OB Practice exam
1
,Chapter 1:
1. Question 1: Explain the role of sociology in Organizational Behavior. Provide an
example of how societal norms can influence an individual's decision within an
organizational context.
2. Question 2: How does psychology contribute to our understanding of human
behavior in organizational settings? Discuss a specific experiment that helps explain
decision-making processes within organizations.
3. Question 3: Social psychology bridges sociology and psychology in the study of
Organizational Behavior. Can you illustrate how group dynamics influence individual
behavior within the workplace? Provide an example to support your answer.
4. Question 4: Anthropology plays a significant role in understanding organizational
dynamics. Share an example of how the study of cultural practices and rituals can
shed light on group behavior in an organizational context.
5. Question 5: How does the field of political science apply to the study of
Organizational Behavior? Describe how the analysis of power structures within
organizations can impact decision-making and resource allocation. Provide a real-
world example to illustrate your point.
6. Question 6: Explain the interdisciplinary nature of Organizational Behavior. How does
the incorporation of insights from various disciplines enhance our understanding of
human behavior within real organizations? Provide examples from different
disciplines to support your explanation
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the primary focus of psychology in the context of Organizational Behavior?
a. Exploring cultural practices b. Measuring human behavior c. Analyzing group
dynamics d. Understanding societal norms
2. Which discipline in Organizational Behavior examines the impact of societal norms
on individual career choices? a. Anthropology b. Social psychology c. Political science
d. Sociology
3. Social psychology in OB explores: a. How organizations are structured b. How groups
influence individual perspectives c. The impact of economic factors on behavior d.
The history of organizational development
4. In the context of Organizational Behavior, what does anthropology investigate? a.
The cognitive processes behind decision-making b. The role of power dynamics
within organizations c. Cultural rites and rituals shaping group behaviors d. The
influence of societal norms on individual actions
5. How does political science apply to Organizational Behavior? a. It studies the
cognitive processes of employees. b. It explores cultural practices within
organizations. c. It analyzes power dynamics within organizations. d. It focuses on
measuring individual behavior.
Insight Questions:
6. Explain how social psychology helps us understand the impact of peer pressure on
individual behavior in a workplace setting. Provide an example.
Application Questions:
7. Imagine you are an organizational consultant. A multinational corporation has
approached you to analyze and improve its power structures and decision-making
2
, processes. How would you apply insights from political science to address the
company's challenges? Provide a brief strategy or recommendation.
Answers:
1. b. Measuring human behavior
2. d. Sociology
3. b. How groups influence individual perspectives
4. c. Cultural rites and rituals shaping group behaviors
5. c. It analyzes power dynamics within organizations
Insight Question Answer:
6. Social psychology helps us understand how group dynamics, such as peer pressure,
can influence individual behavior in a workplace setting. For example, it can explain
how employees may conform to certain behaviors or decisions in a group context
due to social influence, even if those behaviors or decisions differ from their personal
preferences or beliefs. An example could be how team members may support a
particular project idea simply because it is popular among their colleagues, even if
they have reservations about its effectiveness.
Application Question Answer:
7. As an organizational consultant, to address the company's challenges related to
power structures and decision-making processes, I would recommend conducting a
thorough organizational power analysis. This analysis would involve:
o Identifying key power holders and decision-makers within the company.
o Evaluating the distribution of power and influence across different
departments and levels of the organization.
o Assessing the transparency and inclusivity of decision-making processes.
o Collecting feedback from employees at various levels to understand their
perspectives on power dynamics.
Chapter 2
General Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is a key concept in the limitations of direct control? a. Efficiency in
management
b. Impracticality as organizations grow
c. Personalized control
d. Flexibility in decision-making
2. In the adoption of indirect, impersonal control, what do managers shift towards? a.
Personalized methods
b. Bureaucratic structures
c. Informal procedures
d. Standardized procedures
3. What is the key concept in rational organizational design? a. Flexibility in decision-
making
b. Structured procedures
c. Systematic design for efficiency
d. Personalized control
4. In bureaucracy, what is a characteristic of the organizational structure? a. Informal
hierarchy
3
, b. Personalized decision-making
c. Formal, structured side
d. Flexible procedures
5. What is a component of bureaucracy in terms of rules and procedures? a. Flexibility
in decision-making
b. Standardized guidelines
c. Informal structures
d. Personalized paperwork
Applied Multiple Choice Questions:
6. Why is understanding the limitations of direct control crucial for effective
organizational management? a. It enhances bureaucracy
b. It allows for personalized control
c. It aids in predicting circumstances
d. It helps adapt to organizational growth
7. What relevance does the adoption of indirect, impersonal control have in larger
organizations? a. It encourages personal oversight
b. It ensures flexibility in decision-making
c. It promotes consistency and efficiency
d. It emphasizes informal procedures
8. How does rational organizational design align with organizational objectives? a. By
promoting personalized control
b. Through systematic design for efficiency
c. By encouraging informal structures
d. Through flexible decision-making
9. What is the relevance of bureaucracy in maintaining order and efficiency? a. It
promotes flexibility in decision-making
b. It ensures personalized control
c. It encourages informal structures
d. It maintains order, especially in larger organizations
10. Which of the following is a component of bureaucracy related to organizational
structure? a. Flexible hierarchy
b. Standardized guidelines
c. Informal paperwork
d. Personalized records
Specific Multiple Choice Questions:
11. In Fayol's five functions, what does organizing entail? a. Giving orders and directions
b. Building necessary structures and resources
c. Monitoring and inspecting work
d. Looking to the future and predicting circumstances
12. What aids in forecasting during planning in large-scale organizations? a. Flexible
procedures
b. Standard rules and procedures
c. Personalized paperwork
d. Informal structures
13. What does coordinating involve in terms of structural, human, and resource
elements? a. Monitoring and inspecting work
b. Giving orders and directions
4
1
,Chapter 1:
1. Question 1: Explain the role of sociology in Organizational Behavior. Provide an
example of how societal norms can influence an individual's decision within an
organizational context.
2. Question 2: How does psychology contribute to our understanding of human
behavior in organizational settings? Discuss a specific experiment that helps explain
decision-making processes within organizations.
3. Question 3: Social psychology bridges sociology and psychology in the study of
Organizational Behavior. Can you illustrate how group dynamics influence individual
behavior within the workplace? Provide an example to support your answer.
4. Question 4: Anthropology plays a significant role in understanding organizational
dynamics. Share an example of how the study of cultural practices and rituals can
shed light on group behavior in an organizational context.
5. Question 5: How does the field of political science apply to the study of
Organizational Behavior? Describe how the analysis of power structures within
organizations can impact decision-making and resource allocation. Provide a real-
world example to illustrate your point.
6. Question 6: Explain the interdisciplinary nature of Organizational Behavior. How does
the incorporation of insights from various disciplines enhance our understanding of
human behavior within real organizations? Provide examples from different
disciplines to support your explanation
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the primary focus of psychology in the context of Organizational Behavior?
a. Exploring cultural practices b. Measuring human behavior c. Analyzing group
dynamics d. Understanding societal norms
2. Which discipline in Organizational Behavior examines the impact of societal norms
on individual career choices? a. Anthropology b. Social psychology c. Political science
d. Sociology
3. Social psychology in OB explores: a. How organizations are structured b. How groups
influence individual perspectives c. The impact of economic factors on behavior d.
The history of organizational development
4. In the context of Organizational Behavior, what does anthropology investigate? a.
The cognitive processes behind decision-making b. The role of power dynamics
within organizations c. Cultural rites and rituals shaping group behaviors d. The
influence of societal norms on individual actions
5. How does political science apply to Organizational Behavior? a. It studies the
cognitive processes of employees. b. It explores cultural practices within
organizations. c. It analyzes power dynamics within organizations. d. It focuses on
measuring individual behavior.
Insight Questions:
6. Explain how social psychology helps us understand the impact of peer pressure on
individual behavior in a workplace setting. Provide an example.
Application Questions:
7. Imagine you are an organizational consultant. A multinational corporation has
approached you to analyze and improve its power structures and decision-making
2
, processes. How would you apply insights from political science to address the
company's challenges? Provide a brief strategy or recommendation.
Answers:
1. b. Measuring human behavior
2. d. Sociology
3. b. How groups influence individual perspectives
4. c. Cultural rites and rituals shaping group behaviors
5. c. It analyzes power dynamics within organizations
Insight Question Answer:
6. Social psychology helps us understand how group dynamics, such as peer pressure,
can influence individual behavior in a workplace setting. For example, it can explain
how employees may conform to certain behaviors or decisions in a group context
due to social influence, even if those behaviors or decisions differ from their personal
preferences or beliefs. An example could be how team members may support a
particular project idea simply because it is popular among their colleagues, even if
they have reservations about its effectiveness.
Application Question Answer:
7. As an organizational consultant, to address the company's challenges related to
power structures and decision-making processes, I would recommend conducting a
thorough organizational power analysis. This analysis would involve:
o Identifying key power holders and decision-makers within the company.
o Evaluating the distribution of power and influence across different
departments and levels of the organization.
o Assessing the transparency and inclusivity of decision-making processes.
o Collecting feedback from employees at various levels to understand their
perspectives on power dynamics.
Chapter 2
General Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is a key concept in the limitations of direct control? a. Efficiency in
management
b. Impracticality as organizations grow
c. Personalized control
d. Flexibility in decision-making
2. In the adoption of indirect, impersonal control, what do managers shift towards? a.
Personalized methods
b. Bureaucratic structures
c. Informal procedures
d. Standardized procedures
3. What is the key concept in rational organizational design? a. Flexibility in decision-
making
b. Structured procedures
c. Systematic design for efficiency
d. Personalized control
4. In bureaucracy, what is a characteristic of the organizational structure? a. Informal
hierarchy
3
, b. Personalized decision-making
c. Formal, structured side
d. Flexible procedures
5. What is a component of bureaucracy in terms of rules and procedures? a. Flexibility
in decision-making
b. Standardized guidelines
c. Informal structures
d. Personalized paperwork
Applied Multiple Choice Questions:
6. Why is understanding the limitations of direct control crucial for effective
organizational management? a. It enhances bureaucracy
b. It allows for personalized control
c. It aids in predicting circumstances
d. It helps adapt to organizational growth
7. What relevance does the adoption of indirect, impersonal control have in larger
organizations? a. It encourages personal oversight
b. It ensures flexibility in decision-making
c. It promotes consistency and efficiency
d. It emphasizes informal procedures
8. How does rational organizational design align with organizational objectives? a. By
promoting personalized control
b. Through systematic design for efficiency
c. By encouraging informal structures
d. Through flexible decision-making
9. What is the relevance of bureaucracy in maintaining order and efficiency? a. It
promotes flexibility in decision-making
b. It ensures personalized control
c. It encourages informal structures
d. It maintains order, especially in larger organizations
10. Which of the following is a component of bureaucracy related to organizational
structure? a. Flexible hierarchy
b. Standardized guidelines
c. Informal paperwork
d. Personalized records
Specific Multiple Choice Questions:
11. In Fayol's five functions, what does organizing entail? a. Giving orders and directions
b. Building necessary structures and resources
c. Monitoring and inspecting work
d. Looking to the future and predicting circumstances
12. What aids in forecasting during planning in large-scale organizations? a. Flexible
procedures
b. Standard rules and procedures
c. Personalized paperwork
d. Informal structures
13. What does coordinating involve in terms of structural, human, and resource
elements? a. Monitoring and inspecting work
b. Giving orders and directions
4
