Organizational Dynamics & Behavior Flashcards

An employee describes a manager who claims credit for team successes but blames others for failures. This behavior pattern is associated with:

Answer: Self-serving attribution bias

Self-serving attribution bias leads individuals to attribute successes internally and failures externally to protect their self-image.

Which organizational model describes layers of management with clear lines of authority and standardized rules?

Answer: Bureaucratic hierarchy

Bureaucratic hierarchies feature vertical authority chains, formalized rules, and specialized roles as described by Max Weber.

An ombuds is approached by someone who feels they were passed over for promotion due to their gender. Understanding this requires knowledge of:

Answer: Equity theory and structural bias

Equity theory addresses perceived fairness in outcomes, and structural bias explains how systemic factors can disadvantage protected groups.

Which phenomenon occurs when a highly cohesive group prioritizes consensus over critical evaluation of alternatives?

Answer: Groupthink

Groupthink, identified by Irving Janis, occurs when cohesive groups suppress dissent to maintain harmony, leading to poor decisions.

A visitor complains that their performance goals change frequently without explanation. This relates to which organizational issue?

Answer: Role ambiguity due to shifting priorities

Frequently changing goals without clear rationale create role ambiguity, making it impossible for employees to prioritize effectively.

The 'iceberg model' of organizational culture suggests that:

Answer: Most cultural elements are hidden below the surface

Like an iceberg, organizational culture's deepest elements—basic assumptions and values—lie below the surface and are hardest to change.

When employees perform better because they know they are being observed, this is called:

Answer: Social facilitation or the Hawthorne effect

The Hawthorne effect describes the tendency of people to change their behavior when they know they're being watched or studied.