Questions and Answers of Management And Organisational Behaviour

Discuss critically the relevance and applications to organisational effectiveness of:(i) Total quality management; and(ii) Business process re-engineering.
‘Many top executives make the point that they never had any formal management education or qualifications. Yet, many organisations waste a fortune paying for the development of staff and then
Debate fully the importance of effective management to organisational effectiveness. What do you believe arethe essential skills of a successful manager?
‘There are varying measures of organisational performance that can be viewed at different levels, over different time spans and in different ways by competing interest groups. Given the wide range
Explain fully to what areas of concern you would give particular attention in designing a management development programme for an organisation of your choice.
‘Despite all my studies it is difficult to find agreed answers on how best to improve organisational performance. And understanding organisational behaviour and the effective management of people
Discuss what you believe is the relevance and practical applications of the EFQM Excellence Model.
Detail the questions you would ask, and the specific criteria you would apply, in attempting to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of your own organisation, or some other organisation of your
Give your own views on how you see the future of management and the nature of successful organisations in the future.
You are required to:a. Rate the following items according to the scaleWhat is required is your genuine beliefs and feelings about each item, not what others think or believe, but what you personally
Obtain the mission/vision statements for three different organisations (including your university, college or work organisation).Critically evaluate the extent to which each of these statements:■
‘Mission statements may appear to be a good idea in theory but the majority fail to deliver and are no more than a meaningless public relations exercise. The only thing a grandiose mission
To what extent do you believe that profit maximisation is a sufficient criterion for the effective management of a business organisation? What other indicators might be applied in terms of
a. Detail fully what you believe are the social responsibilities or obligations of your own, or some other work organisation of your choice, and identify the major stakeholders.b. Give specific
Assess critically the practical relevance of the balanced scorecard.
‘A National Health Service Trust chairperson was heavily criticised for maintaining that the primary loyalty of doctors was owed to their employers and that their duty to patients came third, after
‘An organisation cannot develop, or change. It is the people comprising the organisation who determine the culture of the organisation, develop and change. The study of organisation culture and
Forget business workshops and case studies – recessions provide real-time opportunities for executive learning as old myths are brought into question and management innovations emerge. Historically
Using the classifications of organisational culture proposed by Handy, and by Deal and Kennedy, you are required to:1. Compare and contrast influences on the development of culture in any two
Compare the possible advantages and disadvantages of remote working from the perspectives of (a). Mobile workers(b). Office-based workers.
ICTs have helped to enable the globalisation and ‘offshoring’ of certain types of work from the West to other parts of the world. How important do you believe technology is compared with other
Structure is the defining feature of a work organisation. However good the goals and objectives, systems of management or quality of its members, an organisation will not achieve optimum performance
Discuss the interrelationships between organisation structure and corporate strategy.
Give your views on the purpose and importance of structure. To what extent do you think there are clearly identified different levels in the structure of an organisation?
Personalities are an important part of the work organisation. Whatever its formal structure, in practice the actual operations of the organisation and success in meeting its objectives will depend
Explain the main determinants in design of an effective organisation structure. How effective do you think the structure is in your own university?
Many organisational conflicts arise through element functions, such as human resource management, overstepping responsibilities and failure to recognise the primary purpose as support to the
Discuss critically the continuing importance of the hierarchy.
Attention to basic principles and considerations in the design of structure, such as division of work, grouping of people and extent of decentralisation, is essential for effective management and
Prepare your own diagrams to help explain: (i) Line and functional organisation;(ii) A matrix form of organisation structure. What are the reasons for adopting each of these forms of structure and
Advancement through the hierarchy is seen as an indicator of career progression, recognition of merit and reward for achievement. Organisations are a form of social stratification. removing the
Explain how the contingency approach differs from other approaches to organisation and management.
The idea of a matrix structure may appeal to those critical of a so-called prescriptive approach to organisation design. But in reality a matrix structure is an unnecessary complication. it is
Contrast ‘mechanistic’ and ‘organic’ systems of management practice and structure. What is the significance of this distinction?
Although no longer common in many organisations, and despite their weaknesses, a chart portraying a clear representation of the overall shape and structure of an organisation with indication of broad
What are your views on the influence of advances in computerisation and telecommunications for patterns of structure and work organisation?
Students of organisational behaviour often express a strong preference for working within an organic organisation. But then many express concerns about possible lack of superior competence, clear
Discuss critically questions raised by increased demands for flexibility and greater freedom of choice for individuals at work.
According to the contingency approach, different situational variables may have some relevance for certain types of organisations at certain times given a particular set of circumstances. This it all
To what extent would you agree with the contention that a logical structure for organisation is better for efficiency and morale than a structure allowed to develop around personalities? What are the
Remote working, telecommuting and homeworking are clearly the way forward and should be the main feature of organisation design. attention to traditional views on formal structure, and managerial
The wider adoption of mobile devices, social networking, the internet, artificial intelligence and robotics have the potential to create mass unemployment in the near future. What are the main
Outline and comment upon ways in which users can participate in the adoption and introduction of new technology.
Technology is the tool that enables people to perform. Managers must have the understanding and skills of how to make the best use of technology, and knowledge of likely new technologies that could
It is not unusual for the outcomes of technical change to fail to match up to expectations. What can cause this gap and how might it be prevented?
Technology in itself does not reduce the need for the exercise of human skill and decision-making. it is the way in which technology is actually applied within organisations that can cause this to
What objectives should managers set for the introduction of technological change? draw upon case study research to support your answer.
Just because you are required to use iT equipment to do your job, it does not make you a ‘knowledge worker’. What do you understand by the concept of a ‘knowledge worker’? How useful is it as
To what extent do you agree with the contention that ‘decision-making with respect to technical change is an inherently political process’?
The use of ICT as a means of increased managerial surveillance should be strictly limited by serious concerns for the social and ethical issues that arise from monitoring workers’ activities and
New technology has resolved the control question. Managers can now draw back from a Tayloristic approach to the supervision of employees.’ discuss.
A manager who tries to ban the use of social media sites in the workplace is like King canute trying to turn back the tides. To what extent do you agree? What restrictions, if any, do you believe
Discuss the contention that a theoretical or practical perspective that sees technology as having independent effects upon people and organisations is misguided.
Publicly available online reviews of organisational performance provide the only quick and effective way for prospective customers to judge the likely quality of that organisation’s employees in
In what ways can ICT lead to the intensification of work? To what extent do you think that such developments are inevitable?
To make the best use of technology we must use it to support and develop the effectiveness of organisations, and not be tempted to adapt business activities to the technology. The tail must not be
How useful do you believe is Foucault’s ‘panopticon’ metaphor for understanding the surveillance potential of ICTs?
Critically consider what, if any, new issues social media and social networking raise for the study of technology and organisational behaviour.
Criticisms of control are totally misplaced. although they may not always openly admit it, most members of staff want to know exactly what is expected of them, be given clear lines of direction and
Give your own views on the controversial nature of management control. what do you see as the purpose and operation of control in work organisations?
The controversial nature of control means that some writers avoid the word and use alternative terms such as ‘monitoring’ or ‘evaluating’. But whatever wording is used, the process of
Detail, with supporting examples, the essential elements of a management control system.
Technology is the ultimate determinant of an effective control system, whether for mass-production systems, virtual teams or remote working, personal surveillance or working from home. There is not
Explain fully the main factors that are likely to affect resistance to, and the successful implementation of, management control systems.
Control systems would avoid all criticisms and negative reactions if the choice of strategy and essential characteristics were compatible with the nature and culture of the particular organisation.
Discuss critically the use of technology as a determinant of an effective control system, including any legal or social considerations.
Power is often associated with coercive and repressive features of social life but it is an inherent and necessary part of work organisations. what is important is the motivation for the use of power
Debate the extent to which you believe too much attention is given to financial and accounting systems of control at the expense of behavioural considerations.
Lack of power and influence is a potential source of frustration and stress. in reality, most people in the work organisation actively seek power. it is a natural characteristic of human behaviour
Explain fully the importance of the concept of power to management and organisational behaviour.
It is a poor manager who relies on the exercise of formal power and position within the hierarchical structure of control. personal power is the only way to achieve effective leadership influence and
Discuss critically the nature of pluralistic approaches to power and give your own practical examples.
The idea of empowerment and delegation is fine in theory. But if managers are still held accountable for performance of staff and any adverse consequences of their actions, it is only right that they
How would you explain the organisational and personal relationships between a manager and subordinate staff created by the process of empowerment?
Reasons for lack of effective delegation are easy to understand. it is faster and easier to do the work yourself and there is a reluctance to trust other people. The main problem is that few people
As a departmental manager, explain fully how you would attempt to realise the full advantages of delegation without loss of control over subordinate staff.
Discuss critically what you see as the likely consequences of a manager exercising close personal supervision as a means of maintaining control and power over the work of subordinate staff.
The most successful and enduring organisations are also those that give the greatest attention to the well-being of their staff and to their broader social and ethical responsibilities. To what
Explain fully the nature, purpose and importance of corporate strategy.
Understandably, much attention is given to the importance of corporate strategy but not enough attention is normally given to the human factor or how the strategy impacts on people in the
Identify examples of objectives and policy in your own university or organisation. to what extent do you agree with dryburgh’s assertion that SMART objectives are really dumb?
Successful and enduring organisations may well have a clear ideology and idealistic motivation but members of staff are more likely to be committed to the goals and performance of the organisation by
To what extent do you believe profit maximisation is a realistic criterion for the effective management of a business organisation? What other indicators might be applied in terms of organisational
The single, most important objective for the business organisation is profit maximisation, ideally combined with high monetary rewards for members of staff. this is the bottom line and the only
Discuss critically the practical worth of value or mission statements and the extent to which they are likely to inspire members of staff. Support your answer with actual examples.
An NHS trust chairperson was heavily criticised for maintaining that the primary loyalty of doctors was owed to their employers and that their duty to patients came third, after themselves. What is
Explain fully the concept and ramifications of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
In George bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion (which later became the basis for the very successful musical My Fair Lady ), eliza doolittle’s father complains that he is too poor to afford
How would you attempt to explain the meaning and significance of organisational values and business ethics?
Of course guidelines on values and business ethics are important, but in times of economic recession organisation survival and obligations to the workforce should take precedence. it is
Compare and contrast the shareholder-centred and stakeholder approaches to social responsibilities for business. Which perspective do you tend to favour?
The stakeholder view of a business may appear ethically attractive but is too idealistic. the shareholder-centred view consistent with maximising owner wealth makes more sense. Without this wealth
Comment critically on the code of ethics (or code of professional conduct) for your university or organisation; or if one does not exist, draw up your own suggested code.
Provided companies comply fully with the laws of the land it is unfair to criticise them for behaving in a manner that benefits them most, even if this might be regarded as a breach of their social
Debate the extent to which you believe government legislation brings about a genuine advancement in the social responsibilities of organisations.
The harsh truth is that without EU intervention, government legislation and the threat of adverse press or television reports, the majority of organisations would give little regard to their social
Give your own views on the importance of, and amount of attention you believe should be given to, corporate social responsibilities and ethical behaviour.
The socialisation of new members into an organisation’s culture and climate is no more than a management control system and manipulation of the individual. it is therefore unethical and should be
Explain how you would attempt to explain the concept of organisational culture. What factors do you believe influence the development of culture?
It seems generally accepted that any organisational change will affect culture and that one of the main hurdles to effective adaption to change is the culture of the organisation. culture and change

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