Downloadable Test Bank – Essentials of Organizational Behavior by Scandura, 4e

After taking charge of a customer service team, Elena notices that employees respond differently to feedback and changes in routine. What would give her the most useful basis for understanding these differences?

• A. Examining her own personality without considering the characteristics of her staff
• B. Concentrating on reshaping employees’ personalities to fit her management style
• C. Considering how her own personality and those of her employees influence workplace interactions
• D. Making personality change a central objective for herself and every team member

Arman finds it difficult to work with Joel, an employee whose communication style and reactions differ markedly from his own. Which approach would best help Arman manage their working relationship?

• A. Trying to replace Joel’s characteristic personality with a different one
• B. Attempting to change his own personality to resemble Joel’s
• C. Exploring how contrasting personality characteristics affect behavior at work
• D. Assuming that stable personality traits make improvement in the relationship unlikely

Sofia supervises two capable employees whose contrasting work styles repeatedly lead to misunderstandings. She wants an intervention that specifically develops their understanding of personality differences. Which action most directly serves this purpose?

• A. Requiring both employees to adopt the same attitudes and working methods
• B. Separating their responsibilities so that they no longer need to collaborate
• C. Arranging mediation focused on settling the terms of their current disagreement
• D. Guiding them through an examination of their personality preferences and how these shape their interactions

Jonas, Felix, and Mateo grew up in the same household. Jonas and Felix share biological parents, while Mateo was adopted and is not biologically related to either. Which expectation is most consistent with a genetic contribution to personality?

• A. Their shared upbringing should produce nearly identical personalities in all three.
• B. Jonas and Felix may resemble each other more closely than either resembles Mateo.
• C. Mateo should differ from both siblings on every personality characteristic.
• D. Jonas and Mateo should be the most similar pair because they were raised together.

Maya is recruiting for a sales position that requires approaching unfamiliar clients, establishing rapport, and confidently presenting proposals. Among the following Big Five traits, which is most directly relevant to these interpersonal demands?

• A. Extraversion
• B. Agreeableness
• C. Neuroticism
• D. Openness to experience

Daniel plans assignments well before their deadlines, maintains orderly records, and follows through on commitments without close supervision. Which Big Five dimension is most clearly reflected in this pattern?

• A. Openness to experience
• B. Conscientiousness
• C. Agreeableness
• D. Neuroticism

Hassan is concerned that his employees’ habitual responses to pressure may be increasing their stress and affecting their health. Which coping approach would be most helpful for him to encourage?

• A. Building supportive relationships and seeking assistance from trusted people
• B. Keeping distress private and suppressing discussion of difficulties
• C. Adopting a more passive and less resilient response to challenges
• D. Dwelling repeatedly on upsetting situations without taking constructive action

Aisha introduces a development program intended to strengthen employees’ hope, confidence, optimism, and resilience. If the program successfully increases psychological capital, which outcome would be a reasonable expectation?

• A. A decline in employees’ work performance
• B. Lower satisfaction with their jobs
• C. Greater energy, involvement, and engagement in their work
• D. Automatic resolution of conflicts between work and personal responsibilities

Karim enjoys persuading potential customers, negotiating agreements, and taking the lead on business opportunities. As he prepares to establish a company, which RIASEC interest category best describes this pattern?

• A. Realistic
• B. Artistic
• C. Enterprising
• D. Conventional

Olivia is recruiting an accountant whose duties will include reconciling financial records, checking numerical accuracy, and following established procedures. Which Vocational Preference Inventory profile would most closely match these activities?

• A. Conventional
• B. Enterprising
• C. Artistic
• D. Social

Although people can change with experience, their broad personality characteristics generally show continuity over time.

• A. True
• B. False

The MBTI is widely used in nonclinical settings, including workplaces, to support discussion of personality preferences and individual differences.

• A. True
• B. False

The interpersonal advantages of high self-monitoring are independent of the social context in which it occurs.

• A. True
• B. False

Routine management interventions are generally sufficient to substantially reshape employees’ enduring personality traits.

• A. True
• B. False

The MBTI organizes combinations of personality preferences into five possible type profiles.

• A. True
• B. False