Organizational Culture Exam 9 Flashcards

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_____ is a pattern of basic assumptions that are considered valid and that are taught to new members as the way to perceive, think, and feel in an organization.

Corporate culture

According to Edgar Schein, the three levels of organizational culture are:

artifacts, values, and assumptions

According to Edgar Schein, _____ are the most visible and accessible level of organizational culture.

artifacts

Identify a true statement about artifacts of an organizational culture.

One of the important ways to understand culture through artifacts is figuring out the meaning of symbols. Signup and view all the answers

Artifacts are the _____.

most frequently studied manifestation of organizational culture Signup and view all the answers

A(n) _____ is an example of the artifacts of organizational culture.

ceremony Signup and view all the answers

In the context of artifacts, when the behavior of an organization's members reflects the organization's values, it is called _____.

personal enactment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of organizational ceremonies and rites?

They provide opportunities to reward and recognize employees whose behavior is congruent with the values of a company. Signup and view all the answers

On the foundation day of an organization, the president of the organization awards exceptionally performing employees with a bouquet and a plaque at a banquet every year. This is an example of:

a ceremony Signup and view all the answers

In the context of organization ceremonies and rites, retirement dinners are examples of:

rites of passage Signup and view all the answers

In the context of organization ceremonies and rites, company functions such as annual picnics can be considered:

rites of integration Signup and view all the answers

In the context of organization ceremonies and rites, grievance hearings and the negotiation of union contracts are examples of:

rites of conflict reduction Signup and view all the answers

Stories give meaning and identity to organizations as they:

are retold Signup and view all the answers

In the context of artifacts, which of the following statements is true of organizational stories?

They help in orienting new employees. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of organizational stories about how a company deals with crisis situations?

These stories show how the company overcomes obstacles. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a true statement about organizational stories.

They should be backed by reality. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of effective organizational stories?

They can create renewed energy. Signup and view all the answers

Everyday, repetitive, organizational practices are _____.

rituals Signup and view all the answers

_____ reflect a person's inherent beliefs of what should or should not be.

Values Signup and view all the answers

_____ are the deeply held beliefs that guide behavior and tell members of an organization how to perceive situations and people.

Assumptions Signup and view all the answers

Identify a true statement about organizational culture.

It provides a sense of identity to members of an organization. Signup and view all the answers

When employees internalize the values of a company, they:

find their work intrinsically rewarding. Signup and view all the answers

Leaders can use _____ to help employees understand the changing nature of their organizational identity.

organizational symbols Signup and view all the answers

A company's culture:

must be characterized by open communication. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a true statement about strong organizational cultures.

They are deeply held and widely shared. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of strong organizational cultures?

They are characterized by goal alignment. Signup and view all the answers

Organizations with strong cultures:

facilitate performance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a perplexing question about the strong-culture perspective about the relationship between organizational culture and performance?

What can be said about evidence showing that strong economic performance can create strong cultures, rather than the reverse? Signup and view all the answers

The fit perspective about the relationship between organizational culture and performance argues that:

a culture is good only if it fits an industry or a firm's strategy. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the fit perspective, which of the following industry characteristics affects culture?

Societal expectations Signup and view all the answers

In the context of organizational culture, which of the following is true of the fit perspective?

It is not useful in explaining long-term performance. Signup and view all the answers

An adaptive organizational culture is the one that:

encourages confidence and risk-taking among employees. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of core values, which of the following is a difference between adaptive organizational cultures and nonadaptive organizational cultures?

In adaptive organizational cultures, most managers care deeply about customers, whereas in nonadaptive organizational cultures, most managers care mainly about themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Unlike adaptive organizational cultures, nonadaptive organizational cultures:

value the orderly and risk-reducing management process more highly than leadership initiatives. Signup and view all the answers

_____ are characterized by cautious management that tries to protect its own interests.

Nonadaptive organizational cultures Signup and view all the answers

In Kotter and Heskett's study, compared to nonadaptive firms, adaptive firms:

showed significantly better long-term economic performance. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of a leader's role in shaping and reinforcing culture?

Employees observe the behavior of leaders to find out what an organization values. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of perception-shaping mechanisms used by leaders to reinforce organizational culture?

Policies Signup and view all the answers

_____ is the process by which newcomers are transformed from outsiders to participating, effective members of an organization.

Organizational socialization Signup and view all the answers

_____ is the degree to which a newcomer in an organization holds pragmatic expectations about the job and organization.

Realism Signup and view all the answers

In the context of anticipatory socialization, which of the following is a type of congruence between an individual and an organization?

Congruence between the individual's abilities and the demands of a job Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the stage of the organizational socialization process, _____ involve the actual work performed.

task demands Signup and view all the answers

In the encounter stage of the organizational socialization process, _____ involve the expectations placed on newcomers in an organization.

role demands Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following stages of the organizational socialization process do newcomers begin to master the demands of a job?

Change and acquisition Signup and view all the answers

_____ are examples of qualitative methods for organizational culture assessment.

Interviews Signup and view all the answers

Qualitative methods for organizational culture assessment, such as interviews and observations, are valuable because of their _____.

descriptiveness Signup and view all the answers

The two underlying dimensions of the Organizational Culture Inventory (OCI) are:

task/people and security/satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

The underlying dimensions of the Kilmann-Saxton Culture-Gap Survey are:

technical/human orientation and short-term versus long-term time Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Kilmann-Saxton Culture-Gap Survey, which of the following areas includes long-term technical norms?

Task innovation Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Kilmann-Saxton Culture-Gap Survey, which of the following areas includes long-term human orientation norms?

Personal freedom Signup and view all the answers

The use of multiple methods to measure organizational culture is known as:

triangulation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of triangulation?

It is the best approach to assessing organizational culture. Signup and view all the answers

Changing an organization's culture is difficult because:

culture is deeply ingrained. Signup and view all the answers

Even when behavior in an organization changes, the change is not sufficient for cultural change to occur because:

individuals may change their behavior but not the values that drive it. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of changing organizational culture, managers must examine the justifications for changed behavior because:

employees sometimes do not really believe in the new values, and just comply. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of changing organizational culture, which of the following is a step that a manager should take immediately after he or she has examined the justifications for changed behavior of the employees?

The manager should send a consistent message about the new values and beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of changing organizational culture, leaders should pay attention to the _____ more so than structural positions in leading organizational change.

informal social networks Signup and view all the answers

The last step of the process of changing the organizational culture of a firm involves:

reshaping the workforce to fit the intended culture of the organization. Signup and view all the answers

Cultural change effort in an organization can be deemed successful if:

employees automatically respond to a crisis in ways consistent with the corporate culture. Signup and view all the answers

With rapid changes in business environment such as globalization, workforce diversity, and technological innovation, managers must focus on:

reinforcing ethical behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following poses additional challenge to managers in their pursuit of positive, cohesive cultures?

Globalization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following steps would enable organizations to develop an effective global organizational culture?

Management should award employees who support the global view. Signup and view all the answers

To develop a positive, cohesive organizational culture, managers should:

promote the philosophy that ethical behavior makes good business sense. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of developing an ethical organizational culture, which of the following statements is true?

Managers can encourage ethical behavior by communicating that rationalizations for unethical behavior are not tolerated. Signup and view all the answers

Employees who work in high-trust cultures:

are more aligned with their company's values. Signup and view all the answers

_____ is a term that describes using the Internet for personal business at work while pretending to do legitimate work.

Cyberloafing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of cyberloafing?

It can cost companies millions of dollars in lost productivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of inclusive culture?

Leader behavior drives an inclusive culture more strongly than policy statements. Signup and view all the answers

_____ promotes an inclusive workplace.

Ensuring diversity in every meeting Signup and view all the answers

A _____ is a pattern of work-related experiences that spans the course of a person's life.

career Signup and view all the answers

An example of the subjective element of a career is:

a person's perception of his or her potential in a chosen occupation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of the new career paradigm?

Discrete exchange Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the new career paradigm, discrete exchange:

occurs when an organization gains productivity while a person gains work experience. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the new career paradigm, occupational excellence means:

continuously honing skills that can be marketed across organizations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of organizational empowerment in the new career paradigm?

Everyone in an organization is responsible for adding value and improving competitiveness. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of project allegiance in the new career paradigm?

A successful outcome of a project is more important than holding the project team together. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the old career paradigm, the one-employer focus meant:

forgoing technical or functional development in favor of firm-specific learning. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the old career paradigm, the top-down firm meant:

competitiveness and added value were the responsibility of corporate experts. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the old career paradigm, corporate allegiance meant:

being loyal to one's work group can be more important than the project allocated to the group. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of corporate allegiance?

Keeping a work group together is a more important goal than project completion. Signup and view all the answers

According to John Holland's theory of occupational choice, which of the following is an example of a realistic occupation?

Mechanic Signup and view all the answers

According to John Holland's theory of occupational choice, which of the following is an example of an investigative occupation?

Economist Signup and view all the answers

According to John Holland's theory of occupational choice, which of the following is an example of a social occupation?

Counselor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a conflict that might occur during an employee's entry into an organization?

The conflict between an organization's effort to attract candidates and an individual's choice of an organization. Signup and view all the answers

To prevent conflicts during the organizational choice and entry process, an individual should:

conduct a careful self-analysis. Signup and view all the answers

Giving potential employees the actual picture of the job they are applying for is known as a(n) _____.

realistic job preview Signup and view all the answers

In the context of realistic job preview (RJP), when candidates are given both positive and negative information, they:

make more effective job choices. Signup and view all the answers

_____ can be thought of as inoculation against disappointment during the organizational choice and entry process.

Realistic job previews Signup and view all the answers

_____ in a realistic job preview (RJP) involves knowing what to expect, both good and bad, which gives a newcomer in a company a sense of control that is important to job satisfaction and performance.

Uncertainty reduction Signup and view all the answers

One of the important attributes that a person should possess if he or she wants to climb the corporate ladder in the present age is _____.

emotional intelligence Signup and view all the answers

To have a successful career, the best attitude toward organizational change is:

to think of change as the central focus of work and not a disruption. Signup and view all the answers

The people who will be most successful in the new career paradigm are individuals who:

are tolerant of ambiguity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following individuals are more likely to become frustrated in the new career paradigm?

Individuals who are rigid in their thinking. Signup and view all the answers

Executives succumb to the temptation of fraud because:

they feel pressure to keep up with changes in cultural norms. Signup and view all the answers

Almost 40 percent of new managers fail within the first 18 months on the job because of a(n):

lack of interpersonal skills. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an attribute of emotional intelligence?

Self-awareness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true of people with high emotional intelligence?

They work efficiently with other team members. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Corporate Culture

Corporate culture consists of basic assumptions that define how members perceive, think, and feel within an organization.
Edgar Schein identified three levels of organizational culture: artifacts, values, and assumptions.

Artifacts

Artifacts are the most visible and accessible aspect of organizational culture and include symbols, ceremonies, and rituals.
Understanding artifacts helps decipher the underlying meaning of the culture through symbols.
Examples of artifacts include ceremonies (e.g., awards, annual dinners) and everyday rituals that shape behaviors.
Personal enactment occurs when members' behaviors reflect organizational values.

Ceremonies and Rites

Organizational ceremonies and rites provide opportunities to reward employees whose behaviors align with company values.
Rites of passage (e.g., retirement dinners), rites of integration (e.g., annual picnics), and rites of conflict reduction (e.g., grievance hearings) are different types of rituals that facilitate organizational culture.

Organizational Stories

Stories in organizations offer meaning and identity, helping to orient new employees and demonstrating how crises are handled.
Effective organizational stories can resonate with members, creating renewed energy and aligning expectations.
For organizational stories to be impactful, they must be rooted in reality.

Values and Assumptions

Values represent inherent beliefs about what is important within an organization, guiding behavior and perceptions.
Assumptions are deeply held beliefs informing how members interact within the organization and perceive external situations.

Strong Organizational Cultures

Strong cultures are characterized by shared beliefs, deep acceptance, and alignment with organizational goals, facilitating performance.
The fit perspective emphasizes that a culture's effectiveness is contingent upon its alignment with industry and strategy characteristics.

Adaptive vs. Nonadaptive Cultures

Adaptive cultures encourage risk-taking and customer-oriented approaches, while nonadaptive cultures prioritize stability and protection of interests.
More successful firms are generally those with adaptive cultures, displaying better long-term economic performance.

Changing Organizational Culture

Changing culture is challenging due to its ingrained nature; behavior change alone does not equate to genuine cultural transformation.
Consistent messaging about new values and beliefs is crucial after examining employees' justifications for behavior changes.
Attention should focus on informal social networks rather than solely structural positions.

Globalization and Ethical Culture

Globalization challenges managers to maintain positive organizational cultures while promoting ethical behavior.
An effective global culture entails recognizing and rewarding behaviors that support a global perspective.
Leaders play a crucial role in fostering a cohesive and ethical environment by discouraging rationalizations for unethical practices.

Career Development

Careers encompass a series of work-related experiences throughout life, with both subjective and objective elements.
The old career paradigm focused on loyalty to a single employer, while the new paradigm emphasizes accountability, project success, and the ability to market skills across organizations.
Emotional intelligence is essential for success, contributing to interpersonal skills and adaptability in changing environments.

Realistic Job Previews

Realistic job previews (RJP) provide candidates with honest insights into the job, promoting better job choices by reducing uncertainty about expectations.
RJPs involve sharing both positive and negative aspects of roles to help manage candidate expectations during entry into an organization.

Career Stages and Development

The career stage model consists of the establishment stage (learning the job) and withdrawal stage (retirement).
Individuals displaying emotional intelligence features, like self-awareness, are likely to thrive and effectively collaborate within teams.
Lack of interpersonal skills is a significant reason for new managers’ failure within the first 18 months.

Summary: Effective Leadership and Management

Effective leaders and managers are adaptable, communicate organizational values clearly, and engage with employees to reinforce a cohesive and productive culture.
High-trust cultures align closely with organizational values, promoting greater employee satisfaction and performance.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key concepts of organizational culture based on Edgar Schein's framework. It covers definitions, levels of culture, and characteristics that shape an organization. Test your knowledge and understanding of corporate culture with these flashcards.