

To use reward power effectively, a manager should:

Enlarging an individual's zone of indifference is best accomplished with _____.

When employees perceive that there are dominant interest groups or cliques at work, they are less satisfied with pay and promotions.

Coercive power is power based on an agent's ability to control rewards that a target wants, such as salary increases, bonuses, and promotions.

A guideline for the ethical use of legitimate power is that managers should inform subordinates of rules and penalties.

In the context of power, the person using power is known as a(n) _____.

Expert power has the strongest relationship with performance and satisfaction in comparison to the other forms of power.

In the context of power, the recipient of the attempt to use power is known as a(n) _____.

Empowerment should begin with job context and proceed to job content.

To use reward power effectively, employees must believe that a manager has the right to tell them what to do.

Influence is only exercised upward within an organization.

When both men and women witness political behavior, they view it negatively if the agent is of their gender and the target is of the opposite gender.

Reward power leads to better performance, but only as long as the employee sees a clear and strong link between performance and rewards.

If a manager makes a request to his or her employee and the employee thinks that the manager has no right to make that request, then the request falls outside the employee's: