Exam 2: Organizational Culture and the Organizational Environment

D&B Designs has been in the landscape design business in Pleasantville for the past 20 years. As the "first mover" in the market, the company has built a strong market share over the years and is the best-known firm in the area. The company strength increased steadily, and now stands at 50 employees. Which of the following, if true, would make the company's business environment more uncertain?

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Environmental Uncertainty (Scenario) It is safe to say that managers do not have complete control over organizational outcomes; the environment has a significant impact. It is important for managers to learn both what the components of the environment are and how the environment will affect their organizations. -An online brokerage company such as E*TRADE that is dealing with many environmental components and requires a high level of knowledge about Internet operations is operating in a highly __________ environment.

A dynamic environment is characterized by the absence of new competitors, few technological breakthroughs by current competitors, and little activity by pressure groups to influence the organization.

Which of the following most accurately reflects the symbolic view of management?

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Environmental Uncertainty (Scenario) It is safe to say that managers do not have complete control over organizational outcomes; the environment has a significant impact. It is important for managers to learn both what the components of the environment are and how the environment will affect their organizations. -An Internet-based company facing many new competitors and frequent technological breakthroughs is operating in what kind of environment?

Most organizations have __________ cultures.

The External Environment (Scenario) DigiTech Corporation is a manufacturer of handheld language translation devices. There are many forces in the external environment that influence DigiTech, and its managers are monitoring them closely. One factor is the upcoming federal election. If elected, the leading political candidate has promised to cut corporate taxes to help stimulate the economy. Another factor is the emergence of new competitors with products similar to DigiTech's best-selling model: the Speak-Easy. Advances in the processing speed of computer chips have shortened product development cycles and made it easier for new companies to enter the market. Unfortunately, the recent increase in competition has led to supplier shortages of key components such as microphones and micro-speakers and has left DigiTech scrambling to find new sources! -The external environment of DigiTech consists of which two components?

The shared aspect of culture implies that all employees in an organization approve of the culture.

The size of offices, the elegance of furnishings, and executive perks such as health club memberships are all examples of __________.

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Manifestations of Culture (Scenario) Jacob is vice-president of human resources at Z-Mart, a large chain of department stores with 120 locations across Canada. He is developing a short orientation video to help new employees learn about the organization's culture. The video will begin with the story of Z-Mart's founder, Ziggy Zigwig, and how he started the company with one small store in Hamilton in 1960 and eventually built it into a national chain based on a simple philosophy: "cheaper is better." Today, Ziggy's founding values continue to guide employees and managers as they continually look for ways to reduce prices and pass the savings along to customers. Next, the video will discuss the daily Z-Mart chant, and how each morning the store managers lead all the employees in a rousing store anthem that ends with everyone shouting, "CHEAPER IS BETTER! " The chant usually takes place in the comfortable employee lounges located at the back of every store. Finally, the video will explain some of the key terminology used at Z-Mart. For example, all sales clerks are called "associates," managers are called "partners," and a price reduction is affectionately called a "ziggy" as a nod to the company's founder! -The comfortable employee lounges in each store are examples of __________.

An increasing body of evidence suggests that strong cultures are associated with high organizational performance.

__________ are any constituencies in the organization's external environment that are affected by the organization's decisions and actions.

In "aggressive" cultures, employees exhibit competitiveness.

For most organizations, the most rapidly changing factor has been __________ conditions.

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Changing Organizational Culture (Scenario) Jenna has been asked by the company president to change the organizational culture to reflect the company's new organizational goals. As executive vice-president, she certainly understands the goals but is really not sure that she understands what to do about the culture. -Jenna observed that some departments have developed their own way of doing things based on the shared values and common situations experienced by their members. She has found evidence of __________ in the organization.

Strong cultures __________.

Which of the following dimensions of organizational culture refers to the degree to which organizational decisions and actions emphasize maintaining the status quo?

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Manifestations of Culture (Scenario) Jacob is vice-president of human resources at Z-Mart, a large chain of department stores with 120 locations across Canada. He is developing a short orientation video to help new employees learn about the organization's culture. The video will begin with the story of Z-Mart's founder, Ziggy Zigwig, and how he started the company with one small store in Hamilton in 1960 and eventually built it into a national chain based on a simple philosophy: "cheaper is better." Today, Ziggy's founding values continue to guide employees and managers as they continually look for ways to reduce prices and pass the savings along to customers. Next, the video will discuss the daily Z-Mart chant, and how each morning the store managers lead all the employees in a rousing store anthem that ends with everyone shouting, "CHEAPER IS BETTER! " The chant usually takes place in the comfortable employee lounges located at the back of every store. Finally, the video will explain some of the key terminology used at Z-Mart. For example, all sales clerks are called "associates," managers are called "partners," and a price reduction is affectionately called a "ziggy" as a nod to the company's founder! -Calling a price reduction a "ziggy" is an example of __________.

A degree of playfulness and a sense of humour are often characteristics of innovative cultures.

Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions. Manifestations of Culture (Scenario) Jacob is vice-president of human resources at Z-Mart, a large chain of department stores with 120 locations across Canada. He is developing a short orientation video to help new employees learn about the organization's culture. The video will begin with the story of Z-Mart's founder, Ziggy Zigwig, and how he started the company with one small store in Hamilton in 1960 and eventually built it into a national chain based on a simple philosophy: "cheaper is better." Today, Ziggy's founding values continue to guide employees and managers as they continually look for ways to reduce prices and pass the savings along to customers. Next, the video will discuss the daily Z-Mart chant, and how each morning the store managers lead all the employees in a rousing store anthem that ends with everyone shouting, "CHEAPER IS BETTER! " The chant usually takes place in the comfortable employee lounges located at the back of every store. Finally, the video will explain some of the key terminology used at Z-Mart. For example, all sales clerks are called "associates," managers are called "partners," and a price reduction is affectionately called a "ziggy" as a nod to the company's founder! -The part of the orientation video that introduces Ziggy and describes his founding philosophy is an example of a(n) __________.