Question 1

Which of the following terms refers to the recognition that people have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that takes place in the context of community?

Accepted Answer

Workplace spirituality refers to the recognition and respect of the inner life of employees, and the belief that meaningful work can be nourishing for the individual and the community. It involves creating a work environment that promotes a sense of purpose, interconnectedness, and personal growth. Dominant culture, fundamental mechanism, outcome orientation, and subculture do not specifically address this aspect of workplace culture.

Question 2

How can U.S. managers be culturally sensitive?

Accepted Answer

Culturally sensitive managers should listen more to understand the cultural differences and perspectives of their employees or colleagues. Indulging in discussions about religion or politics may not always be appropriate or relevant to the work setting, and speaking quickly or in a high tone of voice may not effectively convey respect for different cultural communication styles.

Question 3

A positive organizational culture emphasizes ________.

Accepted Answer

A positive organizational culture emphasizes individual vitality and growth, promoting employee well-being and personal development. This is achieved through promoting open communication, providing opportunities for learning and development, recognizing and celebrating accomplishments, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Negative reinforcement and punishment, standardization, and centralized management are not typically associated with positive organizational cultures. Rituals can be used to transmit organizational culture, but they are not the primary emphasis of a positive culture.

Question 4

Aggressiveness is one of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture that capture the essence of an organization's culture. It indicates the degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and take risks.

Accepted Answer

Aggressiveness actually indicates the degree to which employees are expected to be competitive and aggressive towards achieving the organization's goals, rather than being innovative and taking risks. Innovation and risk-taking are instead captured by the characteristic of innovation.

Question 5

An organizational culture most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members is one that ________.

Accepted Answer

An organizational culture that balances the rights of multiple stakeholders is most likely to shape high ethical standards among its members. This is because such a culture emphasizes the importance of considering the needs and interests of all stakeholders in decision-making, which promotes fairness and integrity. It also encourages employees to act in accordance with ethical principles rather than solely focusing on achieving outcomes at any cost. Additionally, this type of culture typically involves a long-term perspective and a higher risk tolerance, which enables the organization to prioritize ethical considerations over short-term gains or potential risks.

Question 6

When Mary joins Wayne Enterprises, she is made to sign an agreement including the "non-compete clause" (an agreement where the employee promises not to work for a competing firm for a set period after leaving his or her current employer), as a condition of her employment. Though courts nowadays are increasingly ruling that these agreements are not binding, most competitor firms are unwilling to consider hiring Mary during the period covered by the agreement. Which of the following, if true, explains this situation?

Accepted Answer

Most companies prefer to avoid the legal complications and potential lawsuits that could arise from hiring someone under a non-compete agreement, even if they believe they could win the case. This aversion to legal battles explains why they are hesitant to hire individuals like Mary during the period covered by the non-compete clause.

Question 7

Larry has an employee who is amazing at clearly seeing rules and enforcing them. He has recently promoted her to the lead position in quality assurance. Which method of creating a positive organizational culture is Larry utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Larry is utilizing the method of building on employee strengths by recognizing the employee's skills in enforcing rules and promoting her to a leadership position in the same field.

Question 8

Ask Socrates Inc. is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. All the new members of the organization are told about the founders who were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. The employees are allowed to dress informally and can set their own working hours.
-AskSocrates Inc. employees are allowed to dress informally. This is an example of a ________ through which organizational culture is transmitted.

Accepted Answer

Dress code or attire is a material symbol that represents the organizational culture of informality and a relaxed work environment.

Question 9

Pam works for a corporation that recently fired three top managers who were caught using the company credit cards to lavishly furnish their offices and even purchase "office" furniture that was found in their personal homes. Which method of maintaining an ethical culture is Pam's company pursuing?

Accepted Answer

The company is visibly punishing unethical acts by firing the top managers who misused company funds.

Question 10

Liz is the lead editor for a small, city newspaper. One of her advertising sales representatives is pulling in a lot of restaurant clients. Liz realizes that the representative is quite knowledgeable about food and speaks quite elegantly when describing different dishes. She has begun discussing with the representative the possibility of collaborating with a writer to include a weekly restaurant review, which includes the representative on the byline. After the first couple of reviews, the representative is able to increase ad sizes and sales. He is very happy with his new job diversification. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Liz utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Liz is emphasizing the individual vitality and growth of the advertising sales representative by recognizing his strengths and allowing him to collaborate on the restaurant reviews, which results in increased ad sales and job diversification. This creates a positive organizational culture by promoting personal and professional development of employees.

Question 11

All societies are divided into several economic roles. The values of a society are embodied in the people who fill various economic roles. Therefore, the introduction of labor saving technology like automation makes certain economic roles obsolete. This tends to undermine the values in that society. Which of the following can be concluded on the basis of the information above?

Accepted Answer

The passage suggests that the values of a society are embodied in the people who fill various economic roles, and the introduction of labor-saving technology like automation tends to make certain economic roles obsolete, which undermines the values in that society. However, it does not state that a society with values that are insusceptible to change cannot have economic roles eliminated by technology, nor does it suggest that technology eliminates all values associated with an economic role or that a foreign technological innovation will necessarily undermine the society in which it is implemented. Therefore, option B is the best conclusion that can be made from the information provided.

Question 12

Attention to detail is a primary characteristic of an organization's culture that indicates the degree to which management focuses on results or outcomes rather than on the techniques and processes used to achieve them.

Accepted Answer

Attention to detail is a characteristic that emphasizes the importance of precision and accuracy in tasks and processes, rather than focusing on the broader outcomes or results. It is more about how things are done rather than what is achieved.

Question 13

Patricia is a team leader. When looking at an e-mail from one of her team members, Patricia noticed that the e-mail was sent at nine-thirty in the evening. The next day she personally went to the employee's cubicle and told him how much she appreciated him staying late to get the project to the client on time. Which aspect of creating a positive organizational culture is Patricia utilizing?

Accepted Answer

Patricia is utilizing the aspect of rewarding more than punishing by acknowledging and appreciating her team member's effort in staying late to complete the project on time.

Question 14

Individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization will tend to describe the organization's culture in similar terms.

Accepted Answer

Organizational culture represents a common perception the organization's members hold.We should expect, therefore, that individuals with different backgrounds or at different levels in the organization will tend to describe its culture in similar terms.

Question 15

Alcoa headquarters has few individual offices, even for senior executives. The space is essentially made up of cubicles, common areas, and meeting rooms. This informality conveys to employees that Alcoa values ________.

Accepted Answer

The lack of individual offices and emphasis on common areas suggests that Alcoa values equality among employees.

Question 16

Ask Socrates Inc. is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. All the new members of the organization are told about the founders who were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. The employees are allowed to dress informally and can set their own working hours.
-The regular distribution of lollipops, toys, or treats every Friday is an example of a ________ that helps reinforce AskSocrates' culture.

Accepted Answer

The regular distribution of treats every Friday is a ritual that helps reinforce the company's culture of creativity and playfulness.

Question 17

Subcultures act to undermine the dominant culture.

Accepted Answer

Subcultures may challenge and subvert certain norms and values of the dominant culture, but they do not necessarily act to undermine the entire dominant culture. Additionally, some subcultures may eventually become accepted and incorporated into the dominant culture.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true regarding effects of national culture on organizational culture and ethical behavior within organization?

Accepted Answer

Generally, U.S. managers see bribery, nepotism, and favoring personal contacts as highly unethical. This statement is true as per research on national culture and organizational culture. The other statements are either incorrect or have exceptions. For example, managers in developing economies may view ethical decisions differently, and ignoring local culture can harm the organization's operations in another country. Additionally, organizational culture can reflect national culture, but there can be variations and adaptations for local contexts. Finally, some U.S. managers might prioritize profit maximization, although it is not a universal view.

Question 19

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture ________.

Accepted Answer

Organizations that promote a spiritual culture recognize that people seek to find meaning and purpose in their work. This is a key aspect of a spiritual culture, and it is what makes it different from other types of organizational cultures. The other options are not necessarily associated with a spiritual culture.

Question 20

Ask Socrates Inc. is a computer software company that employs highly intelligent, but somewhat unusual people. Every Friday, free lollipops, toys, or other treats are given out to encourage employees to remember how creative they were when they were children. All the new members of the organization are told about the founders who were three young people who "got lucky" and sold a video game that they invented. The employees are allowed to dress informally and can set their own working hours.
-Which of the following is most likely to be used by Ask Socrates Inc. to inform its new employees about its founders?

Accepted Answer

The passage states that new employees are told about the founders, implying that a story is being shared with them. Therefore, option A (stories) is the most likely way that Ask Socrates Inc. informs its new employees about its founders.

Quiz 16: Organizational Culture