Question 1

What advice would you give to a leader who wants to improve his or her organization's communications function so that it is more effective during a crisis?

Accepted Answer

Students' answers will vary.

Question 2

Pre-crisis planning entails three components that every organization should address when putting together a comprehensive crisis response plan: (1) appointing a crisis leader, (2) creating a crisis response team, and (3) creating a risk assessment team.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Distinguish between the traditional organization and the learning organization.

Accepted Answer

The traditional, efficiency-driven organization has a bureaucratic structure (a tall pyramid), starting with the CEO at the top and everyone else functionally organized in layers below. Decision making is centralized at the top of the hierarchy, which controls and coordinates all functional units throughout the organization. To ensure reliable and predictable results, tasks are rigidly defined and broken down into specialized jobs. Strict formal rules and procedures for performing each task are enforced. Though repetitive, boring, and unchallenging, it is an efficient way to keeping the production line running smoothly. An elaborate formal system of reporting allows leaders to closely monitor work operations and maintain efficient, steady performance. This formal system is a powerful tool for controlling information and often acts as a filter in determining what information leaders decide to pass down to lower-level employees.
By contrast, in learning organizations the vertical structure is abandoned for a flat, horizontal structure. The horizontal structure is constituted around work flows or processes rather than functional specialties. To encourage innovation and creativity in meeting current challenges, learning organizations are designing tasks that are much looser, free flowing, and adaptive. Few strict rules and procedures prescribe how things should be done. The term organic has been used to describe this type of organization. Responsibility and authority are decentralized to lower-level workers, empowering them to think, experiment, create, learn, and solve problems at their level.

Question 4

The mindset of leaders in a learning organization is that there is a "right way" to do things.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In most small organizations, the crisis management team is led by a senior-level executive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Learning is more likely to take place in an organization in which experimentation on a large scale is encouraged and permitted.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

A learning organization is more appropriate for a stable environment where change is slow and incremental.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Describe the role of leadership in creating a learning organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the role of leadership in creating...

Question 9

SWOT analysis is used in the risk reduction step in the risk assessment process.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What factors account for the fact that the learning organization is described as more creative and innovative than the traditional organization form?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What factors account for the fact that...

Question 11

Describe the role of the CEO and communication in managing a crisis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the role of the CEO and...

Question 12

All of the following are characteristics of traditional organizations EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)   adaptive culture that encourages continuous improvement and change.
B)   stable environment.
C)   vertical structure.
D)   rigid culture that is not responsive to change.

Question 13

The pre-crisis response plan requires the appointment of a crisis leader. Describe the responsibilities of this person.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The pre-crisis response plan requires the appointment...

Question 14

In a learning organization, incentives and rewards should be?

Accepted Answer

A)   small to avoid inter-departmental competition.
B)   large to encourage innovation and learning.
C)   visible to others.
D)   invisible, almost, unnoticeable, to avoid morale problems.
E)   b and d

Question 15

It is critical during a press conference to involve technical specialists to provide more expert and detailed background information.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The best gauge to determine an organization's readiness to respond to a crisis is how it rates according to which of the following factors?

Accepted Answer

A)   awareness and access to crisis management information
B)   readiness for a quick response
C)   effective communication plan in place
D)   all of the answers are correct

Question 17

What are the main components of a pre-crisis plan?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the main components of a...

Question 18

In learning organizations:

Accepted Answer

A)   the horizontal structure is constituted around functional specialities rather than work flows or processes.
B)   few strict rules and procedures prescribe how things are done.
C)   rewards are individualized.
D)   all of the answers are correct

Question 19

Benchmarking:

Accepted Answer

A)   allows a company to imitate the best practices of others.
B)   is a leader strategy.
C)   yields a comparative advantage.
D)   is not recommended to develop creative thinking skills.

Question 20

Developing a bunker mentality is a recommended strategy for senior leaders to use when dealing with a crisis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 12: The Learning Organization and Crisis Leadership

What advice would you give to a leader who wants to improve his or her organization's communications function so that it is more effective during a crisis?

Pre-crisis planning entails three components that every organization should address when putting together a comprehensive crisis response plan: (1) appointing a crisis leader, (2) creating a crisis response team, and (3) creating a risk assessment team.

Distinguish between the traditional organization and the learning organization.

The mindset of leaders in a learning organization is that there is a "right way" to do things.

In most small organizations, the crisis management team is led by a senior-level executive.

Learning is more likely to take place in an organization in which experimentation on a large scale is encouraged and permitted.

A learning organization is more appropriate for a stable environment where change is slow and incremental.

Describe the role of leadership in creating a learning organization.

SWOT analysis is used in the risk reduction step in the risk assessment process.

What factors account for the fact that the learning organization is described as more creative and innovative than the traditional organization form?

Describe the role of the CEO and communication in managing a crisis.

All of the following are characteristics of traditional organizations EXCEPT:

The pre-crisis response plan requires the appointment of a crisis leader. Describe the responsibilities of this person.

In a learning organization, incentives and rewards should be?

It is critical during a press conference to involve technical specialists to provide more expert and detailed background information.

The best gauge to determine an organization's readiness to respond to a crisis is how it rates according to which of the following factors?

What are the main components of a pre-crisis plan?

In learning organizations:

Benchmarking:

Developing a bunker mentality is a recommended strategy for senior leaders to use when dealing with a crisis.