Q&A Hero

Q: How would the garbage can model describe organizational decision making? A) Heavily influenced by trivial matters and chance B) It improves as the quality of the problems and solutions improve C) It is modeled after untrained decision makers D) All of the above

Q: Which decision making approach incorporates emotions, politics, practical considerations, and the systematic weighing of options? A) Rational decision making B) Naturalistic decision making C) Organizational psychology-based decision making D) Behavioral economics decision making

Q: What is a common element found in both bounded rationality and satisficing? A) Time pressure for decision B) You are forced to act without all information C) Subjectivity and not objectivity is used in both D) They should be considered last resorts of problem solving

Q: How is prototyping helpful for making decisions? A) By looking for context and that can more fully inform your decision making B) By going with what your mind automatically jumped to, prototypes speed up decision making C) By categorizing the situation you can draw on similar experiences in the past to more accurately predict the consequences of your decision choices D) All of the above

Q: Sensemaking differs from rational decision making because ________. A) Sensemaking examines past experiences to make decisions B) Sensemaking justifies your reason for action before you do it C) Sensemaking provides meaning to your action after you have taken it D) Sensemaking doesn't have identifiable steps

Q: Problem solving is meant to improve a situation, but errors can thwart success and possibly make it worse. Identify five errors, describe their impact and what you can do to avoid them.

Q: Which type of decision making incorporates mental tricks known as mental accounting people use to help make financial and business decisions? A) Probability accounting B) Behavioral economics C) Organizational psychology D) Naturalistic

Q: What is the behavioral economics approach? A) The approach that represents behavior demonstrated when people decide economic problems B) The approach that investigates why people predictably make irrational decisions C) The approach that was named after the Nobel prize winning economic developers D) The approach that measures behaviors economically and attempts to account for the way people actually make decisions

Q: What is the hindsight bias? A) Changing viewpoints based on new information but not admitting the change B) Changing viewpoints based on new information C) The ability to objectively assess what they should or would have done after the fact (also known as Monday morning quarterbacking) D) Only occurs in situations that end in less than optimal outcomes

Q: When you begin your new job, you are soaking in all types of information about your new work environment: some good, some bad. Mentally, you emphasize the number and importance of the good aspects and discount those of the bad as you go through your first week. What are you doing? A) Managing your impression that you like the job B) Maintaining a healthy outlook C) Confirming to yourself that you made the right decision D) Gathering information about the organization's culture

Q: Which of the following is not a heuristic used to shortcut the rational decision making process? A) You are overconfident that your opinion will be correct B) You act with the information that you have instead of taking the time to collect better information C) You are focused on resolving only the one factor in the problem you deem to be the most important D) All of the above are heuristics used to shortcut the rational decision making process

Q: Why do time constraints cause errors in decision making? A) Your performance is being judged, placing far more pressure on you to quickly solve the problem successfully B) Effective managers can quickly assess the situation and make a decision. Taking more time provides the impression that you aren't a good manager C) Time constraints limit your ability to gather information D) Time is money

Q: Where might incorrect information impact the decision making process? A) Problem identification B) Solution evaluation C) Plan implementation D) All of the above

Q: How does mental accounting distort our perceptions? A) Downplay loss B) Emphasize gain C) Both of the above D) None of the above

Q: Which of the following is a non-programmed decision? A) Deciding who to hire B) Determining budgets C) Dealing with changing customer demands D) Production demands

Q: Which type of decision do you make most frequently during a typical day? A) Naturalistic B) Rational C) Programmed D) Non-programmed

Q: How can you successfully claim your bags and get a taxi after getting off a flight in a foreign country where you don't know the language? A) Persuasion of officials B) Commitment to consistent actions C) Use social proof and follow the actions of other travelers D) Direction by those you assume have authority

Q: Alpha Manufacturing Inc. wants to increase demand for a certain product so they are printing "limited edition" on the packaging. Why might this influence more customers to buy their product? A) Scarcity persuasion tactic B) Limited edition C) False advertising D) Persuasive marketing

Q: An organization is ramping up efforts to increase the health and well-being of their employees in several different ways like training sessions, access to online resources, and posting fliers. In the break room, there is a poster with a statement explaining the campaign and lines below where employees can voluntarily sign to signify they will adopt more healthy behaviors. Sarah and Rick are two employees in particular who are excited to become healthier. Rick decides to sign the poster but Sarah doesn't. What is the likely outcome? A) Rick and Sarah will equally adopt healthier behaviors B) Sarah will adopt more healthy behaviors than Rick C) Rick will adopt more healthy behaviors than Sarah D) Sarah and Rick won't adopt healthier behaviors

Q: Why would a company choose not to grow or expand despite great demand for their product? A) Create greater perceived value for their product B) Increase the cost of their product C) Create greater demand for their product D) All of the above

Q: As HR manager, you are under intense pressure to hire top talent at the lowest possible cost. What would be the most effective way to persuade a candidate to join your organization without offering more money? A) Allow the candidate one week to consider the compensation package before getting back to you B) Provide statistics on employee satisfaction at your organization C) Tell the applicant you are considering two other highly qualified applicants for the opening and want to decide soon D) Provide a better benefits package that may include better medical insurance or stock options

Q: Eric is the statistics whiz on your team, and everyone on your team has informally agreed that Eric should run all the stats for your research and presentations while the rest of you take on a larger share of the other project parts. You are likely to help Eric anytime he asks for help, but you don't always put in that extra effort for your other team members. What combination of persuasion tactic and power source explains your willingness to help Eric anytime he asks? A) Expertise/Consistency B) Experience/Social proof C) Autonomy/Scarcity D) Relevance/Reciprocity

Q: Which of the following would not be a good combination of a persuasion tactic and source of power? A) Experience/Social proof B) Attractiveness/Liking C) Relevance/Autonomy D) Formal authority/Authority

Q: Impression management involves controlling the influence process to impact ideas formed about all of the following except a(n) ________. A) event B) person C) idea D) None of the above

Q: When individuals in organizations choose to exert influence they consider three main factors. Which of the following is not one of the factors individuals consider when choosing to exert influence? A) Desired objective of exerting influence B) Cost/benefit of exerting influence C) Characteristics of the target of influence D) Impression to be made by exerting influence

Q: Which of the following is an example of impression management? A) Manager creating a to-do list to track daily accomplishments B) Leader creating a vision for the company C) Individual responding in a timely manner to emails from other team members D) Individual presenting themselves as a team player and organized leader in job interview

Q: What is the difference between "street smart" which is knowing something because you have done it and "book smart" which is knowing something because you have studied it. A) Experience B) Personal power C) Authority D) Intelligence

Q: Which of the following is not a primary factor in an individual's choice to exert influence? A) Nature of the influence target B) Objectives one wants to achieve C) Impression one wants to convey D) One's ability to influence

Q: When an employee becomes empowered, what type of power have they gained? A) Expertise B) Experience C) Personal D) Autonomy

Q: If you want to increase your ability to influence others, what type of power should you focus on improving? A) Social power B) Positional power C) Personal power D) Autonomic power

Q: How are social power and persuasion tactics related? A) Social power provides the basis for persuasion tactics B) Social power only provides leverage for the social persuasion tactics C) Social power is the ability to effectively use persuasion tactics D) Social power comes from position and persuasion tactics

Q: When shopping in a retail store, a very loud alarm goes off. You look around and see that no one is panicking, not even the employees, so you decide that it must be a false alarm and continue shopping. What helps explain your conclusion? A) Authority B) Reciprocity C) Social proof D) Scarcity

Q: Anna works late to help Nate finish his marketing proposal. A few weeks later, Anna asks Nate for help on her sales presentation. According to the social norm of reciprocity, who will end up receiving the most help? A) Anna because she asked for the favor after helping Nate B) Nate because he got help from Anna first C) A reciprocal exchange requires that both parties get the same outcome, so Anna will help Nate the same amount that Nate helped her D) Reciprocity doesn't allow one person to get more than the other. It depends on the people and the situation

Q: When might you first be persuaded that the guest speaker for your class is an authority? A) After hearing and critically considering their presentation B) After evaluating their qualifications C) Watching them confidently and professionally interact with your professor before the presentation D) Hearing that they have been invited to speak in your class

Q: Who can have authority over you? A) Your teammate B) Your subordinate C) Your direct supervisor D) All of the above

Q: What is the common method used by each of the six persuasion tactics to exert influence on target(s)? A) Trading logical and careful analysis for mindless compliance B) Using position power and influence tactics together C) Foregoing careful evaluation to comply with authority D) Using heuristics instead of using social norms

Q: Why is the social norm of reciprocity such a powerful persuasion tactic? A) Reciprocity is based on equity theory, and thus it's a goal that everyone strives for in the workplace B) Reciprocity is found in many different societies making it a universal and cross cultural persuasion tactic C) Reciprocity reduces uncertainty that people have, and we are motivated to feel secure in our environments D) Reciprocity is based on the simple theory of give and take which is easy for people to understand

Q: In what way is motivation involved in social proof? A) Those with extrinsic motivation persuade others effectively B) Those with intrinsic motivation are highly vulnerable to persuasion C) People are motivated to follow the crowd even when they know for certain that the group is making the wrong choice D) In social proof, people look to others' actions when they aren't motivated or don't have the time to carefully think about what to do and follow the crowd

Q: What is one of the main ways social proof persuades you to go with the group? A) Feeling of security from being part of larger group B) Provides evidence that the group's choice will be personally beneficial for you C) Mimic behavior of others because the majority is always right D) Prior behavior should be repeated in group settings

Q: What is a requirement for all persuasion tactics? A) They only take place in workplaces with politics B) Position power determines the persuasion tactics C) There has to be a target of influence D) An alternate agenda guides influence

Q: According to the halo effect, which of the following will you assume about someone if they are attractive and likable? A) Neurotic B) Conceited C) Intelligent D) Introverted

Q: What is the best way to maximize the effectiveness of influence? A) Combine authority with social proof B) Utilize social proof in organizational politics C) Utilize impression management to create social proof D) Combine persuasion tactics with sources of power

Q: How can you use reciprocity to influence others in a way that benefits you most? A) Engage in organizational citizenship behavior B) Offer unsolicited help to others C) Give priority to doing favors for those you like D) Repay those who do favors for you

Q: Organizational politics includes all of the following except ________. A) Using influence B) Behavior performed by people in organizations C) Behavior based on legitimate power D) Behavior based on social power designed to get one's way

Q: While an organization expects performance to increase after a new rewards program begins, they may see performance decrements compared to pre-incentive levels. Why?

Q: An organization gives a 1% raise to everyone annually, and many employees are upset by this practice, so they have no motivation to work hard. Why are employees upset and unmotivated? A) The practice is not consistent with an optimal experience B) The amount of the raise is too small; a raise of at least 3% is needed to motivate C) Everyone is treated the same; no distinction is made based on performance D) There is no communication about why everyone gets a 1% raise

Q: An organization wants to increase the motivation and performance of their front-line workers. They have arranged the office space to facilitate frequent communication between employees, all supervisors have completed leadership training, and each week the company has lunch catered so supervisors and subordinates can mingle together. What does Herzberg's theory predict motivation will do after these changes are implemented? A) Motivation will increase B) Motivation will remain the same C) Motivation will decrease D) Herzberg's theory is not helpful in this situation

Q: Instead of motivating with monetary incentives, some organizations award points that employees can use to "buy" things they find desirable from numerous choices with various point values. The incentive an employee wants to earn will drive their efforts, resulting in higher performance. What theory of motivation best describes this method of motivation? A) Choice theory B) Expectancy theory C) Equity theory D) Cognitive evaluation theory

Q: When does the strategy of talent management influence employees? A) Before a candidate applies B) Through employment branding media campaigns C) Throughout their career with the company D) All of the above

Q: A manager who adheres to ________ chooses to micromanage to ensure his employees stay motivated and on task. A manager believing in ________ would increase motivation through adding responsibilities to challenge her employees. While both managers may initially see an increase in motivation and performance, the strategy taken by the ________ manager is likely to result in employees who are more motivated for a longer period of time and consistently deliver higher performance. A) Theory X; Theory Y; Theory X B) Theory X; Theory Y; Theory Y C) Theory Y; Theory X; Theory Y D) Theory Y; Theory X; Theory X

Q: Can a manager increase an employee's intrinsic motivation? Why or why not? Explain.

Q: What happens when skill variety, task identity, and task significance are present in a job? A) Increased organizational commitment B) Personal skill development leads to higher performance C) Rewards need to increase to maintain current motivation D) Intrinsic motivation results from the meaningful work

Q: When would your motivation for a task be the highest? A) Working under a Theory X manager B) Working under a Theory Y manager C) You are in flow D) You perceive equity

Q: Jason doesn't think it's fair that everyone gets the same annual raise as he does because he has been there longer and works harder. Jason is likely to perceive injustice on which of the four dimensions of justice? A) Distributive justice B) Procedural justice C) Interpersonal justice D) Informational justice

Q: An organization can increase employee motivation using which of the following interventions/actions? A) Providing positive recognition B) Setting challenging but achievable goals C) Empower employees by adding responsibility D) All of the above

Q: What is the common component driving equity theory and all dimensions of justice? A) The organization's incentive program B) The individual's perceptions C) The referent other(s) D) Equity theory is explained by the dimensions of justice

Q: Which theory of motivation is based in large part on the perception and evaluation of yourself and others? A) Equity theory B) Social exchange theory C) Two factor theory D) All of the above

Q: According to expectancy theory, which of these situations would fail to motivate employees? A) The employee doesn't value the reward B) Increased effort doesn't result in increased performance C) High performance is not rewarded D) All of the above

Q: Maslow's theory is now used ________. A) By managers wanting to motivate without the need for tangible rewards B) To motivate employees quickly with minimal effort C) In public, but not private, organizations D) Despite the lack of empirical evidence for its validity

Q: Which tenet of Maslow's theory has been refuted by modern research? A) Fulfilling lower order needs is required for the pursuit of higher order needs B) Everyone is driven to achieve self-actualization C) Once met, lower goals cease to motivate D) Lower needs must be satisfied externally

Q: Which researcher's theory included the concept of concurrent motivational drivers? A) Alderfer B) McClelland C) Maslow D) All of these researchers included this component in their respective theories

Q: Which of the following is the most significant difference between theories of motivation developed by Maslow and Alderfer? A) Maslow's theory has more categories than Alderfer's B) Alderfer's theory contains more details about how to motivate using the theory than Maslow's C) Regression is possible in Alderfer's theory but not in Maslow's D) Maslow's theory incorporates strength of motivation but Alderfer's does not

Q: At which motivational level does Alderfer's ERG theory function? A) Internal B) Incentive C) Individual D) Progressive

Q: Which theorist developed the theory of motivation based on internal needs? A) McClelland B) Herzberg C) McGregor D) All of the above are based on internal factors

Q: Which behavior is least likely to be exhibited by a highly-rated manager with a high need for power working in a hierarchical organization with clear lines of authority? A) They are able to delegate easily B) They network to gain favor with subordinates and colleagues C) They place priority on organizational goals instead of their individual agendas D) They make fair but sometimes unpopular decisions

Q: Someone with ________ is likely to excel at certain tasks, but they don't make the best managers because they focus on attaining their goals instead of the team or organization's goals, they tend to take personal credit for achievements instead of celebrating team success, they micromanage, and they don't involve or inspire others. A) An introverted personality B) A high need for power C) A high need for achievement D) A type A personality

Q: When motivation changes from intrinsic to extrinsic, performance ________. A) Increases B) Decreases C) Remains constant D) Becomes inconsistent

Q: Upon graduation, you get your dream job at a firm making $500k annually which is highly motivating and extraordinarily satisfying to you. Basing your prediction entirely on your maintaining your current salary level, what will happen to your satisfaction and motivation in 5 years' time? Explain.

Q: Which of the following is not one of the three primary factors organizations should consider when motivating employees? A) Factors related to the job B) Factors related to the environment C) Factors related to employee social interactions D) Factors internal to the individual

Q: Alpha Inc. wants to develop effective leaders by establishing an employee development plan for their top performing managers. What is Alpha's underlying assumption about leaders? A) Effective leadership comes from what a manager does B) Effective leadership comes from what a manager believes C) Effective leadership comes from those with natural talent D) Effective leadership requires the ability to delegate

Q: As a manager, you lead by example through demonstrating high performance. You set high performance expectations for your subordinates and support their progress toward reaching these goals with frequent feedback. What is your management style? A) Team leader B) Country club C) Middle of the road D) Authoritarian

Q: Followers of ________ leaders are not motivated by the leader's characteristics or by their grand vision for the future but instead are motivated to follow because the leader has legitimate authority granted by an institution that the follower respects. A) Transactional B) Bureaucratic C) Charismatic D) All of these leaders obtain their power by influencing their followers

Q: Your team leader noticed that you have been really stressed lately. She took the time to provide detailed positive feedback on your performance, offered encouragement that raised your self-esteem, and extended an upcoming deadline. Your team leader is obviously a good ________, and because she responds differently according to the situation, she demonstrates the critical aspect of ________ leadership. A) Leader; effective B) Self-monitor; situational C) Interpersonal leader; social D) Staff manager; promising

Q: What are the four critical leadership issues and challenges facing contemporary organizations? Provide at least one reason why each of these issues are important to address.

Q: Authentic leadership emphasizes ________ and de-emphasizes the importance of ________. A) Leadership; management B) Justice; demagogues C) Integrity; power D) Ethics; trust

Q: Which of the following is a conclusion of the leadership research in cross-cultural settings? A) Leadership traits that are effective in China are increasingly important because of China's economic growth B) Leaders should specialize in the roles that make effective cross-cultural leaders C) Effective leadership differs across different cultures D) More experienced leaders are able to better manage multi-cultural organizations

Q: Quid pro quo is a hallmark of which type of leadership? A) Charismatic leadership B) Bureaucratic leadership C) Transactional leadership D) Transformational leadership

Q: All of the following are skills involved in transformational leadership except ________. A) Effective communication B) Legitimate power C) Assuming personal risk D) Innovating new methods

Q: Which of the following describes transactional leadership? A) The follower achieves self-actualization they couldn't have done without the leader's guidance B) Leaders can obtain more followers to achieve their vision, and followers can achieve a higher purpose through their contribution C) Followers can become leaders and leaders can become moral agents D) The leader offers something the followers want in exchange for helping them achieve their vision so both parties benefit

Q: How do transformational leaders impact their followers? A) They can bring awareness and conscientiousness to ethical issues B) The followers receive personal gain in factors appealing to them C) They use extrinsic motivation to encourage followers to work toward their vision D) None of the above