Q&A Hero

Q: Labor unions are an example of a type of stakeholder in a company.

Q: Stakeholders of an organization are shareholders, customers, suppliers, governments and any other groups with a vested interest in the organization.

Q: High performance work practices build human capital, which improves performance as employees develop skills and knowledge to perform the work.

Q: Working in a self-directed team reduces employee motivation because employees in such a team will support individualistic behaviors rather than team behaviors.

Q: The perspective that effective organizations incorporate several workplace practices that leverage the potential of human capital is called high-performance work practices.

Q: According to the organizational learning perspective, an effective organization not only learns but also unlearns certain routines and patterns of behavior.

Q: One of the fastest ways to acquire knowledge is to hire individuals or purchase entire companies that have valued knowledge.

Q: The knowledge, skills, and abilities of employees are examples of structural capital.

Q: Intellectual capital includes, among other things, the knowledge captured in an organization's systems and structures.

Q: Organizations that have high employee turnover will be better able to retain intellectual capital within the organization.

Q: The organizational learning perspective is focused on physical resources that enter and are processed in the organization.

Q: The open systems perspective emphasizes that organizations survive by adapting to changes in the external environment.

Q: The best organizational practices are those built on the notion that organizations are closed systems.

Q: According to the open systems perspective, most organizations have one working part rather than many sub-components.

Q: Open systems cannot exist without dependence on an external environment, whereas closed systems can exist without dependence on an external environment.

Q: The best yardstick of organizational effectiveness is a composite of four perspectives: open systems, organizational learning, high-performance work practices, and stakeholders.

Q: The best indicator of a company's effectiveness is how well it achieves its stated objectives.

Q: A company's success is only mildly influenced by the quality of its CEO.

Q: Investment portfolio studies suggest that specific OB characteristics are important "positive screens" for selecting companies with the best long-term share appreciation.

Q: OB knowledge is beneficial not only to an individual, but also to an organization's financial health.

Q: Organizational behavior knowledge is strictly for managers, not for working level employees.

Q: The greatest value of OB knowledge is that it helps us to get things done in the workplace.

Q: Until the 1930s, most organizational research and practice tried to improve work efficiency by changing working conditions and job duties. Employee thoughts and feelings were ignored and usually considered irrelevant.

Q: The "human relations" school of management emphasized the study of employee attitudes and informal group dynamics in the workplace.

Q: German sociologist Max Weber wrote about rational organizations and systematic ways to organize work processes and motivate employees through goal setting and rewards.

Q: Organizational behavior emerged as a distinct field around the 1940s. Before that, organizations had not been studied at all.

Q: All organizations have a collective sense of purpose, whether it's producing oil or creating the fastest Internet search engine.

Q: In order for something to be called an organization, it must have certain assets such as buildings and equipment.

Q: Studying OB at multiple levels is not recommended as it could lead to perceptual errors.

Q: Organizational behavior encompasses the study of how organizations interact with their external environments.

Q: Three challenges organizations are facing include globalization, increasing workforce diversity, and emerging employment relationships.

Q: Workplace bullying is a problem because a. it violates the Civil Rights Act. b. it is increasing. c. the majority of people who are bullied file lawsuits. d. recent high profile cases have called attention to this issue.

Q: Why do organizations take the time and make the effort to apply for diversity awards? a. The publicity from these awards help to retain diverse employees. b. The recognition may help to attract customers and diverse employees. c. These awards make an organizations diversity programs more visible. d. All of the above are reasons that organizations apply for diversity award recognition.

Q: In terms of the credibility of diversity awards, _______________ is the most important factor in selecting credible winners. a. transparency, i.e., the openness of the selection process b. subjectivity c. the number of awards given in each category d. knowing the identity of the organization

Q: In terms of mature workers, which of the following trends is false? a. This age group is healthier and more active than previous generations. b. Most no longer receive company paid pensions. c. In 2012, 50% of the workforce age 65 and older was employed or seeking work. d. They are retiring earlier than previous generations.

Q: In the U.S., the Family Medical Leave Act stipulates that organizations must provide a. paid time off for mothers when they give birth. b. unpaid time off for mothers when they give birth. c. paid time off for fathers when their wives/partners give birth. d. paid time off when parents adopt.

Q: Which of the following statements about supplier diversity programs is false? a. The best programs require certification of ownership by external agencies. b. These programs can provide inroads to new diverse markets. c. They are no longer needed because so many women and minorities now own their own businesses. d. They can provide entrepreneurship opportunities for small businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities that would not otherwise be available to them.

Q: The most effective diversity training programs include a. voluntary participation. b. a tie to organizational strategy. c. active learning experiences. d. All of the above.

Q: What makes an ERG (employee resource group) more of a business advantage than an affinity group? a. ERGs can benefit both the diverse employees and the organization. b. Affinity group membership is limited just to females and employees of color. c. Affinity group membership often leads to civil rights lawsuits. d. Affinity groups do not allow managers to join.

Q: Diversifying corporate boards a. always leads to better decision making. b. has made better progress in the U.S than in any other country. c. just requires adding a few women and minorities to the board. d. can lead to conflict and gridlock if not properly managed.

Q: Effective organizational diversity leadership needs to include all of the following elements. According to research, which is most important? a. Sufficient financial and human resources b. CEO, corporate and board leadership c. Making change visible d. Evaluation of results

Q: If trying to penetrate the LGBT market to take advantage of its higher disposable income, which of the following is a good strategy to adopt? a. In terms of developing a promotional campaign, it is not necessary to think of the LGBT market as any different from other groups. b. Do not develop special promotions or special media that appeal to specifically to LGBTs. They will find this insulting. c. Support gay community events. d. Limit your promotional expenses because there are few media specific to the LGBT market.

Q: If you are trying to sell a clothing line to mature consumers, which of the following should you avoid in your promotional messages? a. Telling them that this is new and that they should be trend setters b. Trying to appeal to their sense of brand loyalty c. Making the message simple and direct d. Promoting the value of your product

Q: In the article, New Business Opportunities: Changing Consumer Markets (Allard), which of the following presents viable growth opportunities for businesses? a. The high level of education of Asian Americans b. The rising purchasing power of Black Americans c. The increasing numbers of Hispanics d. All of the above

Q: According to the Allard article on the relationship of diversity to the media, which of the following statements is false? a. In 2013 less than 30% of Americans over 65 years of age regularly used the Internet. b. In less developed countries, the cell phone has become the primary means of communication. c. Social media such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs, are used by corporations to promote their products and services. d. Social class and socio-economic status are related to ones media usage.

Q: One of the major differences for American organizations that operate in Canada is that b. the Canadian federal government has less power than the provincial and territorial governments, which is different from the U.S. where major diversity legislation is federal. c. there is little legal protection for the rights of people with physical challenges. d. All of the above

Q: The Canadian Human Rights Act and other Canadian equity legislation apply to all except which of the following groups? a. women b. visible minorities c. Blacks d. Aboriginal peoples

Q: The Canadian Human Rights Act a. includes legal protection for sexual orientation. b. requires comparable worth (or pay equity) for males and females in occupations of equal difficulty. c. only applies to industries that are federally regulated. d. All of the above

Q: Which of the following actions demonstrates the caring theory of ethical management? a. An owner or manager allowsemployees paid time off to work in a charity of their choice. b. Instead of an annual bonus, the owner donates money to his favorite charity in the name of the employees. c. When planning who to layoff, the manger selects people who have a working spouse. d. An owner or manager gives a raise to a valuable employee who threatens to leave the company.

Q: Deontological ethical theories say that a manager should diversify the workforce because a. it is a legal obligation. b. it is demanded by the public. c. it is the right thing to do. d. it will produce greater profits.

Q: According to the resource-theory of the firm discussed in McNetts article The Ethics of Workplace Diversity, the main reason for an organization to have a more diverse workforce would be a. to avoid lawsuits. b. to attract the best and most diverse talent that can become a competitive advantage in diverse markets. c. to satisfy the requirements of the Human Resources Department. d. to manage in an ethical socially responsible manner.

Q: It is estimated that the discrimination against overweight people in the workforce a. is illegal in the U.S. under federal EEO legislation. b. is minor compared to discrimination for age or race. c. exceeds discrimination for any other characteristic such as age or race. d. is on the decline.

Q: In terms of workers dress and appearance in the U.S., a. dress codes are illegal because of the Equal Employment laws. b. employers under some circumstances, can legally hire for certain characteristics such as gender if there are legitimate BFOQs (bona fide occupational qualifications c. certain provisions of appearance codes such as prohibiting facial hair on men, can sometimes be considered religious discrimination. d. b & c

Q: According to the Allard article, Appearance and Weight, which of the following statements is true? a. Because of federal laws, a qualified job applicant cannot be refused employment because the hiring manager has a negative stereotype about the persons height or weight. b. Attractive women tend to have an advantage at lower level jobs but not as much of an advantage at the corporate level or in the professions. c. Weight and wages are not related to each other. d. Standards of physical beauty have remained constant over time and cultures.

Q: Which of the following statements is true about women in the U. S. military? a. Male bonding or hegemonic masculinity is still a problem for women in the military. b. Because it is part of the government, sexual harassment is not as prevalent in the military as it is the civilian workforce. c. As of 2014, all women in the military were volunteers. d. All of the above s

Q: Today women comprise what percentage of the U. S. military? a. 11.5% b. 2% c. 16% d. 22%

Q: Which of the following behaviors is more apt to be characteristic of a high context culture? a. Bragging about ones accomplishments b. Directly asking for something c. Being silent for a while or attentively listening before responding d. Thinking of what to say while the other person is speaking, in order to respond quickly.

Q: According to the Ruxton and Harvey article, Understanding Intercultural Communication, which of the following reasons is not a valid argument for the need to develop more flexible inter-cultural communication patterns? a. Today, more organizations conduct international business over the phone and/or over the Internet. b. English is the language of business. c. All members of any specific culture do not necessarily share the same communication styles or patterns. d. Being a skilled inter-cultural communicator can make an employee more valuable to an organization.

Q: Which of the following is an example of religious discrimination in the workplace? a. Providing required training for managers and supervisors about the practices and requirements of various religions. b. Being flexible about work schedules c. Doing nothing about a Jewish employees complaints about another employee telling anti- Semitic jokes in the office. d. Asking a Muslim employee to cover the phones on Christmas.

Q: In the U.S., religion matters at work because a. some religious celebrations and practices may conflict with traditional work schedules and practices. b. freedom of religion is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. c. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires reasonable accommodation for workers religious practices in the workplace. d. All of the above.

Q: According to the Fahy article on social class, which of the following statements is true? a. Most Americans incorrectly believe that significant upward mobility in terms of social class is quite doable. b. In the U.S., because of free public education and low cost state and community colleges, being born into a lower social class is no longer a barrier to achieving a college education. c. Federal programs for affordable housing have made home ownership very affordable for all classes. d. There is little relationship between race or gender and ones social class.

Q: Today in the U.S., some LGBT workers may feel that they cannot be open about their sexual orientation at work because a. as of 2014, there are still no federal laws that protect workplace discrimination because of sexual orientation. b. they realize that some people still discriminate against LGBTs. c. there have been high profile cases of bullying of LGBTs. d. All of the above.

Q: Of the following countries, which has the most progressive laws for LGBT rights? a. China b. Canada c. United States d. Ghana

Q: The LGBT population in the United States a. constitutes about 3% of the total population. b. is growing rapidly because of the positive LGBT role models in the media. c. has less disposable income than the straight population due to discrimination. d. experiences mixed messages from society about workplace equity.

Q: According to the Farough article, which of the following defines democratic manhood? a. Male and female roles being less rigid and more flexible. b. More men than women are Democrats. c. Men make most of the major decisions at work. d. Only men can help women break through the glass ceiling.

Q: Which of the following is not an advantage of dominant masculinity? a. Men have better health than women. b. Men have more role models and access to networking opportunities. c. Men experience less workplace discrimination than women. d. Society tends to see successful mangers and politicians more as being male than female.

Q: According to the Farough article, the term, dominant masculinity means that a. men dominate most conversations. b. men are more successful in business. c. there are cultural norms such as not being emotional and taking risks that constitute acceptable male behavior in our society. d. males dominate all professions.

Q: Which of the following statements about work-life balance is true? a. Today, childcare and household duties are split quite evenly between both parents. b. In the U. S., The Family Medical Leave Act requires that any employer with over 100 employees must grant a six week paid maternity leave to new mothers. c. Approximately 50% of the top women executives in the U.S. do not have children. d. Approximately 40% of the families with children in the U.S. have a working father and a stay at home mother.

Q: Women may have a harder time than men finding a good mentor because a. some highly placed women dont feel obligated to help other women succeed. b. it is well known that women dont work well together. c. managers usually prefer to mentor male employees because they understand business better than females. d. the glass ceiling is a myth.

Q: According to the Harvey and Larsen article, Exploring the Gender Gap, which of the following factors does not account for the fact that women still earn less than men in the workplace? a. Vertical segregation b. Horizontal segregation c. Partriachial attitudes d. Today, fewer women graduate from college than men.

Q: Age cohorts are important to understand because a. as the workforce ages, each cohort becomes more like the generation that preceded it. b. one of the advantages of the baby boomers working longer is that ,as a cohort, they tend to deal very well with conflict. c. members of each age cohort, such as Gen X, have a tendency to have somewhat similar attitudes about technology, work-life balance, etc., that differ from other age cohorts. d. age differences are not a significant factor in managing todays workforce.

Q: Referring to the Allard article on Immigration Patterns: The Transition Process, which of the following statements is not true? a. Immigrants can contribute to the U. S. economy because some can fill jobs for which there are not enough qualified Americans, such as in medicine and science. b. Today, few immigrants to the U.S. experience some form of discrimination. c. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 levies fines and even jail time on employers who repeatedly hire illegal workers. d. In 2010, it is estimated that undocumented immigrants in the U.S. paid $11.2 billion in federal, state and local taxes.

Q: According to the McNickles article, which of the following institutions still have significant racial disparities? a. Education b. Healthcare c. The legal system d. All of the above

Q: The McNickles article, Since We Elected an African American President Twice, explains that a. there is still considerable racism in the U.S. b. that Obamas elections are examples of the end of racism as we know it. c. that whites and African-Americans now have very similar perceptions about racism and race relations. d. All of the above

Q: According to the Dunlap article, one reason that white Euro-Americans have trouble understanding that they have an advantage is _______________________________________________________ a. that there are now more people of color in the U.S. than white people. b. people of color always get preferential treatment in being hired for jobs. c. that being white is such a norm and unearned privilege that they take it for granted. ot it . d. that they often have friends of color.

Q: There are several models of racial identity development in the Dunlap article. In the first stage, which of the following is least apt to happen? a. People are oblivious to the differences of race. b. People fight racial oppression. c. People discriminate towards others. d. People pretend that race does not matter.

Q: According to the Dunlap article, Thriving in a Multicultural Classroom, which of the following statements are false? a. There is an emotional element to studying about diversity. b. Everyone, regardless of race, goes through the same process in terms of racial identity development. c. People of mixed-racial heritage usually experience fewer issues with their racial identity development process. d. both b & c

Q: Primary dimensions of diversity tend to be a. more fixed. b. more central to a persons self-identity. c. more changeable. d. both a & b.

Q: If you are a middle-aged female and a person of color, in terms of diversity, these three dimensions illustrate what is known as your ___________________. a. multiple identities b. legacy c. advantages d. description

Q: Jacob is a male, follows the Jewish religion and has four children. He considers his role as a single divorced father to be the most central to who he is as a person. So, in this case being a parent is ____________________ his identity. a. salient to b. a primary dimension of c. a privilege resulting from d. prejudicial because of