CSM Leadership & Organizational Behavior 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of power is derived from a leader's personal charisma and perceived admirable qualities?
- Legitimate power
- Expert power
- Referent power (Correct answer)
- Coercive power
Correct answer: Referent power
Referent power comes from followers' identification with and admiration for the leader as a person.
Question 2: A company merges two departments with conflicting work cultures. The FIRST step a strategic leader should take is:
- Immediately impose a unified culture from headquarters
- Assess both cultures to identify shared values and key differences (Correct answer)
- Replace leadership in both departments to start fresh
- Separate the teams physically to reduce friction
Correct answer: Assess both cultures to identify shared values and key differences
Assessing existing cultures first helps leaders design an integration plan grounded in actual strengths and fault lines.
Question 3: In Tuckman's group development model, intense interpersonal conflict and power struggles are characteristic of which stage?
- Forming
- Storming (Correct answer)
- Norming
- Performing
Correct answer: Storming
The Storming stage is marked by conflict as members compete for roles and challenge the leader's authority.
Question 4: A strategic manager wants to create an environment where employees feel safe speaking up about mistakes. Which leadership approach is most effective?
- Zero-tolerance policy for errors to enforce high standards
- Publicly rewarding those who report problems without blame (Correct answer)
- Implementing anonymous reporting systems only
- Delegating error-tracking to HR
Correct answer: Publicly rewarding those who report problems without blame
Publicly rewarding candor signals psychological safety and models the behavior leaders want throughout the organization.
Question 5: Which organizational structure gives functional managers and project managers shared authority over employees simultaneously?
- Divisional structure
- Matrix structure (Correct answer)
- Flat structure
- Hierarchical structure
Correct answer: Matrix structure
The matrix structure creates dual reporting relationships where employees answer to both functional and project managers.
Question 6: According to expectancy theory, employee motivation is highest when they believe:
- Rewards are distributed equally among all team members
- Effort leads to performance, performance leads to valued outcomes (Correct answer)
- Management monitors their work closely for accountability
- Peers are performing at the same level
Correct answer: Effort leads to performance, performance leads to valued outcomes
Expectancy theory holds that motivation depends on the belief that effort produces results and results produce valued rewards.
Question 7: A leader who adjusts their communication style to match the cultural background of international team members is demonstrating:
- Cultural intelligence (CQ) (Correct answer)
- Transformational leadership
- Servant leadership
- Laissez-faire management
Correct answer: Cultural intelligence (CQ)
Cultural intelligence is the ability to function effectively across different cultural contexts by adapting behavior accordingly.
CSM Leadership & Organizational Behavior 3
Which type of power is derived from a leader's personal charisma and perceived admirable qualities?