Lecture 11 - Current Issues in Organisational Behaviour

Question 1

Why should organisations aim to be flexible (4)

Answer 1

• increasing market uncertainty
• technological change
• International competition
• changing of the workforce

Question 2

what are the 5 forms of flexibility

Answer 2

1. task flexibility
2. numerical flexibility
3. temporal flexibility
4. financial flexibility
5. organisational flexibility

Question 3

what is a compressed work week

Answer 3

A 4-day week, with employees
working 10 hours a day

Question 4

what is flextime

Answer 4

when employees have the power to arrange
what exactly time of the day
are going to work

Question 5

what is job sharing

Answer 5

The practice of having two or more
people split a 40-hour-a-week job

Question 6

what is teleworking

Answer 6

Employees do their work at home on
a computer that is linked to their office

Question 7

positive implications of flexibility (4)

Answer 7

• loyalty and productivity
• work life balance
• diversity
• sustainability

Question 8

what are gig workers

Answer 8

Workers paid by the task (or micro-task) to complete a specified piece of work.

Question 9

define employee well being

Answer 9

• ‘the overall quality of an individuals subjective experience and functioning at work
• it depends on the quality of working life provided by employers

Question 10

Services may be provided for individuals to help them deal with their problems. This may involve…

Answer 10

• counselling
• personal case work
• employee assistance programmes

Question 11

effects of excessive stress (5)

Answer 11

• burnout
• physical illness
• psychological problems (anxiety, depression)
• poor task performance
• lack of concentration

Question 12

5 types of stress reduction techniques

Answer 12

• muscle relaxation
• biofeedback
• meditation
• cognitive
• holistic wellness

Question 13

what is biofeedback

Answer 13

A machine is used to train people to detect muscular tension; muscle relaxation is then used to alleviate this symptom of stress.

Question 14

what is cognitive (stress reduction techniques)

Answer 14

Irrational or maladaptive restructuring thoughts are identified and replaced with those that are rational or logical.

Question 15

what is holistic wellness

Answer 15

A broad, interdisciplinary approach that goes beyond stress reduction by advocating that people strive for personal wellness in all aspects of life.

Question 16

what are the 5 steps of the Holistic Wellness Approach

Answer 16

1. Self Responsibility
2. Nutritional Awareness
3. Stress reduction and relaxation
4. Physical fitness
5. Environmental Sensitivity