CPM Organizational Behavior & Workplace Culture 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Edgar Schein's model of organizational culture identifies three levels. Which level is the DEEPEST and hardest to change?
- Artifacts
- Espoused values
- Basic underlying assumptions (Correct answer)
- Observable behaviors
Correct answer: Basic underlying assumptions
Basic underlying assumptions are deeply embedded, unconscious beliefs that form the foundation of organizational culture and are highly resistant to change.
Question 2: A manager who adjusts their leadership style based on an employee's readiness and skill level is applying which theory?
- Path-Goal Theory
- Situational Leadership Theory (Correct answer)
- Transformational Leadership Theory
- Leader-Member Exchange Theory
Correct answer: Situational Leadership Theory
Situational Leadership Theory (Hersey & Blanchard) prescribes adapting leadership style to match the follower's developmental level.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'psychological safety' in a team context?
- Ensuring employees feel physically safe in the workplace
- A team climate where members feel safe to take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences (Correct answer)
- Providing mental health resources to all employees
- Protecting employees from disciplinary action
Correct answer: A team climate where members feel safe to take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences
Psychological safety, as defined by Amy Edmondson, is a shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking such as speaking up.
Question 4: A new manager inherits a team with low morale and high absenteeism. According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, which action addresses a hygiene factor?
- Offering more challenging assignments
- Providing recognition for achievement
- Increasing base salary to meet market rates (Correct answer)
- Creating opportunities for career advancement
Correct answer: Increasing base salary to meet market rates
Herzberg identified salary as a hygiene factor — its absence causes dissatisfaction, but improving it does not itself motivate higher performance.
Question 5: In organizational behavior, 'role conflict' occurs when:
- An employee does not know what is expected of them
- An employee faces incompatible demands from different role expectations (Correct answer)
- A team disagrees about task assignments
- A manager oversteps their span of control
Correct answer: An employee faces incompatible demands from different role expectations
Role conflict arises when an individual faces competing or incompatible demands from different roles or sources within an organization.
Question 6: Which motivation theory proposes that employees compare their input-output ratio to that of a reference person, and adjust their effort to restore perceived fairness?
- Expectancy Theory
- Equity Theory (Correct answer)
- Self-Determination Theory
- Goal-Setting Theory
Correct answer: Equity Theory
Equity Theory (Adams) states that employees seek balance between their contributions and rewards relative to comparable others.
Question 7: A manager who builds individual relationships with team members, offering some high trust and autonomy while others receive less, is demonstrating:
- Servant leadership
- Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory (Correct answer)
- Transactional leadership
- Contingency leadership
Correct answer: Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory
LMX Theory describes how leaders develop differentiated relationships with followers, creating 'in-group' and 'out-group' members.
CPM Organizational Behavior & Workplace Culture 3
Edgar Schein's model of organizational culture identifies three levels.
Which level is the DEEPEST and hardest to change?