Other Relevant Topics

Question 1

What’s organizational culture?

Answer 1

System of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations. It’s a descriptive term.

Question 2

What are the primary characteristics that capture the essence of an organization’s culture?

Answer 2

Adaptability
Detail orientation
Results/outcome orientation
People/customer orientation
Collaboration/team orientation
Integrity

Question 3

Do organizations have unifrom cultures?

Answer 3

Most organizations have a dominant culture and numerous sets of subcultures. The dominant culture expresses the core values a majority of members share and that give the organization distinct personality. Subcultures tend to develop in large organizations to reflect common problems, situations or experiences that members face.

Question 4

Compare weak and strong cultures.

Answer 4

The more members who accept the core values and the greater their commitment, the stronger the culture and the greater its influence on member behavior.
In strong cultures core values are intensely held and widely shared. Weak cultures are the opposite.

Question 5

What selection methods do you know?

Answer 5

Written tests, performance simulation tests and interviews.

Question 6

Explain the written tests method.

Answer 6

Normally tests of intelligence that are good predictors for jobs that require cognitive complexity, but you should take care while choosing what test will be taken.

Question 7

Explain the performance simultation tests method.

Answer 7

They have higher face validity, and are basically parts or all the job that the applicant will have to solve daily if they are hired. They are realistic job previews.

Question 8

Explain the interview method.

Answer 8

This is the most frequently used one, and should always be structured so you know what to ask and what answers you are seeking for.

Question 9

What’s change? What are the two main goals of change? What’s a change agent?

Answer 9

Making something different.

1. Improve the ability of the organization to adapt to changes in its enviroment
2. Change employee behavior

Those responsible for managing change activities are the change agents.

Question 10

What is conflict and when does it happen?

Answer 10

Conflict is a process that begins when one party percieves that another party has negatively affected or is about to negatively affect something that the 1st party cares about.

Question 11

What are the types of conflict based on their effects?

Answer 11

Functional conflit supports the goals of the group and improves its performance while conflicts that hinder group performance are dysfunctional or destructive forms of conflict.

Question 12

What type of conflicts exist?

Answer 12

Task, relationship and process conflict.

Question 13

Another way to understand conflict is to consider where it occurs. What are the three basic types of conflict considering its locus?

Answer 13

Dyadic (two people), intragroup and intergroup conflict.

Question 14

Name the stages, in order, of the conflict process.

Answer 14

1. Potential opposition or incompatibility
2. Cognition and personalization
3. Intenions
4. Behavior
5. Outcomes