CBC Organizational Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A business coach is brought into a company experiencing rapid growth where informal communication no longer works. Which organizational development intervention should the coach recommend first?
- A diagnostic assessment of current structure and communication flows (Correct answer)
- Immediate layoffs to reduce complexity
- Outsourcing all internal communication
- Freezing all hiring until further notice
Correct answer: A diagnostic assessment of current structure and communication flows
OD interventions should always begin with diagnosis before prescribing structural changes.
Question 2: In Lewin's change model, which stage involves creating motivation and readiness for change by disrupting the status quo?
- Unfreezing (Correct answer)
- Moving
- Refreezing
- Stabilizing
Correct answer: Unfreezing
Unfreezing breaks down the existing equilibrium so people become open to change.
Question 3: A coach observes that a client organization rewards individual performance but claims to value teamwork. This is best described as a gap between:
- Espoused values and enacted values (Correct answer)
- Mission and vision
- Strategy and tactics
- Inputs and outputs
Correct answer: Espoused values and enacted values
Espoused values are what the organization says it values, while enacted values are reflected in actual practices like reward systems.
Question 4: Which OD approach focuses on identifying and amplifying what an organization already does well rather than fixing problems?
- Appreciative Inquiry (Correct answer)
- Root cause analysis
- Gap analysis
- Force field analysis
Correct answer: Appreciative Inquiry
Appreciative Inquiry builds change on an organization's existing strengths and successes.
Question 5: During a merger, a coach notices employees from both legacy companies resisting collaboration. Which factor is the MOST likely root cause?
- Clash of organizational cultures (Correct answer)
- Insufficient office space
- Overlapping product lines
- Differences in payroll schedules
Correct answer: Clash of organizational cultures
Cultural incompatibility is the most common driver of post-merger integration failure and resistance.
Question 6: A business coach facilitating team development uses Tuckman's model. A team that is openly arguing over roles and leadership is most likely in which stage?
- Storming (Correct answer)
- Forming
- Norming
- Performing
Correct answer: Storming
Storming is characterized by conflict over roles, authority, and working styles.
Question 7: Which of the following is a key characteristic of a learning organization as described by Peter Senge?
- Systems thinking that connects individual actions to organizational outcomes (Correct answer)
- Strict top-down control of all information
- Avoiding experimentation to minimize risk
- Rewarding only short-term financial results
Correct answer: Systems thinking that connects individual actions to organizational outcomes
Senge's fifth discipline, systems thinking, integrates the other disciplines of a learning organization.
CBC Organizational Development 2
A business coach is brought into a company experiencing rapid growth where informal communication no longer works.
Which organizational development intervention should the coach recommend first?