Organizational Leadership Flashcards

Which practice MOST reduces bias in leadership succession planning?

Answer: Using clear competency criteria, diverse slates, and calibration panels

Structured criteria, diverse slates, and calibration reduce subjective and affinity-driven succession decisions.

Edgar Schein's model says the deepest level of organizational culture consists of what?

Answer: Basic underlying assumptions

Schein's deepest level is unconscious, taken-for-granted assumptions that drive behavior.

A diversity executive reports directly to the CEO rather than three levels down in HR. What does this reporting line MOST signal?

Answer: DEI is a strategic priority with senior-level influence

Reporting directly to the CEO gives the DEI function visibility, authority, and strategic credibility.

Which leadership approach emphasizes self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and an internalized moral perspective?

Answer: Authentic leadership

Walumbwa and colleagues define authentic leadership by these four components.

What is the MAIN risk of a leader adopting a 'colorblind' approach to managing a diverse workforce?

Answer: It can ignore real differences in employees' experiences and allow inequities to persist

Colorblind approaches can overlook systemic barriers and dismiss employees' lived experiences.

Using a RACI chart for a DEI initiative, the person who has final ownership and sign-off on outcomes is the one who is what?

Answer: Accountable

In RACI, the Accountable person owns the outcome and approves the work; there should be only one.

A leader sets a DEI goal: 'Increase representation of underrepresented groups in management from 18% to 25% within three years through expanded sponsorship and diverse slates.' What makes this goal effective?

Answer: It is specific, measurable, time-bound, and tied to concrete actions

The goal follows SMART criteria and names lawful, process-based strategies rather than quotas.