Roles in Organizations

Question 1

Boundary Role*

Answer 1

Position in an organization that requires interaction with people outside of the organization.

Question 2

Extra-Role Behavior*

Answer 2

Individual’s actions, beyond job duties or role expectations, to benefit his or her organization; essentially going above and beyond.

Question 3

Role theory

Answer 3

Role behavior involves counterparts in interdependent roles in recurring role episodes, reflecting the role expectations held and communicated by role senders and received by role-holders, which encourage role-holder actions intended to meet expectations.

Question 4

Role*

Answer 4

Behaviors expected of an individual with a particular rank and specialty in an organization.

                                        OR

Specialized function or responsibilities adopted by or assigned by a member of the group.

Question 5

Role Episode*

Answer 5

4-step sequence involving the role sender and holder.

Role expectations + Sender -> Role to Holder -> Receives role -> Guides actions

Influenced by 3 other factors: individual attributes, interpersonal factors, organizational factors.

Question 6

Role map*

Answer 6

For a specific role in an organization, a graphic depiction of counterpart roles, showing suppliers, customers, team-mates, supervisor, supervisees (if any), and other counterparts.

Question 7

Boundary Role example

Answer 7

Customer service; salesman/sales representative.

Question 8

Extra-Role Behavior

Answer 8

During a power failure at a power plant, a maintenance crew worked through Christmas break to keep the piping network from freezing and slept in the boiler-room.

Question 9

Influences to Role Episodes

Answer 9

Individual attributes: ability and personality

Interpersonal factors: Relationships between equals, superiors/inferiors.

Organizational factors: Scope of authority and role clarity.