Directions: Please answer 5 of the following questions. Each question is worth 10 points. If a question has parts (e.g., a, b, c etc.), you must answer the parts as well. Responses can be concise but must be well written. They should show that you have read/reviewed chapters 13, 14, 4, 5 and 15 in the text, as well as the associated additional readings, and that you have taken the time to engage in critical thinking. Please include your answers to all the questions in your first post (thread).
1) For a leader, which source(s) of power do you consider most effective? Explain.
2) Leaders shouldn’t abuse power, but they also shouldn’t relinquish it totally or according to an additional reading, “fritter it away.” Do you see any downside of leaders promoting participative management or showing consideration by accommodating employee requests? Explain.
3) How can emotions affect negotiation?
4) One of the additional readings gives 4 ways to overcome a bad first impression. Do you believe negative first impressions can be overcome? Explain.
5) If a company wants to embrace diversity, all it needs to do is make employment decisions based on merit, as objective evaluation of individuals will ensure diversity. True/False? Explain your perspective.
6) Scenario: You are an HR manager (with both formal and informal power), in a company that has been accused of gender discrimination. It is perceived that few women are hired, and those that become employees usually hit the glass ceiling, whereas men rise in the hierarchy without a problem.
What specific strategies would you use to change the perception of the company?
7) Scenario: You are a Sales manager, and one of your salespeople is severely under-performing. You believe in operant conditioning, and decide to use it.
What specifically would you do?
8) One of the additional readings provides some insight about why organizations don’t learn. It mentions some principles covered in the text (e.g., attribution bias), and some other assertions as well (e.g., bias toward “experts”).
Reflect on how you would feel as an employee if your input was ignored by your manager because you were not perceived as an “expert.” Knowing that your input would benefit the organization, how would you handle that slight by your manager?
9) Although challenging, managing diversity effectively is beneficial. One of the readings states reasons why diversity programs sometimes fail, and provides alternative recommendations.
a) Are you in agreement with the reasons why diversity programs fail? Explain.
b) Are you on board with the recommended tools to promote diversity or do you have some concerns? Explain.
10) Let’s end with a controversial news story, about a picture of a woman (perceived by some to be beautiful and perceived by others as too racy), that sparked much debate:
http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2017/10/01/pregnant-plus-size-woman-fired-after-posting-body-positive-engagement-pictures.html
a) Do you think the bank was discriminatory and demonstrated insensitivity to diversity, or that the bank was rightfully concerned about its image? Explain.
b) Employees have rights as well as responsibilities as regards their behavior. Do you think this employee’s rights were infringed upon, or that she didn’t fulfill her responsibilities as an employee? Explain.
c) If you were the leader with the power to make this employment decision, would you have fired her (and if not, what would you have done instead)? Explain.
