Exam 12: Managing Innovation and Change

Which phenomenon in today's business climate has made the "white-water rapids" metaphor popular?

Discuss three ways that managers can help to reduce organizational sources of stress for their employees.

Refer to the Scenario below to answer the questions that follow. The Government Job (Scenario) Colin was getting accustomed to his surroundings in provincial government.His efforts at getting employees to accept change had met with little resistance to date.But now the hard part really started-actually managing the change.What techniques could he and his agency's new director employ to most effectively implement changes that would result in increased productivity in his department? He was considering changes in three areas of his agency: the structure,the technology,and the people. -If the new director decided to remove a layer of managers in the agency and increase the span of control,she would be making a change in which of the following categories?

Refer to the Scenario below to answer the questions that follow. New Ideas (Scenario) Though New Ideas Inc.has been in business for 30 years,the company and its employees have seemingly been in a constant state of change.Paul Gill has been president of New Ideas for the last 15 years.During this time,he has had to change the strategic focus of the company three times.The employees have become vocal recently about the decrease in their bonus cheques and are demanding increased profits.It seems as though his competition is always introducing new products into the market,and the niches Gill thought New Ideas held leadership in are continuously changing.Recently the government has passed new legislation to increase the control of the product packaging and product contents.The technology used to manufacture the products is constantly improving to make the process more efficient. -The change in strategic focus of the company is a(n)________ force for change.

Which of the following can be listed under the change category entitled technology?

You have just been named the new CEO of a medium-sized company.Your primary workforce (95%)is located in one downtown office building.You have been put in this position because of your great reputation for achievement and ethical conduct.In the past five years,under the previous management,the company has earned a reputation for cutting corners and using questionable tactics.What are some of the fundamental steps you must take to build a more ethical culture?

Organizational culture has very little influence on the way employees analyze and resolve work-related issues.

Which of the following is a human resource variable that fosters innovation?

The ________ metaphor likens an organization to a group of complete strangers aboard a raft travelling at night toward an uncertain destination.

According to Kurt Lewin,increasing the driving forces to direct behaviour away from the status quo is a means of doing which of the following?

Which of the following is a mistake that managers make when leading change?

An organic structure fosters innovation due to which of the following?

Older workers tend to resist change more than younger workers because they ________.

Shannon is under a great deal of stress because of the demands of her job.She has been overeating,smoking more,and can't sleep.Shannon is experiencing ________ symptoms of stress.

The "white water rapids" metaphor describes the situation that managers faced up until the late 1980s.

Which of the following approaches to change begins by investigating what the organization is doing well?

Discuss the various causes of stress and explain how managers can recognize stress in their employees.

A good example of an organizational ________ is Mary Kay Cosmetics' annual award ceremony for its sales representatives.

Refer to the Scenario below to answer the questions that follow. The Government Job (Scenario) Colin was getting accustomed to his surroundings in provincial government.His efforts at getting employees to accept change had met with little resistance to date.But now the hard part really started-actually managing the change.What techniques could he and his agency's new director employ to most effectively implement changes that would result in increased productivity in his department? He was considering changes in three areas of his agency: the structure,the technology,and the people. -Colin decided that his employees could benefit from ________,an OD technique designed to change behaviour through unstructured group interaction.

In order to create a more ethical environment,managers should be visible role models and they should communicate clear ethical expectations to employees.