Exam 1

Question 1

Characteristics of bureaucracy

Answer 1

• division of labour with high level of technical specialization
• a strict chain of command
• a system of formal rules and procedures
• decision making at the top of the organization

Question 2

Classic vs. Human relations theorists

Answer 2

• classic: views problems as job design flaws, failure to follow specified process, inadequate working conditions, or deficient structural characteristics
• human relations: views problems as worker alienation, failure to satisfy personal needs/goals, low organizational commitment, or workgroup norms encouraging low performance

Question 3

What are the 2 primary outcomes in studies of OB?

Answer 3

Job performance and organizational commitment

Question 4

What factors affect the 2 primary OB outcome?

Answer 4

• individual characteristics and mechanisms (personality, cultural values, & ability, job satisfaction, stress, motivation, trust, justice & ethics, and learning & decision making)
• relational mechanisms (communication, team characteristics & processes, power, influence, & negotiation, and leadership styles & behaviours)
• organizational mechanisms (organizational structure, and organizational culture & change)

Question 5

3 things that are inimitable

Answer 5

• history
• numerous small decisions
• socially complex resources

Question 6

“Good performer”

Answer 6

• task performance
• citizenship behaviour
• counterproductive behaviour

Question 7

Types of task performances

Answer 7

Routine, adaptive, and creative task performance

Question 8

3 steps to conduct a job analysis

Answer 8

1. Make a list of all activities involved in the job (from observations, surveys, interviews, etc.)
2. Each activity is rated by subject-matter experts according to importance & frequency of the activity
3. Activities rated highly are retained and used to define task performance

Question 9

Examples of interpersonal and organizational citizenship behaviour

Answer 9

Interpersonal: helping, courtesy, sportsmanship
Organizational: voice, civic virtue, and boosterism

Question 10

Types of counterproductive behaviours & examples

Answer 10

• production deviance (organizational, minor): wasting resources, substance abuse
• property deviance (organizational, major): sabotage, theft
• political deviance (interpersonal, minor): gossiping, inactivity
• personal aggression (interpersonal, major): harassment, abuse

Question 11

Ways organizations can use job performance info to manage employee performance

Answer 11

BMO, BARS, 360-degree feedback, and forced ranking

Question 12

What are the 3 forms of organizational commitment? What would you feel if you left based on these commitments?

Answer 12

Affective commitment (sadness), continuance commitment (anxiety), normative commitment (guilt)

Question 13

What are the 4 primary responses to negative events at work?

Answer 13

Exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect

Question 14

Examples of psychological & physical withdraw

Answer 14

Psychological: daydreaming, socializing, looking busy, moonlighting, cyberloafing
Physical: tardiness, long breaks, missing meetings, absenteeism, quitting

Question 15

Models of how withdrawal behaviours relate

Answer 15

• independent forms model
• compensatory forms model
• progression model

Question 16

What workplace trends are affecting organizational commitment in today’s organizations?

Answer 16

• diversity of the workforce (race, sex, age, nationality)

- the changing employee-employer relationship

Question 17

Types of psychological contracts

Answer 17

• transactional contracts

- relational contracts