CHAPTER 1THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.The major goals of organizational behavior are toa.control, manipulate, and influence workers.b.reduce job stress and enhance satisfaction.c.find the appropriate rewards and punishments for workers.d.explain, predict, and control behavior.

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2.An important advantage of the interview method is that the interviewera.does not have to be skilled.b.does not have to worry about subjective interpretations of events.c.can explore explanations for a phenomena.d.can avoid human interaction by using electronic recording devices.

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3.To use the technique of participant observer, a researcher mighta.send out a survey asking for participants.b.carefully observe the participants in a study.c.regularly participate in experiments.d.become a member of the group being researched.

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4.A key advantage of the case method is that it providesa.a wealth of information.b.quantitative information.c.survey results in systematic form.d.experimental information.

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5.Organizational behavior experimenter Sara conducts an experiment on the effects of napping on the productivity of call center workers. Sara's independent variable isa.the call center.b.napping.c.productivity.d.how willing the workers are to nap.

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6.The basic approach of meta-analysis is toa.combine the results of many studies, using quantitative methods.b.combine the results of many studies, using qualitative methods.c.question the assumptions underlying various studies.d.provide a philosophical analysis of a group of studies.

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7.A meta-analysis is based on a(n)a.single rigorous study.b.single case history.c.multiple case histories.d.combination of many studies containing quantitative data.

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8.A moderator variable is one thata.influences the relationship between two other variables.b.predicts the outcome of an experiment.c.predicts how the participants will react to the experiment.d.acts as a control factor in an experiment.

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9.Knowledge about organizational behavior typically helps managers and professionalsa.understand the content of their work.b.decrease the interpersonal aspects of their work.c.carry out the processes in their work.d.carry out the functional aspects of their work.

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10.Which one of the following would be the best example of a generic skill?a.the interpersonal skills possessed by a marketing managerb.the computer skills posses by an information systems specialistc.the accounting skills possessed by a chief financial officer.d.the interviewing skills possessed by an employment interviewer

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11.Which one of the following is most clearly a soft skill?a.molding clay to illustrate a new productb.making frozen custardc.motivating a teammated.computing currency exchange rates for a friend

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12.Which of the following statements is most true about soft skills?a.Jobs requiring soft skills generally pay very little.b.Soft skills are more likely to get you an entry-level professional job than would hard skills.c.Top-level managers need to put aside their soft skills.d.Soft skills are very important for top-level managers.

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13.A major goal of organizational behavior is toa.decrease the importance of the human factor in performance.b.conduct experiments in successful and unsuccessful companies.c.prevent labor unions from representing workers.d.improve organizational effectiveness.

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14.An executive coach cited in the organizational behavior text, observed that when good performers are given encouragement and recognition, they are likely toa.demand a salary increase.b.show a performance slump.c.become quite high performers.d.become recognition and praise junkies (crave more recognition and praise).

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15.Organizational behavior knowledge makes a contribution beyond common sense because such knowledgea.generally conflicts with common sense.b.sharpens and refines common sense.c.shows how common sense is not valid.d.quickly becomes a substitute for common sense.

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16.A major output of the classical school of management was thea.development of human relations principles.b.behavioral approach to management.c.focus on human needs and individual differences.d.framework of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

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17.Which approach to studying management contended that bureaucracy was the best form of organization?a.behavioral schoolb.contingency managementc.administrative managementd.the Hawthorne school

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18.A major finding of the Hawthorne studies was thata.attention paid to workers can increase their productivity.b.control groups do not work well in a work setting.c.illumination levels are related to productivity.d.workers resent being part of an experiment.

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19.A major criticism of the Hawthorne studies is thata.the workers were being exploited in the name of experimentation.b.adequate productivity measures were not used.c.the workers were telling managers what they wanted to hear.d.the combination of feedback and differential rewards produced the surprising results.

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20.A major theme of the human relations movement wasa.that monetary incentives are the best motivators.b.that work groups have a relatively weak impact on productivity.c.a strong belief in workers' capabilities.d.that close supervision is required to achieve high productivity.

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21.A manager who held Theory X assumptions about workers would believe thata.most people like work.b.most people dislike work.c.workers are good at setting their own goals.d.work is as natural as play.

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22.To use the contingency approach to management, a manager musta.diagnose the influential variables in a situation.b.exercise strong leadership over group members.c.assume that something will go wrong.d.believe that Theory X assumptions are valid.

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23.An effective method of applying positive organizational behavior would be for a manager toa.make good use of the strengths of a subordinate.b.assign a subordinate with almost no math literacy to a bookkeeping position.c.develop a spreadsheet of assignments in which subordinates have performed poorly.d.insert a smiley face on every e-mail he or she sends.

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24.The final component of the model for improving organizational behavior skills isa.conceptual information and behavior guidelines.b.frequent practice.c.experiential exercises.d.feedback on skill utilization.

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25.A recommended way of improving individual and organizational effectiveness is toa.capitalize on strengths of people.b.ignore the weaknesses of people.c.give out job assignments that force people to use their weaknesses.d.insist that workers who are performing well are rotated into jobs in which they cannot perform so well.

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TRUE/FALSE

1.The study of organizational behavior includes a study of the interaction between the workers and the organization.

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2.An advantage of the interview method for research is that workers can quickly learn to master interview techniques.

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3.A disadvantage noted of the case method is that case writers have a tendency to attend to information related to their own interests or needs.

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4.In a well-designed experiment, the experimenter makes sure that only the dependent variable is responsible for the results obtained.

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5.A potential disadvantage of the field experiment is that it may be difficult to control the independent variable.

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6.The general approach of meta-analysis is to conduct one rigorously designed study.

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7.A meta-analysis is essentially a quantitative review of the literature on a given subject.

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8.A careful study of organizational behavior often contributes to the development of generic skills.

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9.Being able to work well in teams and with culturally diverse people places heavy emphasis on soft skills.

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10.A side benefit from learning to understand other people is that it can lead to enhanced self-knowledge.

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11.The term organizational effectiveness refers essentially to the profitability of a firm.

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12.Paying more attention to the human element in organizations creates many new positions that focus primarily on watching and controlling workers.

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13.According to an executive coach cited in the text, giving recognition and encouragement to good performers tends to lower their performance because they expect to perform well.

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14.The behavioral approach to management emphasizes finding the most efficient ways for workers to perform tasks.

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15.Standardization of work procedures and practices is an important part of scientific management.

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16.According to the Hawthorne effect, people will deliberately increase their level of performance to avoid punishment when they know they are being watched.

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17.According to the Hawthorne effect workers tend to behave differently when they receive attention.

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18.A key belief of the human relations movement is that satisfied workers are more productive.

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19.The contingency approach to management encourages managers to strive toward using the same approach to managing others in virtually all situations.

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20.Positive organizational behavior emphasizes focusing on strengths and capacities that can be measured.

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21.A key strategy of positive organizational behavior is to focus on employee weaknesses, and allow employee strengths to take care of themselves.

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22.The distinction between hard skills and soft skills is essentially the distinction between high-paying and low-paying jobs respectively.

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23.A component of the general learning model applied to organizational behavior skills is to obtain feedback on skill utilization.

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24.According to the learning model for developing organizational behavior skills, a person should obtain frequent practice with a given skill before studying the relevant conceptual information.

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25.Organizational behavior knowledge gives managers some useful ideas to reflect on before making decisions dealing with people.

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ESSAY

1.Identify and describe the basic research methods used in organizational behavior. Identify a key strength and weakness of each method.

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2.What benefits can a person hope to derive from studying organizational behavior?

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3.Prepare a brief history of organizational behavior.

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4.Explain how you will be able to develop skills in organizational behavior.

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