Type:
Test Bank
Essentials of Organizational Resource: Behavior Edition:
14th Edition
Author(s):
Stephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge
Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 14e, Global Edition (Robbins/Judge) Chapter 1 Welcome to the World of OB 1) What are the three primary determinants of behavior in organizations? A) profit structure, organizational complexity, and job satisfaction B) individuals, profit structure, and job satisfaction C) individuals, groups, and job satisfaction D) groups, structure, and profit structure E) individuals, groups, and structure Answer: E Explanation: E) OB investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 2) Which of the following is not a core topic of organizational behavior? A) motivation B) attitude development C) conflict D) resource allocation E) work design Answer: D Explanation: D) OB includes the core topics of motivation, leader behavior and power, interpersonal communication, group structure and processes, personality, emotions, and values, attitude development and perception, change processes, conflict and negotiation, and work design. It does not include resource allocation. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
1 .
3) Until the late 1980s, business school curricula emphasized the ________ aspects of management. A) ethical B) people C) technical D) human E) global Answer: C Explanation: C) Until the late 1980s, business school curricula emphasized the technical aspects of management, focusing on economics, accounting, finance, and quantitative techniques. Course work in human behavior and people skills received relatively less attention. Over the past three decades, however, business faculty have come to realize the role that understanding human behavior plays in determining a manager's effectiveness, and required courses on people skills have been added to many curricula. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 4) Which of the following is not a reason why business schools have begun to include classes on organizational behavior? A) to increase manager effectiveness in organizations B) to help organizations attract top quality employees C) to expand organizations' consulting needs D) to improve retention of quality workers E) to help increase organizations' profits Answer: C Explanation: C) Understanding human behavior plays an important role in determining a manager's effectiveness. Developing managers' interpersonal skills helps organizations attract and keep high-performing employees. Positive social relationships are associated with lower stress at work and lower turnover. Finally, companies with reputations as good places to work have been found to generate superior financial performance. Expanding a company's consulting needs is not a positive reason to teach organizational behavior Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
2 .
5) According to a recent large-scale survey, 58 percent of managers did not receive ________. A) pay incentives B) training C) administrative support D) insurance E) office space Answer: B Explanation: B) 58 percent of managers reported they had not received any training and 25 percent admitted they were not ready to lead others when they were given the role. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 6) There is a connection between companies which have ________ and the incorporation of organizational behavior principles. A) high turnover rates B) specialized technical processes C) superior financial performance D) long-lasting CEOs E) all of the above Answer: C Explanation: C) Companies such as Genentech, the Boston Consulting Group, Qualcomm, McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, Facebook, and Southwest Airlines all have incorporated the concepts of organizational behavior and attribute it to their ability to generate high financial outcomes. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 7) ________ is the study of the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations. A) Leadership B) Organizational strategy C) Performance management D) Employee relations E) Organizational behavior Answer: E Explanation: E) Organizational behavior is the field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 3 .
8) Which of the following is not a topic or concern related to OB? A) turnover B) leader behavior C) productivity D) management E) family behavior Answer: E Explanation: E) OB is concerned specifically with employment-related situations such as jobs, work, absenteeism, employment turnover, productivity, human performance, and management. OB includes the core topics of motivation, leader behavior and power, interpersonal communication, group structure and processes, personality, emotions, values, attitude development, perception, change processes, conflict and negotiation, and work design. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 9) The number of direct reports under a manager has increased from ________ to ________. A) 5; 7 B) 4; 10 C) 2; 7 D) 1; 5 E) 3; 4 Answer: A Explanation: A) The demands of managers have increased, causing mangers to on average supervise 7 employees, an increase from 5 in the past. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 10) The purpose of organizational behavior is to ________. A) better understand management B) improve an organization's effectiveness C) balance diversity D) create boilerplates E) replace human resources Answer: B Explanation: B) OB studies the impact individuals, groups, and structure have on an organization with the ultimate goal of improving effectiveness. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
4 .
11) According to Luthans, in addition to Traditional management roles, effective managers engage in all of the following activities except ________. A) Human resource management B) Networking C) Communications D) All of the above E) None of the above Answer: D Explanation: D) In addition to Traditional management, Luthans suggests managers take part in communication, human resource management, and networking activities. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 12) Navar is a manager at a mid-sized consulting first. Within his role, he is responsible for motivating those under him to go out and meet new clients. Which of the four managerial activities is Navar exhibiting? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: C Explanation: C) The act of motivation is classified as a human resource management activity. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Analytical LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 13) On average, managers spend most of their time doing which managerial activity? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: A Explanation: A) 32 percent of a manager's time is spent doing traditional activities Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
5 .
14) On average, managers spend the least amount of time doing which managerial activity? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: D Explanation: D) 19 percent of a manager's time is spent on networking Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 15) According to Luthans, if you want to be a successful manager, your time would be best spent on which managerial activity? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: D Explanation: D) Networking has been shown to make the largest relative contribution to a manager's success. Diff: 2 AACSB: Reflective thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 16) According to Luthans, if you want to be a successful manager, your time would be best spent not focusing on which managerial activity? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: C Explanation: C) Focusing on human resource management has been shown to make the least relative contribution to a manager's success. Diff: 2 AACSB: Reflective thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
6 .
17) According to Luthans, if you want to be an effective manager, your time would be best spent on which managerial activity? A) Traditional management B) Communication C) Human resource management D) Networking E) Systems Answer: B Explanation: B) Communication has been shown to make the largest relative contribution for effective managers. Diff: 2 AACSB: Reflective thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 18) Over the last three decades, business school curricula has focused more on the technical aspects of management such as economics, accounting, finance, and quantitative techniques, and less on subjects related to human behavior and people skills. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Until the late 1980s, business school curricula emphasized the technical aspects of management, focusing on economics, accounting, finance, and quantitative techniques. Over the past three decades, however, business faculty have come to realize the role that understanding human behavior plays in determining a manager's effectiveness, and required courses on people skills have been added to many curricula. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 19) Organizational behavior is a field of study that helps in measuring, understanding, and changing attitudes; identifying communication patterns; and building trust. It has made important contributions to the study of group behavior, power, and conflict. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Organizational behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
7 .
20) Behavior is generally unpredictable, and the systematic study of behavior is a means to making reasonably accurate predictions. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Behavior is generally predictable, and the systematic study of behavior is a means to making reasonably accurate predictions. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 21) Managers who explain their decisions and seek information from colleagues and employees tend to be less successful because they emphasize negativity. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Even if the information is negative, seeking input from others makes a manager more effective. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 22) Organizational behavior is essentially the study of "people skills." Answer: FALSE Explanation: Organizational behavior is the study of what people do in an organization and how their behavior affects the organization's performance. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text). 23) Organizations typically chose the wrong candidate for management positions 82 percent of the time. Answer: TRUE Explanation: A Gallup poll found that organizations chose the wrong manager 82 percent of the time. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.1 Define organizational behavior (referred to as OB throughout the text).
8 .
24) Which of the following problems would an OB study be least likely to focus on? A) an increase in absenteeism at a certain company B) a fall in productivity in one shift of a manufacturing plant C) a decrease in sales due to growing foreign competition D) an increase in theft by employees at a retail store E) excessive turnover among volunteer workers at a non-profit organization Answer: C Explanation: C) OB is concerned specifically with employment-related situations such as jobs, work, absenteeism, employment turnover, productivity, human performance, and management. A study of foreign competition would not be part of an OB research project. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 25) In order to predict human behavior, it is best to supplement your intuitive opinions with information derived in what fashion? A) common sense B) direct observation C) systematic study D) speculation E) organizational theory Answer: C Explanation: C) To make good OB decisions it is important to use evidence to supplement intuition and experience. Evidence should come through systematic study, which involves looking at relationships, attempting to attribute causes and effects, and basing conclusions on scientific evidence, that is, on data gathered under controlled conditions and measured and interpreted in a reasonably rigorous manner. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB.
9 .
26) Betty believes that it is best to take the casual or common sense approach to reading others. She needs to remember that ________. A) the casual approach is nonsensical, and should be avoided as much as possible B) the systematic approach and the casual approach are one and the same C) laboratory experiments on human behavior often result in unreliable findings D) the casual or common sense approach to reading others can often lead to erroneous predictions E) behavior is unpredictable, hence there is no accurate way to analyze it Answer: D Explanation: D) Unfortunately, the casual or common sense approach to reading others can often lead to erroneous predictions. However, you can improve your predictive ability by supplementing intuition with a more systematic approach. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 27) Which of the following beliefs explains the usefulness of the systematic approach to the study of organizational behavior? A) Human behavior does not vary a great deal between individuals and situations. B) Human behavior is not random. C) Human behavior is not consistent. D) Human behavior is rarely predictable. E) Human behavior is often not sensible. Answer: B Explanation: B) Underlying the systematic approach to the study of organizational behavior is the belief that behavior is not random. Rather, we can identify fundamental consistencies underlying the behavior of all individuals and modify them to reflect individual differences. Behavior is generally predictable, and the systematic study of behavior is a means to making reasonably accurate predictions. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB.
10 .
28) Basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific support is called ________. A) intuition B) organizational process C) organizational behavior D) evidence-based management E) conceptual management Answer: D Explanation: D) Evidence-based management (EBM) complements systematic study (which includes looking at relationships, not merely studying scientific evidence), by basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific evidence. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 29) If a manager uses data to define objectives, develop theories of causality, and then test those theories, then she can ultimately determine ________. A) which products to produce B) which employee activities are relevant to objectives C) what objectives the company needs to follow D) who should be fired E) all of the above Answer: B Explanation: B) Through the use of data to develop and test theories, managers can ultimately determine which activities of employees best match the objectives of the organization. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 30) Analyzing relationships, determining causes and effects, and basing conclusions on scientific evidence all constitute aspects of ________ study. A) organizational B) intuitive C) theoretical D) systematic E) case-based Answer: D Explanation: D) Systematic study means looking at relationships, attempting to attribute causes and effects, and basing our conclusions on scientific evidence, that is, on data gathered under controlled conditions and measured and interpreted in a reasonably rigorous manner. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB.
11 .
31) Holly needs to assign a very important advertising account to one of her writers. First she reviewed each writer's work load, then she studied the sales data of the products for the last three campaigns of each writer, then she reviewed each writer's annual review to familiarize herself with their goals. Finally, she gave the account to Paula, a very creative, efficient, writer who has had high sales results with her last three clients' products. Janet's management style is based on ________. A) intuition or "gut feeling" B) organizational behavioral studies C) subjective assessments D) preconceived notions E) systematic study Answer: E Explanation: E) Systematic study means looking at relationships, attempting to attribute causes and effects, and basing our conclusions on scientific evidence, that is, on data gathered under controlled conditions and measured and interpreted in a reasonably rigorous manner. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 32) The use of surveillance analytics within organizational behavior is a product of the computer age. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Surveillance analytics were first introduced by Frederick Taylor in 1911. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Analytical LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 33) Without computers, management as we know it would not exist. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Computers have made it possible to use statistics in the area of evidence based management. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 34) Intuition comes from "gut feelings" about the state of some phenomenon of interest. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Intuition is a gut feeling not necessarily supported by research. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB.
12 .
35) As the manager of a large soft drink company, you have access to millions of pieces of data on consumer consumption of your drink. As the seasons change, how can you use this data to make human resources decisions? Answer: One of the benefits of Big Data is to be able to predict events. Using the data, I can determine the likely sales of the product and then determine how many employees will be needed to meet our production needs. I can also use the data to detect how much risk is involved in either increasing or decreasing our production and correlated human resource needs. Diff: 3 AACSB: Application of knowledge Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 36) Why is it important to complement intuition with systematic study in our attempts to understand behavior within organizations? Answer: It is important to complement intuition with systematic study in our attempts to understand behavior within organizations in order to help uncover important facts and relationships. Intuition will provide a base from which more accurate predictions of behavior can be made. That is, we can improve our predictive ability by complementing intuitive opinions with a more systematic approach. Systematic study involves looking at relationships, attempting to attribute causes and effects, and basing conclusions on scientific evidence. This process helps us to explain and predict behavior. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.2 Show the value of systematic study to OB. 37) Organizational behavior is constructed from all of the following disciplines except ________. A) physics B) psychology C) anthropology D) sociology E) social psychology Answer: A Explanation: A) Organizational behavior is an applied behavioral science built on contributions from a number of behavioral disciplines, mainly psychology and social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Physics does not form a part of OB studies. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
13 .
38) ________ is a science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals. A) Psychiatry B) Psychology C) Sociology D) Political science E) Organizational behavior Answer: B Explanation: B) Psychology is defined as the science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals through study of the individual. Contributions include learning, perception, personality, emotions, training, leadership effectiveness, and more. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 39) Which behavioral science discipline is most focused on understanding individual behavior? A) sociology B) social psychology C) psychology D) anthropology E) organizational behavior Answer: C Explanation: C) Organizational behavior is an applied behavioral science built on contributions from a number of behavioral disciplines, mainly psychology and social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Psychology's contributions have been mainly at the individual or micro level of analysis, while the other disciplines have contributed to our understanding of macro concepts such as group processes and organization. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
14 .
40) Psychology's major contributions to the field of organizational behavior have been primarily at what level of analysis? A) the level of the group B) the level of the individual C) the level of the organization D) the level of culture E) the level of interacting groups Answer: B Explanation: B) Psychology's contributions to the field of organizational behavior have been mainly at the individual or micro level of analysis, while the other disciplines have contributed to our understanding of macro concepts such as group processes and organization. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 41) Austin is a graduate student helping to organize a study on individual job satisfaction. The study focuses on the top five causes of satisfaction or dissatisfaction on a job. His department is surveying 200 individuals in 100 different types of organizations. Austin is most likely a graduate student in the department of ________. A) psychology B) anthropology C) political science D) social psychology E) archaeology Answer: A Explanation: A) Because Austin's study focuses on the causes of job satisfaction, he is most likely conducting the study through the department of psychology. Psychology is defined as the science which seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
15 .
42) You are bringing together faculty from different behavioral disciplines to author a new textbook in organizational behavior. Represented are professors from psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, political science, and industrial engineering. Which faculty member should furnish information about personality, learning, and motivation? A) sociology B) psychology C) anthropology D) political science E) industrial engineering Answer: B Explanation: B) Psychology seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals. Psychology's focus on the individual has led to contributions in the areas of learning, personality, emotions, motivational forces, and more. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 43) You are bringing together faculty from different behavioral disciplines to author a new textbook in organizational behavior. Represented are professors from psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, political science, and industrial engineering. Which professor out of this group would you expect to address issues on communication? A) the psychologist B) the anthropologist C) the political scientist D) the social psychologist E) the industrial engineer Answer: D Explanation: D) Social psychology focuses on peoples' influence on one another. Social psychologists contribute to identifying communication patterns and more. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
16 .
44) You are bringing together faculty from different behavioral disciplines to author a new textbook in organizational behavior. Represented are professors from psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, political science, and industrial engineering. You should expect that the faculty member from ________ will probably contribute information about large-scale group behavior. A) sociology B) psychology C) social psychology D) anthropology E) industrial engineering Answer: A Explanation: A) Sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture. Sociologists have contributed to OB through their study of group behavior in organizations. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 45) The science of ________ was developed by applying general concepts to a particular situation, person, or group. A) organizational behavior B) anthropology C) psychology D) sociology E) social psychology Answer: A Explanation: A) The science of OB has been developed by applying general concepts to a particular situation, person, or group, whereas, anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities; psychology seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals; sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture; and social psychology focuses on peoples' influence on one another. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
17 .
46) Group behavior, power, and conflict are central areas of study for ________. A) archaeologists B) philanthropists C) anthropologists D) social psychologists E) operations analysts Answer: D Explanation: D) Social psychology, generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on peoples' influence on one another. This field has made important contributions to our study of group behavior, power, and conflict. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 47) ________ blends concepts from psychology and sociology and focuses on the influence people have on one another. A) Corporate strategy B) Anthropology C) Political science D) Social psychology E) Archaeology Answer: D Explanation: D) Social psychology, generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on peoples' influence on one another. One major study area is change, how to implement it and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 48) Jude is a social psychologist. He is working on a concept in social psychology, which is a major study area, and learning how to implement it and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance. Jude is studying the concept of ________. A) culture B) ethics C) power D) change E) fatigue Answer: D Explanation: D) One major study area of social psychology is change—how to implement it and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance. Social psychologists also contribute to measuring, understanding, and changing attitudes; identifying communication patterns; and building trust. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Application LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 18 .
49) ________ focuses on the study of people in relation to their social environment. A) Psychology B) Sociology C) Corporate strategy D) Political science E) Operations management Answer: B Explanation: B) Sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture. Sociologists have contributed to OB through their study of group behavior in organizations, particularly formal and complex organizations. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 50) Which field of study has contributed to OB through its research on organizational culture and formal organization theory and structure? A) psychology B) operations management C) corporate strategy D) political science E) sociology Answer: E Explanation: E) Perhaps most important to the field of sociology is the study of organizational culture, formal organization theory and structure, organizational technology, communications, power, and conflict, which all contribute widely to OB. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
19 .
51) This field of study has helped us understand differences in fundamental values, attitudes, and behavior between people in different countries and within different organizations. A) anthropology B) corporate strategy C) political science D) operations research E) psycholinguistics Answer: A Explanation: A) Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities. Anthropologists' work on cultures and environments has helped us understand differences in fundamental values, attitudes, and behavior between people in different countries and within different organizations. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 52) The subject of organizational culture has been most influenced by which behavioral science discipline? A) anthropology B) psychology C) social psychology D) political science E) corporate strategy Answer: A Explanation: A) Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities. Much of our current understanding of organizational culture, organizational environments, and differences among national cultures is a result of the work of anthropologists or those using their methods. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 53) Social psychology is an area within psychology, blending concepts from both psychology and socialism. Answer: FALSE Explanation: Social psychology, generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on peoples' influence on one another. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
20 .
54) Conflict and power have been major topics of concern for social psychologists. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Social psychologists have made important contributions to our study of group behavior, power, and conflict. Diff: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 55) What psychology is to the group, sociology is to the individual. Answer: FALSE Explanation: While psychology focuses on the individual, sociologists have contributed to OB through their study of group behavior in organizations, particularly formal and complex organizations. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 56) Anthropology has helped us understand differences in values and attitudes between people in different countries. Answer: TRUE Explanation: Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities. Anthropologists' work on cultures and environments has helped us understand differences in fundamental values, attitudes, and behavior between people in different countries and within different organizations. Diff: 2 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.
21 .
57) Describe how one of the sciences that contributes to organizational behavior could be used in EBM. Define the science, some of the science's contributions to OB, and describe a workplace example of how it could be used in EBM. Answer: Evidence-based management (EBM) complements systematic study by basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific evidence. Doctors need to make decisions about patient care based on the latest available evidence, and EBM argues that managers should do the same, becoming more scientific in how they think about management problems. For example, a manager that is struggling with high turnover in his company could look toward social psychology to help solve the problem. Social psychology, generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on people's influence on one another. One major study area is change, how to implement it and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance. A manager could look at a social psychology study on job satisfaction to determine what changes he might make to be able to better retain employees. Diff: 3 AACSB: Reflective thinking Quest. Category: Synthesis LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 58) How have the fields of psychology and sociology contributed to our understanding of organizational behavior? Answer: Psychology seeks to measure, explain, and change the behavior of humans. Contributions have been made by learning theorists, personality theorists, counseling psychologists, and industrial and organizational psychologists. Contributions have been made in learning, perception, personality, emotions, training, leadership effectiveness, needs and motivational forces, job satisfaction, decision-making processes, performance appraisals, attitude measurement, employee-selection techniques, work design, and job stress. Sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture. The greatest contributions by sociologists have been in the study of group behavior in organizations, organizational culture, formal organization theory and structure, organizational technology, communications, power, and conflict. Diff: 3 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Quest. Category: Concept LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 59) Compare and contrast the fields of psychology, social psychology, and sociology. Answer: These fields all deal with the human condition. While psychology focuses on the individual, sociology studies people in relation to their social environment or culture. Social psychology blends concepts from both psychology and sociology, though it is generally considered a branch of psychology. It focuses on people's influence on one another. Thus, it could be said that social psychology falls between the extremes of the individual focus of psychology and the large group focus of sociology. Diff: 3 AACSB: Reflective thinking Quest. Category: Synthesis LO: 1.3 Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. 22 .