Knowledge in Organization MCQs with
answers
Lecture 1 – General Introduction
1. Which of the following best reflects an ontological question about knowledge?
a) How can we verify whether a belief is true?
b) What methods should be used to study knowledge empirically?
c) Whether knowledge exists independently of human knowers or only in relation to
them.
d) How power relations influence the validation of scientific claims.
Answer: c)
2. A company argues that its procedures remain knowledge even if no employee understands
them anymore. Which ontological position does this reflect?
a) Relational view of knowledge
b) Practice-based epistemology
c) Independent view of knowledge
d) Sociology of radical change
Answer: c)
3. Which example most clearly illustrates knowledge as both mental and embodied?
a) A surgeon performing an operation using medical knowledge & practiced techniques.
b) A medical specialist explaining a procedure using clinical guidelines and experience
c) A hospital storing standardized treatment protocols for training purposes
d) A research team analyzing patient data using statistical models
Answer: a)
4. The sociology of knowledge primarily examines:
a) How shared social norms influence the way people justify beliefs
b) How philosophical debates define objectivity and subjectivity in knowledge
c) How technologies affect the circulation and preservation of information
d) How social agreement, institutions, and power relations shape what is accepted as
knowledge
Answer: d)
5. Which situation best challenges the idea of knowledge as justified true belief?
a) A belief supported by strong statistical evidence
b) Knowledge acquired through repeated observation
, c) A belief that is true and justified, but its justification relies on a false assumption
d) A belief justified by reliable evidence that doesn’t show the real cause
Answer: c)
6. A researcher who prioritizes measurable data and objectivity aligns most closely with
which epistemological stance?
a) Interpretivism
b) Positivism
c) Pragmatism
d) Constructivism
Answer: b)
7. Which statement best captures the pragmatist view of knowledge?
a) Knowledge must reflect objective reality
b) Knowledge is shaped by social interaction
c) Knowledge is inseparable from power structures
d) Knowledge is valid if it works effectively in practice
Answer: d)
8. The claim that knowledge is never neutral most directly points to which challenge to
knowledge?
a) Knowledge is shaped by social norms, institutions, and power relations
b) Knowledge can be influenced by individual biases and cognitive framing
c) Knowledge depends on embodied skills and tacit understanding
d) Knowledge is affected by the tools and technologies we use to record and share it
Answer: a)
9. According to the lecture, the main tension between management and knowledge lies in the
fact that:
a) Knowledge eliminates the need for management
b) Management structures can suppress learning and creativity
c) Knowledge always improves managerial control
d) Management and knowledge operate independently
Answer: b)
10. Newell’s definition of knowledge management emphasizes managing:
a) Knowledge as a static organizational asset
b) Databases and information systems
c) Knowledge processes and knowledge work
d) Employees’ individual expertise only
,Answer: c)
11. Which scenario best illustrates preventing reinvention of the wheel as a reason for
managing knowledge?
a) Reusing documented solutions to recurring problems
b) Encouraging employees to develop unique working styles
c) Allowing teams full autonomy over decisions
d) Prioritizing innovation over standardization
Answer: a)
12. The epistemological view that treats knowledge as fixed, objective, and uni-directional is
referred to as:
a) Dualism
b) Duality
c) Pragmatism
d) Constructivism
Answer: a)
13. Which statement best reflects the idea of “When is knowledge?”
a) Knowledge exists independently of context
b) Knowledge is identical across situations
c) Knowledge emerges through situated practice
d) Knowledge is validated through universal rules
Answer: c)
14. A team adapting its expertise differently depending on cultural and organizational context
aligns with which epistemological stance?
a) Dualism
b) Objectivism
c) Positivism
d) Duality
Answer: d)
15. The sociology of regulation assumes that society:
a) Is defined by constant conflict and instability
b) Moves toward shared norms, trust, and consensus
c) Is structured primarily by power struggles
d) Treats knowledge as inherently political
Answer: b)
, 16. Which assumption best characterizes the sociology of radical change?
a) Knowledge supports social harmony
b) Science is neutral and objective
c) Order is temporary and contested
d) Consensus is the dominant social condition
Answer: c)
17. The dialogical discourse views knowledge primarily as:
a) An organizational asset
b) A form of discipline shaped through questioning
c) A cognitive structure
d) A tool of managerial efficiency
Answer: b)
18. Which example best fits the critical discourse on knowledge management?
a) Employees sharing skills informally through teamwork
b) A company standardizing procedures to reduce uncertainty
c) Teams reflecting on assumptions behind decision-making
d) Managers extracting workers’ tacit knowledge for profit
Answer: d)
19. Constructivist discourse differs from neo-functionalist discourse mainly because it:
a) Treats knowledge as socially created in practice
b) Rejects organizational learning
c) Emphasizes control and predictability
d) Focuses on explicit knowledge only
Answer: a)
20. Which feature is shared by both constructivist and neo-functionalist discourses?
a) Dissensus orientation
b) Objectivism
c) Consensus orientation
d) Focus on power asymmetries
Answer: c)
21. A firm investing heavily in databases to codify employee expertise reflects which
discourse?
a) Dialogical
b) Critical
c) Constructivist
answers
Lecture 1 – General Introduction
1. Which of the following best reflects an ontological question about knowledge?
a) How can we verify whether a belief is true?
b) What methods should be used to study knowledge empirically?
c) Whether knowledge exists independently of human knowers or only in relation to
them.
d) How power relations influence the validation of scientific claims.
Answer: c)
2. A company argues that its procedures remain knowledge even if no employee understands
them anymore. Which ontological position does this reflect?
a) Relational view of knowledge
b) Practice-based epistemology
c) Independent view of knowledge
d) Sociology of radical change
Answer: c)
3. Which example most clearly illustrates knowledge as both mental and embodied?
a) A surgeon performing an operation using medical knowledge & practiced techniques.
b) A medical specialist explaining a procedure using clinical guidelines and experience
c) A hospital storing standardized treatment protocols for training purposes
d) A research team analyzing patient data using statistical models
Answer: a)
4. The sociology of knowledge primarily examines:
a) How shared social norms influence the way people justify beliefs
b) How philosophical debates define objectivity and subjectivity in knowledge
c) How technologies affect the circulation and preservation of information
d) How social agreement, institutions, and power relations shape what is accepted as
knowledge
Answer: d)
5. Which situation best challenges the idea of knowledge as justified true belief?
a) A belief supported by strong statistical evidence
b) Knowledge acquired through repeated observation
, c) A belief that is true and justified, but its justification relies on a false assumption
d) A belief justified by reliable evidence that doesn’t show the real cause
Answer: c)
6. A researcher who prioritizes measurable data and objectivity aligns most closely with
which epistemological stance?
a) Interpretivism
b) Positivism
c) Pragmatism
d) Constructivism
Answer: b)
7. Which statement best captures the pragmatist view of knowledge?
a) Knowledge must reflect objective reality
b) Knowledge is shaped by social interaction
c) Knowledge is inseparable from power structures
d) Knowledge is valid if it works effectively in practice
Answer: d)
8. The claim that knowledge is never neutral most directly points to which challenge to
knowledge?
a) Knowledge is shaped by social norms, institutions, and power relations
b) Knowledge can be influenced by individual biases and cognitive framing
c) Knowledge depends on embodied skills and tacit understanding
d) Knowledge is affected by the tools and technologies we use to record and share it
Answer: a)
9. According to the lecture, the main tension between management and knowledge lies in the
fact that:
a) Knowledge eliminates the need for management
b) Management structures can suppress learning and creativity
c) Knowledge always improves managerial control
d) Management and knowledge operate independently
Answer: b)
10. Newell’s definition of knowledge management emphasizes managing:
a) Knowledge as a static organizational asset
b) Databases and information systems
c) Knowledge processes and knowledge work
d) Employees’ individual expertise only
,Answer: c)
11. Which scenario best illustrates preventing reinvention of the wheel as a reason for
managing knowledge?
a) Reusing documented solutions to recurring problems
b) Encouraging employees to develop unique working styles
c) Allowing teams full autonomy over decisions
d) Prioritizing innovation over standardization
Answer: a)
12. The epistemological view that treats knowledge as fixed, objective, and uni-directional is
referred to as:
a) Dualism
b) Duality
c) Pragmatism
d) Constructivism
Answer: a)
13. Which statement best reflects the idea of “When is knowledge?”
a) Knowledge exists independently of context
b) Knowledge is identical across situations
c) Knowledge emerges through situated practice
d) Knowledge is validated through universal rules
Answer: c)
14. A team adapting its expertise differently depending on cultural and organizational context
aligns with which epistemological stance?
a) Dualism
b) Objectivism
c) Positivism
d) Duality
Answer: d)
15. The sociology of regulation assumes that society:
a) Is defined by constant conflict and instability
b) Moves toward shared norms, trust, and consensus
c) Is structured primarily by power struggles
d) Treats knowledge as inherently political
Answer: b)
, 16. Which assumption best characterizes the sociology of radical change?
a) Knowledge supports social harmony
b) Science is neutral and objective
c) Order is temporary and contested
d) Consensus is the dominant social condition
Answer: c)
17. The dialogical discourse views knowledge primarily as:
a) An organizational asset
b) A form of discipline shaped through questioning
c) A cognitive structure
d) A tool of managerial efficiency
Answer: b)
18. Which example best fits the critical discourse on knowledge management?
a) Employees sharing skills informally through teamwork
b) A company standardizing procedures to reduce uncertainty
c) Teams reflecting on assumptions behind decision-making
d) Managers extracting workers’ tacit knowledge for profit
Answer: d)
19. Constructivist discourse differs from neo-functionalist discourse mainly because it:
a) Treats knowledge as socially created in practice
b) Rejects organizational learning
c) Emphasizes control and predictability
d) Focuses on explicit knowledge only
Answer: a)
20. Which feature is shared by both constructivist and neo-functionalist discourses?
a) Dissensus orientation
b) Objectivism
c) Consensus orientation
d) Focus on power asymmetries
Answer: c)
21. A firm investing heavily in databases to codify employee expertise reflects which
discourse?
a) Dialogical
b) Critical
c) Constructivist
