Question: During a diversity management session, a manager

> Under what conditions, if any, do you think it is appropriate to use email to notify an employee that he or she has been laid off or fired? Why is email usually considered an inappropriate channel to convey this information?

> Wikis are collaborative websites where anyone in the group can post, edit, or delete any information. Where might this communication technology be most useful in organizations?

> Senior management at a consumer goods company wants you to investigate the feasibility of using a virtual reality platform (such as Second Life) for monthly online meetings involving its three dozen sales managers, located in several cities and countries

> “An organization comes into being when people can communicate with each other.” Discuss the benefits and limitations of communicating with emails among team members.

> You have been hired as a consultant to improve communication between engineering and marketing staff in a large high-technology company. Use the communication model and the four ways to improve that process to devise strategies to improve communication e

> The chief marketing officer of Sawgrass Widgets wants marketing and sales staff to identify new uses for its products. Which of the four team structures for creative decision making would you recommend? Describe and justify this process to Sawgrass’s chi

> You are responsible for convening a major event in which senior officials from several state governments will try to come to an agreement on environmental issues. It is well known that some officials take positions to make themselves appear superior, whe

> Suppose you are put in charge of a virtual team whose members are located in different cities around the world. What tactics could you use to build and maintain team trust and performance, as well as minimize the decline in trust and performance that oft

> The Regency Grand Hotel is a five-star hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. The hotel was established 15 years ago by a local consortium of investors and has been operated by a Thai general manager throughout this time. The hotel is one of Bangkok’s most prestigi

> You have been assigned to a class project with five other students, none of whom you have met before, and some of whom come from different countries. To what extent would team cohesion improve your team’s performance on this project? What actions would y

> A software engineer in the United States needs to coordinate with four team members in geographically dispersed areas of the world. What team challenges might the team experience, and how will they affect the team design elements?

> You have just been transferred from the Kansas office to the Denver office of your company, a national sales organization of electrical products for developers and contractors. In Kansas, team members regularly called customers after a sale to ask whethe

> You have been put in charge of a cross-functional task force that will develop enhanced Internet banking services for retail customers. The team includes representatives from marketing, information services, customer service, and accounting, all of whom

> The late management guru Peter Drucker once said: “The now-fashionable team in which everybody works with everybody on everything from the beginning rapidly is becoming a disappointment.” Discuss three problems associated with teams.

> Employee involvement applies just as well to the classroom as to the office or factory floor. Explain how student involvement in classroom decisions typically made by the instructor alone might improve decision quality. What potential problems may occur

> Two characteristics of creative people are that they have relevant experience and are persistent in their quest. Does this mean that people with the most experience and the highest need for achievement are the most creative? Explain your answer.

> A fresh graduate is offered a job by an employer she admires even before she can start her job search. The student thinks it is an opportunity and jumps to it. Do you think there is an effect of emotions in her decision making?

> Ancient Book Company has a problem with new book projects. Even when others are aware that a book is far behind schedule and may engender little public interest, sponsoring editors are reluctant to terminate contracts with authors whom they have signed.

> A developer received financial backing for a new business financial center along a derelict section of the waterfront, a few miles from the current downtown area of a large European city. The idea was to build several high-rise structures, attract large

> Thomas Chan hung up the telephone and sighed. The vice president of software engineering at Advanced Photonics Inc. (API) had just spoken to Suzanne Chalmers, who called to arrange a meeting with Chan later that day. She didn’t say what the meeting was a

> Intuition is both an emotional experience and a nonconscious analytic process. One problem, however, is that not all emotions signaling that there is a problem or opportunity represent intuition. Explain how we would know if our “gut feelings” are intuit

> You have been asked to personally recommend a new travel agency to handle all airfare, accommodation, and related travel needs for your organization of 500 staff. One of your colleagues, who is responsible for the company’s economic planning, suggests th

> A management consultant is hired by a manufacturing firm to determine the best site for its next production facility. The consultant has had several meetings with the company’s senior executives regarding the factors to consider when making the recommend

> Can self-leadership replace formal leadership in an organizational setting?

> Describe a time when you practiced self-leadership to perform a task successfully. With reference to each step in the self-leadership process, describe what you did to achieve this success.

> Can a manager or supervisor “empower” an employee? Discuss fully.

> Most of us have watched pizzas being made while waiting in a pizzeria. What level of job specialization do you usually notice in these operations? Why does this high or low level of specialization exist? If some pizzerias have different levels of special

> What can organizations do to increase the effectiveness of financial rewards?

> Waco Tire Corporation redesigned its production facilities around a team-based system. However, the company president believes that employees will not be motivated unless they receive incentives based on their individual performance. Give three reasons w

> Which of the performance reward practices—individual, team, or organizational—would work better in improving organizational goals? Please comment with reference to an organization of your choice.

> Gil Reihana was the chief executive officer of X-Stream, a company he launched in Auckland, New Zealand, six years ago at the age of 25, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in information technology and management. He had inherited $300,000 and had

> As a consultant, you have been asked to recommend either a gainsharing plan or a profit-sharing plan for employees who work in the four regional distribution and warehousing facilities of a large retail organization. Which reward system would you recomme

> A large organization has hired you as a consultant to identify day-to-day activities for middle managers to minimize distributive and procedural injustice. The company explains that employees have complained about distributive injustice because they have

> Most people think they are “worth more” than they are paid. Furthermore, most employees seem to feel that they exhibit better leadership skills and interpersonal skills than others. Please comment on this human tendency.

> Using your knowledge of the characteristics of effective goals, establish two meaningful goals related to your performance in this class.

> You just closed a deal with an organizational client, and this helps you achieve the target that was set for you by the unit. Use expectancy theory to discuss how the events that will follow may increase your motivation and engagement.

> Everyone who works as an electronic game developer has extrinsic sources of motivation, and most of them also experience some degree of intrinsic motivation. Considering the dynamics of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, what should companies in this in

> Learned needs theory states that needs can be strengthened or weakened. How might a company strengthen the achievement needs of its management team?

> Four-drive theory is conceptually different from Maslow’s needs hierarchy in several ways. Describe these differences. At the same time, needs are based on drives, so the four drives should parallel the seven needs that Maslow identified (five in the hie

> A senior official of a labor union stated: “All stress management does is help people cope with poor management. Employers should really be into stress reduction.” Discuss the accuracy of this statement.

> Two college graduates recently joined the same major newspaper as journalists. Both work long hours and have tight deadlines for completing their stories. They are under constant pressure to scout out new leads and be the first to report new controversie

> In 1904, Ransom E. Olds founded REO Motor Car Company in Lansing, Michigan. He also launched several subsidiaries— Atlas Drop Forge Company, National Coil Company, and Michigan Screw Company, among others—to ensure a reliable supply of parts for REO’s ma

> In this chapter, we highlighted work-related stressors, including organizational constraints (e.g. lack of resources), interpersonal conflict (including harassment), work overload, and low task control. Of course, there are many non-work-related stressor

> Job satisfaction leads to increased job performance. This statement has supplanted earlier thought on how job performance doesn’t necessarily depend on job satisfaction. What has caused the shift in thought over the years, and do you agree with this asse

> It has almost become a mandatory practice for companies to ensure that employees have fun at work. Many workplaces now have fully-stocked lounges, game rooms, funky painted walls, and regular social events. A few even have a slide to travel down to the n

> Recall a traumatic personal event, such as losing a loved one due to an accident or illness, receiving a rejection for an important job or school application, or failing an important assignment. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, discuss wha

> “Emotional intelligence is more important than cognitive intelligence in influencing an individual’s success.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your perspective.

> Self-awareness is increasingly recognized as an important ingredient for effective leadership. Suppose that you are responsible for creating a leadership development program in a government organization. What activities or processes would you introduce t

> Describe how a manager or coach could use the process of self-fulfilling prophecy to enhance an individual’s performance.

> Several years ago, senior executives at energy company CanOil wanted to acquire an exploration company (HBOG) that was owned by another energy company, AmOil. Rather than face a hostile takeover and unfavorable tax implications, CanOil’s two top executiv

> Imagine a situation of conflict between you and your boss. Discuss how understanding the elements of self- concept, its complexity, consistency, and clarity may be useful in such a situation.

> A young student from the United States is interested in doing international business across China, India, Brazil, and Russia. Discuss how the knowledge of OB can be useful to the student.

> You are manager of a district that has just hired several recent university and college graduates. Most of these people are starting their first full-time job, though most of them have held part-time and summer positions in the past. They have general kn

> People in a particular South American country have high power distance and high collectivism. What does this mean, and what are the implications of this information when you (a senior executive) visit employees working for your company in that country?

> The organization for which you have been working for five years is suffering from a global recession. In response, it changes your compensation structure. Discuss the role of moral intensity, moral sensitivity, and situational influences in this context.

> “All decisions are ethical decisions.” Comment on this statement, particularly by referring to the concepts of moral intensity and moral sensitivity.

> This chapter discussed values congruence mostly in the context of an employee’s personal values versus the organization’s values. But values congruence also relates to the juxtaposition of other pairs of value systems. Explain how values congruence is re

> TransAct Insurance Corporation (TIC) provides automobile insurance throughout the southeastern United States. Last year, a new president was hired by TIC’s board of directors to improve the company’s competitiveness and customer service. After spending s

> Twenty years ago, Hillton was a small city (about 70,000 residents) that served as an outer suburb to a large metropolitan city. Hillton treated city employees like family and gave them a great deal of autonomy in their work. Everyone in the organization

> In 1979, Larry and Bobbie Merritt bought The Cake Box, a small business located in a tiny 450-foot store in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The couple were the only employees. “I would make cakes and Bobbie would come in and decorate them,” Larry recalls. Bobbie Merrit

> For Gilbert LaCrosse, there is nothing quite as beautiful as a handcrafted wood-framed window. LaCrosse’s passion for windows goes back to his youth in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he learned how to make residential windows from an elderly carpenter. He

> Six months ago, Elaine began working at the retail outlet of a local cellular/mobile telecommunication company. Her main role was to help potential customers with queries on products and plans, or existing customers with questions or problems relating to

> Frank Choy is normally a quiet person, but his patience has already been worn thin by interdepartmental battles. Choy joined Resonus Corporation, a hearing aid designer and manufacturer, eight months ago as director of engineering. Production of the late

> Compare and contrast personality with personal values, and identify values categories in Schwartz’s values circumplex that likely relate to one or more personality dimensions in the five-factor personality model.

> Exhausted by the day’s events, Sarah slumped into the chair at her desk. She was feeling very frustrated, and sensed things were starting to fall apart. Silver Lines was such a successful business and they had such an effective team, but things were not

> Conifer Corp. is a sawmill operation in Oregon that is owned by a major forest products company but operates independently of the parent company. It was built 30 years ago and completely updated with new machinery five years ago. Conifer receives raw l

> Scenario 1: The Productivity Dividend Decision As head of the transmission/distribution group (TD group) in the city’s water agency (a government corporation), you have been asked to reduce costs over the next year by a minimum of 3 percent without under

> YakkaTech, Inc. is an information technology services firm employing 1,500 people throughout Washington and Oregon. YakkaTech has a consulting division, which mainly installs and upgrades enterprise software systems and related hardware on the client’s s

> Cincinnati Super Subs is one of the larger Super Subs outlets, a chain of 300 take-away restaurants in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. This outlet has a restaurant manager, an assistant manager, and several part-time team leaders. The restaurant manager rar

> Read the following interview case. Then, calculate whether Harry will engage in high or “just acceptable” performance effort under the conditions described. Valence scores range from −1.0 to +1.0. All expectancies are probabilities ranging from 0 (no cha

> Diana Gillen had an uneasy feeling of apprehension as she arrived at the Cobb Street Grille corporate offices. Today she was meeting with her supervisor, Julie Spencer, and regional director, Tom Miner, to learn the outcome of her promotion interview for

> Syd Gilman read the latest sales figures with a great deal of satisfaction. The vice president of marketing at Hy Dairies, Inc., a large midwestern milk products manufacturer, was pleased to see that the marketing campaign to improve sagging sales of Hy’

> Bribery of foreign public officials, conspiracy to commit fraud and forgery, money laundering, possessing property obtained by crime, and attempts to secretly smuggle the son of a former dictator into safer countries. Sounds like the plot of a twisted

> Paul Sims was delighted when Ancol Corp. offered him the job of manager at its Lexington, Kentucky, plant. Sims was happy enough managing a small metal stamping plant with another company, but the invitation to apply for the plant manager job at one of t

> All candidates applying for a management trainee position are given a personality test that measures the five dimensions in the five-factor model. Which personality traits would you consider most important for this type of job? Explain your answer.

> It has been said that all employees are motivated. Do you agree with this statement?

> A federal government department has high levels of absenteeism among the office staff. The head of office administration argues that employees are misusing the company’s sick leave benefits. However, some of the mostly female staff members have explained

> Corporate social responsibility is one of the hottest issues in corporate boardrooms these days, partly because it is becoming increasingly important to employees and other stakeholders. In your opinion, why have stakeholders given CSR more attention rec

> A common refrain among executives is “People are our most important asset.” Relate this statement to any two of the four perspectives of organizational effectiveness presented in this chapter. Does this statement apply better to some perspectives than to

> After hearing a seminar on organizational learning, a mining company executive argues that this perspective is relevant to software and other knowledge businesses, but it ignores the fact that mining companies cannot rely on knowledge alone to stay in bu

> “Organizational theories should follow the contingency approach.” Comment on the accuracy of this statement.

> What does evidence-based management mean? Describe situations you have heard about in which companies have practiced evidence-based management, as well as situations in which companies have relied on fads that lacked sufficient evidence of their worth.

> Look through the list of chapters in this textbook, and discuss how globalization could influence each organizational behavior topic.

> A friend suggests that organizational behavior courses are useful only to people who will enter management careers. Discuss the accuracy of your friend’s statement.

> Suppose that you are vice president of branch services at the Bank of East Lansing. You notice that several branches have consistently low customer service ratings, even though there are no apparent differences in resources or staff characteristics. Desc

> Studies report that heredity has a strong influence on an individual’s personality. What are the implications of this influence in organizational settings?

> What is the role of formal and informal networks in organizations interested in undergoing change?

> Web Circuits is a Malaysian-based custom manufacturer for high-technology companies. Senior management wants to introduce lean management practices to reduce production costs and remain competitive. A consultant has recommended that the company start wit

> Discuss the role of reward systems in organizational change. Specifically, identify where reward systems relate to Lewin’s force field model and where they undermine the organizational change process.

> Senior management of a large multinational corporation is planning to restructure the organization. Currently, the organization is decentralized around geographic areas so that the executive responsible for each area has considerable autonomy over manufa

> Employee resistance is a symptom, not a problem, in the change process. What are some of the real problems that may underlie employee resistance?

> Use Lewin’s force field analysis to describe the dynamics of organizational change at Zenefits. The case study at the beginning of this chapter provides some information, but think about other forces for and against change beyond the information provided

> Chances are that the school you are attending is currently undergoing some sort of change to adapt more closely with its environment. Discuss the external forces that are driving the change. What internal drivers for change also exist?

> In Chapter 2, we discussed “values across cultures,” including individualism, collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and achievement orientation. How are these national cultures different from and similar to an organization’s culture?

> Is it possible to have a knowledge of what an organizational culture is before you become a part of the organization? How important is it for you to align yourself with your organizational culture?

> Suppose you are asked by senior officers of a city government to identify ways to reinforce a new culture of teamwork and collaboration. The senior executive group clearly supports these values, but it wants everyone in the organization to embrace them.

> Vêtements Ltée is a chain of men’s retail clothing stores located throughout the province of Quebec, Canada. Two years ago, the company introduced new incentive systems for both store managers and sales employees. Store managers receive a salary with ann

> “Organizations are more likely to succeed when they have an adaptive culture.” What can an organization do to foster an adaptive culture?

> Identify at least two artifacts you have observed in your department or school from each of the four broad categories: (a) organizational stories and legends, (b) rituals and ceremonies, (c) language, (d) physical structures and symbols.

> The CEO of a manufacturing firm wants everyone to support the organization’s dominant culture of lean efficiency and hard work. The CEO has introduced a new reward system to reinforce this culture and personally interviews all professional and managerial