Topic 2: External and Internal Environment_MIA

An organization with dozens of competitors and a large number of raw materials suppliers has a high degree of

• A) environmental autonomy

• B) environmental complexity

• C) forecast certainty

• D) forecast uncertainty

If Bopha wanted to build a strong culture, which of these actions would help most?

• A) She and other managers should often tell stories about the company "heroes" and encourage employees to emulate their behavior.

• B) She should allow employees to pursue activities they believe will contribute to future company growth.

• C) She should encourage employees to continue their education and establish a tuition assistance program.

• D) She should hold an annual retreat at which upper management develops a values statement.

Which one of the following is an example of a material artifact or symbol?

• A) The lines on the parking lot are repainted every year.

• B) The offices of upper management are carpeted; the offices of administrative personnel have tile floors.

• C) The company sponsors a local youth sports team.

• D) Incoming calls are answered by a live person.

Which one of the following is a disadvantage of having a strong organizational culture?

• A) High employee turnover

• B) Decreased organizational performance

• C) Low loyalty towards the organization

• D) Inability to respond to changing conditions

An organization's culture can be perpetuated by ________.

• A) selecting candidates for employment who share the organizations values

• B) displaying artifacts that exemplify the culture

• C) taking advantage of employees' suggestions for improvement

• D) expecting managers to produce results

The board of Corporation XYZ recently fired the CEO because the firm's sales growth declined during his tenure. Corporations XYZ's board believes in the ________ view of management.

• A) prescient

• B) omnipotent

• C) symbolic

• D) systemic

The downfall of the furniture industry due to the subprime mortgage crisis and subsequent job loss of a number of managers in that industry would lend credence to the ________ view of management.

• A) prescient

• B) omnipotent

• C) symbolic

• D) systemic

Carlos has several good ideas about how to increase his firm's profits. However, they all involve committing resources that are currently not available. His problem highlights the fact that all managers face ________.

• A) environmental decay

• B) symbolism

• C) internal constraints

• D) performance optimism

Managers can be limited in their ability to influence the firm because of the ________.

• A) organizational environment and organizational culture

• B) organizational environment and symbolism

• C) stakeholders' views on ethics

• D) past management mistakes that still affect the firm

Assume the global economy rebounds rapidly from the Great Recession. What constraint is this likely to have on decisions managers make?

• A) The number of qualified candidates available for hire will become smaller.

• B) Managers will be asked to eliminate positions to cut labor costs.

• C) The hourly compensation average will have to fall; managers will be asked to offer less to job candidates.

• D) Positions will be easier to fill as college graduates settle for lower paying jobs.