Question 1. 1. (TCO 1, 2) What is organizational behavior and to what degree do you think an understanding of it may increase one’s managerial success in the workplace? (Points : 10)
Question 2. 2. (TCO 4) Referring to the team decision-making process, define consensus
and unanimity, and explain the difference between the two terms. (Points : 10)
Question 3. 3. (TCO 5) Identify and define four of the seven key elements in the communication process. Give a specific example of a possible breakdown in a communication flow. (Points : 10)
Question 4. 4. (TCO 5) Differentiate between trait theories of leadership and behavioral theories of leadership. Describe each and give an example of each type of leadership. (Points : 10)
Question 5. 5. (TCOs 6 & 7) Describe and illustrate with an example an advantage that face-to-face communication has over written communication. Describe and illustrate with an example an advantage that written communication has over face-to-face communication. (Points : 10)
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Question 1. 1. (TCO 2) You are the manager of a business that cleans airliners. You are contracted by airlines to perform quick cleanups on planes between flights as well as more extensive cleanings while planes are parked overnight. The airline industry is facing financial pressures and these pressures have trickled down to you. The airlines are having their planes cleaned less often and, as a result, they are dirtier when they are cleaned. It also seems like passengers are increasingly likely to leave really gross stuff behind.
The work is difficult. Your employees have not received raises in some time, and it is likely that they won’t receive raises in the near future. The employees, individually and as a group, are quite open about not liking their jobs. Your managers are placing pressure on you to make the employees more productive. You subscribe to the theory that workers who are more satisfied with their jobs are more productive. You cannot give the employees raises but you do have a very limited amount of discretionary funds. What can you do to increase the workers’ level of job satisfaction? Provide five specific steps you could take. (Points : 45)
Question 2. 2. (TCO 5) You lead a team of marketing professionals. At a recent team meeting, Curtis and Andrea got into an argument in front of you and are no longer speaking to each other. Curtis came to you and complained that Andrea always tries to get all of the attention. Andrea came to you with that same complaint about Curtis after the argument. Recently, you and your entire team took the Life Styles Inventory (LSI). Andrea is Conventional while Curtis is Competitive. Your style is Humanistic-Encouraging. You plan to hold a meeting with the three of you. What four specific things will you cover and how will you approach each part of the communication differently based on the LSI results? (Points : 45)
Question 3. 3. (TCO 5) Eagle Standard Inc. (ESI), a major engineering firm, specializes in designing aircraft parts for government contracts. ESI employs project managers and 42 engineers who are divided into project groups of six to seven members. The majority of project team leaders have spent time in France and Britain learning new technology. The Eagle 6 Project Team, consisting of six engineers, is developing new equipment for a jet fighter. The project has been ongoing for 18 months, and all six engineers have been with this project group since its inception, working together on all of these projects. Eagle 6 works well together.
However, the Eagle 6 team has the most technical project, and its engineers have been working too much overtime. The senior project manager, Bruce Chalnick, interviewed and hired a new engineer to help out, Richard Hue. Richard has good qualifications and seems to be knowledgeable and motivated. The work is challenging and gives him the opportunity to showcase his computer skills and engineering knowledge. Two weeks in, he quickly became a contributing member of the team, showing initiative and the willingness to work overtime and weekends to research possible solutions to potential problems. Richard was particularly adept with the computer system, and Bruce is ecstatic about his new hire. Richard is a loner, on and off the job. He is from Country X, a small island with a high power-distance culture; all of the other members of the team were born and raised in the United States.
After three months, Richard’s learning curve had just about peaked, and he began to suggest new ways of doing things. He offered to mentor the other engineers, but each time he was rebuffed. He then went to Bruce Chalnick and asked for another part of the program to work on. At that point, a senior member of Eagle 6, Tim Flossner, met with Bruce to discuss Richard. Tim stated he was speaking for the rest of the team and said Richard is stuck up and arrogant. Tim said he and the other team members felt Richard flaunts his education and knowledge, and none of them like him. In fact, they can’t stand him.
Bruce told Tim that Richard thinks that the rest of the team are slackers who talk about bowling and sports instead of working. Richard thinks he is disliked because he’s from Country X.
Bruce wants to keep everyone in the company, and more importantly, within the team, so how should Bruce handle this problem? Detail what he should do by applying at least two conflict management methods to enhance group and team performance. Include roles and decision making in your response. (Points : 45)
Question 4. 4. (TCOs 3 & 4) When a team works together, it has a huge range of skills available that it can utilize to deliver extraordinary results. Explain how organizations can create team players. (Points : 45)
