Organizational Behavior Global Edition 17th Edition Test Bank by Stephen P. Robbins, Timothy A. Judge

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Organizational Behavior, 17e (Robbins)

Chapter 2   Diversity in Organizations

 

1) Kimberly Ortiz strongly believes in working for a company that promotes diversity. She believes that such organizations are respectful of differences and allow employees more exposure. She recently attended an interview where she was told that the company follows policies that focus on organizational diversity. However, when she finally joined the company, she had a strong feeling that the company’s claim was not true. Which of the following, if true, weakens Kimberly’s belief that the company does not encourage diversity?

1. Eighty-five percent of the top management positions in the company are held by men.
2. She is the only African-American member in the entire workforce.
3. The workforce is not dominated by any specific ethnic or racial group.
4. The previous company she worked for made a conscious effort to employ an equal number of men and women.
5. Her team members believe that they are treated equally in spite of differences in performance.

Answer:  C

Explanation:  C) The fact that the workforce is not dominated by any one ethnic or racial group indicates that the workplace has a mix of all ethnicities and races and does not discriminate. The fact that 85 percent of the top management positions of the company are held by men works against the argument because it shows that the company is biased toward men. In addition, if Kimberly is the only African-American member in the entire workforce, it shows that the company is biased toward other racial groups. Kimberly’s previously working for a company that believes in gender equality is irrelevant to this argument. Her team members being treated equally in spite of differences in performance represents unfair discrimination. It works against the argument.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Reflective thinking

Difficulty:  Hard

Quest. Category:  Critical Thinking

 

2) ________ diversity refers to diversity in observable attributes such as race, ethnicity, sex, and age.

1. Psychographic
2. Additive
3. Surface-level
4. Disjunctive
5. Conjunctive

Answer:  C

Explanation:  C) Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

3) Which of the following is true with respect to surface-level diversity? A) It refers to psychographic characteristics of the members of a group.

1. People with surface-level diversity will also share deep-level diversity.
2. It indicates differences of values, emotions and personality traits between people.
3. It refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender and race.
4. It represents a person’s or group’s thought processes and feelings.

Answer:  D

Explanation:  D) Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

4) Differences in ________ indicate surface-level diversity.

1. personality
2. values
3. style of work
4. ethnicity
5. attitudes

Answer:  D

Explanation:  D) Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

5) Which of the following most likely indicates surface-level similarity?

1. Tim and Jake are colleagues who take risks and are quick decision makers.
2. The employees at GenSys prefer teamwork over individual assignments.
3. Nina and Chuck are colleagues who share similar views on corporate social responsibility.
4. Jane and Sara grew up in the same town and went to school together.
5. Hannah and Nate are both introspective and tend to be slow to reach decisions. Answer: D

Explanation:  D) Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

6) ________ diversity refers to diversity with respect to attributes that are less easy to observe initially but that can be inferred after more direct experience.

1. Surface-level
2. Additive
3. Demographic
4. Deep-level
5. Conjunctive

Answer:  D

Explanation:  D) As people get to know one another, they become less concerned about demographic differences if they see themselves as sharing more important characteristics, such as personality and values, that represent deep-level diversity. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

7) Which of the following best represents deep-level similarity?

1. colleagues who both come from the same neighborhood in Alabama
2. employees who are college graduates with a degree in business management
3. employees who speak Spanish and share similar religious values
4. employees who seek challenges in assignments and like to work collaboratively
5. employees in their mid-thirties with 10 years’ work experience in the publishing industry Answer: D

Explanation:  D) Demographics mostly reflect surface-level diversity, not thoughts and feelings, and can lead employees to perceive one another through stereotypes and assumptions. However, evidence has shown that as people get to know one another, they become less concerned about demographic differences if they see themselves as sharing more important characteristics, such as personality and values, that represent deep-level diversity. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

8) Malcolm Industries recently hired a large number of workers for the company’s new construction factory in Colorado. During the hiring process, the management made a clear effort to recruit physically strong individuals because the work at the factory involves manual labor. The jobs need to be performed by individuals who have the energy and physical stamina to work for long hours. Which of the following surface-level characteristics did the company most likely concentrate on when selecting the new workers?

1. age
2. values
3. beliefs
4. religion
5. personality

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

9) A difference in ________ would indicate deep-level diversity.

1. gender
2. age
3. ethnicity
4. disability
5. values

Answer:  E

Explanation:  E) Deep-level diversity comprises differences in values, personality, and work preferences that become progressively more important for determining similarity as people get to know one another better.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

10) ________ differences between people represent deep-level diversity.

1. Race
2. Age
3. Ethnicity
4. Gender
5. Personality

Answer:  E

Explanation:  E) Deep-level diversity comprises differences in values, personality, and work preferences that become progressively more important for determining similarity as people get to know one another better.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

11) The management at Climate Action Development needs to recruit campaign managers for its Renewable Energy Project. They are looking for candidates who are assertive, extroverted, and who can tackle challenges head-on. Which of the following deep-level characteristics should they focus on to best help them recruit the right candidate for the job?

1. race
2. age
3. ethnicity
4. values
5. personality

Answer:  E

Explanation:  E) Deep-level diversity comprises differences in values, personality, and work preferences that become progressively more important for determining similarity as people get to know one another better.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

• Since 1950, the percentage of females in the U.S. workforce has risen from approximately 30 percent to 47 percent.

Answer:  TRUE

Explanation:  In 1950 only 29.6 percent of the U.S. workforce was female, but by 2014, women comprised 47 percent.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Demographics mostly reflect deep-level rather than surface-level diversity.

Answer:  FALSE

Explanation:  Demographics mostly reflect surface-level diversity, not thoughts and feelings, and can lead employees to perceive one another through stereotypes and assumptions. However, evidence has shown that as people get to know one another, they become less concerned about demographic differences if they see themselves as sharing more important characteristics, such as personality and values, that represent deep-level diversity. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Two colleagues who bond over similarities of growing up in a French-speaking locality can be said to have deep-level similarities rather than surface-level similarities.

Answer:  FALSE

Explanation:  Differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes are known as surface-level diversity. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Application

• Differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, give rise to surface-level diversity. The Atalissa scandal serves as a reminder that true fairness is not just a warm feeling toward the disabled, but the ethical responsibility of us all.

Answer:  TRUE

Explanation:  Differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes are known as surface-level diversity. The exploitation of the disabled men in the opening story is a tragic example of mistreating people for the ways in which they are different. Not only were the men abused by their supposed caretakers, but they also suffered workplace discrimination that kept them in debilitating roles without regard to their abilities and needs. In this chapter, we look at how organizations should work to maximize the potential contributions of a diverse workforce.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Application

 

• Describe some of the changes in the age 55 and over workforce.

Answer:  Workers over the age of 55 are an increasingly large portion of the workforce as well, both in the United States and globally. In the United States, the 55-and-older age group will increase from 19.5 percent of the labor force in 2010 to 25.2 percent by 2020. These changes are increasingly reflected in the makeup of managerial and professional jobs.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Explain the play of surface-level similarity and deep-level diversity in a workplace environment with the help of an example.

Answer:  Yoko and Kishi who work in a finance firm both hail from Miyagi. They speak Japanese fluently and easily bonded over their shared culture and love for karaoke. Such similarities refer to surface-level similarities. However, a few months later, when they had to work on an account together, they faced several disagreements due to differences in their work styles and personalities. Yoko was more impulsive and liked to make quick decisions. On the other hand, Kishi liked to deliberate over decisions and implementation processes. In addition, Yoko was optimistic about situations whereas Kishi was overly critical and skeptical about most processes. These fundamental differences in beliefs and thought processes resulted in clashes between them. Such differences represent deep-level diversity. LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Hard

Quest. Category:  Synthesis

• Define surface-level diversity and deep-level diversity.

Answer:  Surface-level diversity refers to differences in easily perceived characteristics, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, and disability, that do not necessarily reflect the ways people think or feel but that may activate certain stereotypes. On the other hand, differences in values, personality, and work preferences that become progressively more important for determining similarity as people get to know one another better are categorized under deep-level diversity.

LO:  2.1: Describe the two major forms of workplace diversity.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• The human resources department of Orbit Bank believes in being unbiased toward all employees and treating them fairly. They believe it is crucial that the company treat all their employees equally. However Susan Daniels, an employee at the bank, recently filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that she was discriminated against. Which of the following, if true, best justifies Susan’s action?

1. The company did not give her preferential treatment even though she was from the host country.
2. She was asked whether she was over eighteen during the first round in the interview process.
3. Her colleagues expressed their dissatisfaction over their pay and severance packages.
4. She had faced a similar situation of discrimination in her previous company.
5. She was given the same incentives as her colleagues in spite of performing better than them.

Answer:  E

Explanation:  E) Orbit Bank discriminated against Susan by giving her the same incentives as her colleagues even though she performed better than them. If the company gave her preferential treatment because she was from the host country, the company would then be discriminating against the other employees. Asking whether she is over eighteen years of age is a question that interviewers are allowed to ask during the interview process to ensure the candidate is legally allowed to gain employment. Whether Susan faced a similar situation in the previous company is irrelevant to the argument. Susan’s colleagues stating their unhappiness about their pay and severance package is not related to Susan filing a lawsuit against the company for discriminating against her.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Reflective thinking

Difficulty:  Hard

Quest. Category:  Critical Thinking

20) In a workplace, ________ involves overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.

1. intimidation
2. risk aversion
3. inequity aversion
4. optimism bias
5. ambiguity aversion

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) In a workplace, intimidation involves overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

21) April’s colleague Nathan has consistently pestered her to go out on a date with him. Though she has refused his offer several times, he keeps persisting. She found an envelope on her desk from Nathan with inappropriate pictures and cartoons, which left her infuriated. She now intends to go discuss the matter with the human resource department of her company. Which of the following forms of discrimination is April most likely to cite?

1. sexual harassment
2. cyberstalking
3. mobbing
4. exclusion
5. electronic harassment

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Sexual harassment refers to unwanted sexual advances and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that create a hostile or offensive work environment. LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

22) Which of the following refers to a kind of discrimination that refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees?

1. intimidation
2. impact bias
3. inequity aversion
4. framing effect
5. benefaction

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Intimidation is a kind of discrimination which refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

23) Which of the following is the best example of the use of intimidation?

1. Anya’s boss, Kira, sets difficult targets and hints that Anya may lose her job if she doesn’t meet them.
2. Jill’s manager, Steve, rarely considers her business ideas, but he consistently praises the contributions of Jill’s colleague, Emily.
3. Natasha’s colleagues often make jokes using cultural or ethnic stereotypes.
4. Although Kathleen had spent a longer time in the organization, her colleague Gary was promoted to a management position.
5. Jane’s colleagues recently forgot to invite her to a team lunch, a fact that caused her great distress.

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Intimidation is a kind of discrimination which refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

24) Hazel Samuels has been working at her company for the past two years and consistently gets yelled at by her manager even when she is not at fault. He often makes derogatory references to her ethnicity. In addition, during team meetings, she is his target for practical jokes and nasty pranks. She is extremely upset and decides not to be subjected to such treatment any longer. Which of the following kinds of discrimination is she most likely to report to the human resource department in such a situation?

1. intimidation
2. sexual harassment
3. hazing
4. mobbing
5. inclivity

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Intimidation is a kind of discrimination which refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

25) Which of the following is the best example of mockery as a tool of discriminatory treatment in organizations?

1. Rifka’s supervisor often stereotypes Rifka because of her ethnic heritage and makes jokes about her ethnicity.
2. Because she is considerably older than the rest of her team, Hannah’s colleagues often do not invite her to team lunches or informal team get-togethers.
3. Joan’s boss sets impossible targets and reprimands her in front of her colleagues if she fails to complete them on time.
4. Sheena is the only African-American employee in her department and often feels left out of office jokes and gossip.
5. Most of Leanne’s co-workers are male and share inappropriate jokes at the office.

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Mockery often refers to jokes or jokes about negative stereotypes.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

26) An employee who may be made fun of because he is an Arab-American is being subjected to ________, a kind of discrimination in work environments.

1. mockery and insults
2. vandalism
3. cyberstalking
4. exclusion
5. inclivity

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Mockery and insults often refer to jokes or negative stereotypes. For instance, Arab-Americans that may be asked whether they were carrying bombs or were members of terrorist organizations is an example of mockery and insults.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

27) Stacy Hanes is an African-American woman who has recently taken her first job and does not seem to like the work environment at all. Her colleagues put down her ideas at team meetings and refer to them as “stupid.” In addition, they make fun of her race and often ask her if she is educated enough to work for the company. Which of the following kinds of discrimination is Hanes most likely subject to?

1. mockery
2. sexual harassment
3. stalking
4. deception
5. inclivity

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Jokes or negative stereotypes, which are sometimes the result of jokes taken too far, refer to mockery and insults.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

28) ________, which may occur intentionally or unintentionally, refers to keeping certain people in a work place away from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring. A) Exclusion

1. Mockery
2. Stalking
3. Ragging
4. Bullying

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Exclusion of certain people from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring may occur unintentionally. For instance, many women in finance claim they are assigned to marginal job roles or are given light workloads that do not lead to promotion.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

29) Jill Ivey has been working as a sales executive at Orbit Bank for the last two years. However, she has noticed that she is often not given an opportunity to attend training programs that her team members attend every quarter. She also is disappointed about the fact that she never gets to handle corporate clients, which provides better chances of a promotion. Which of the following kinds of discrimination is she most likely to have been subjected to?

1. exclusion
2. mockery
3. gaslighting
4. destabilization
5. mobbing

Answer:  A

Explanation:  A) Exclusion of certain people from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring may occur unintentionally. For instance, many women in finance claim they are assigned to marginal job roles or are given light workloads that do not lead to promotion.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Analytical thinking

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application

 

30) Women being assigned marginal job roles that do not lead to promotion is an example of the ________ form of discrimination.

1. hazing
2. gaslighting
3. coercion
4. exclusion
5. battery

Answer:  D

Explanation:  D) The exclusion of certain people from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring may occur unintentionally. For instance, many women in finance claim they are assigned to marginal job roles or are given light workloads that do not lead to promotion.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

31) Which of the following is true with respect to workplace discrimination?

1. Discrimination occurs more at lower levels in the organization than higher levels.
2. It may lead to reduced productivity and citizenship behavior.
3. Only intentional discrimination is addressed by diversity management efforts.
4. Forms of discrimination like exclusion are easy to root out.
5. The discriminators are invariably aware of their action toward the victim.

Answer:  B

Explanation:  B) Discrimination can occur in many ways, and its effects can be just as varied depending on the organizational context and the personal biases of its members. Discrimination can lead to serious negative consequences for employers, including reduced productivity and citizenship behavior, negative conflicts, and increased turnover.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Unfair discrimination involves noticing and being aware of individual characteristics among people in a group.

Answer:  FALSE

Explanation:  Unfair discrimination involves overlooking individual characteristics and assuming everyone in a group is the same. This discrimination is often very harmful to organizations and employees.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Effective diversity management involves eliminating unfair discrimination.

Answer:  TRUE

Explanation:  Effective diversity management involves eliminating unfair discrimination. Unfair discrimination involves overlooking individual characteristics and assuming everyone in a group is the same.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Women being passed over for promotion even when they are performing better than men is an example of a discriminatory practice.

Answer:  TRUE

Explanation:  Actions taken by representatives of an organization that deny equal opportunity to perform or unequal rewards for performance are known as discriminatory policies or practices. LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Concept

• Denying overseas assignments to certain deserving employees over others is a form of exclusion, a kind of workplace discrimination.

Answer:  TRUE

Explanation:  Exclusion of certain people from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring, which can occur unintentionally, refers to exclusion, a form of workplace discrimination.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Ethical understanding and reasoning

Difficulty:  Easy

Quest. Category:  Application

 

• Explain how surface-level similarity can lead to unfair discrimination. Substantiate your answer with the help of a scenario.

Answer:  Regina works as a sales manager in Rhode Island’s Corporation Bank. She strongly believes that as a manager, she plays an important role to ensure that all employees are treated equally in the company. She notices that one of her sales teams comprises Teresa, Gloria, and Antonio, who all hail from Madrid. All three graduated from the same university and began their careers with Alliance Bank. In the last few months, Regina has had a chance to review Teresa’s work and notices that she has made an exceptional number of sales in the past year, way above her set targets. When it comes to giving bonuses, she assumes that since Teresa, Gloria, and Antonio have such similar educational and professional backgrounds, they are bound to have similar productivity standards. She offers all three of them the same bonus without analyzing individual performances, assuming they performed equally well. Regina’s behavior in this scenario can be characterized as unfair discrimination. A person who undertakes unfair discrimination rather than looking at individual characteristics assumes everyone in a group is the same. She is stereotyping all three employees because they have surface-level similarities of similar educational and professional backgrounds.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness. AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Hard

Quest. Category:  Synthesis

 

37) Compare and contrast unfair discrimination and diversity management.

Answer:  Unfair discrimination assumes everyone in a group is the same. This discrimination is often very harmful to organizations and employees. Diversity management, on the other hand, makes everyone more aware of and sensitive to the needs and differences of others. This definition highlights the fact that diversity programs include and are meant for everyone. For instance, if a manager promotes all employees in a team when only one employee deserves a promotion, the manager is engaging in unfair discrimination. If the manager, on the other hand, makes his/her team recognize and respect differences between team members, the manager is undertaking diversity management.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Synthesis

• Explain three different kinds of workplace discrimination.

Answer:  Sexual harassment refers to verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or offensive work environment. Intimidation refers to overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees. Exclusion is another kind of workplace discrimination where certain people are excluded from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring, and it can occur unintentionally.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Concept

 

• Compare and contrast exclusion and intimidation at workplaces with the help of an example. Answer: Ally Beal has been working in a law firm for the last two years and has been bullied by her manager ever since she joined. She is given targets that are impossible to complete within the given time frame. When she is unable to complete her work, her manager admonishes her in front of everyone. Intimidation may be defined as overt threats or bullying directed at members of specific groups of employees. In contrast, exclusion involves certain people being excluded from job opportunities, social events, discussions, or informal mentoring. If Beal is excluded from discussions that involve making decisions about client’s accounts, which are being attended by all other team members, she is being subjected to exclusion.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Synthesis

 

• With the help of an example, explain incivility as a form of indiscrimination at workplaces. Answer: Incivility refers to disrespectful treatment, including behaving in an aggressive manner, interrupting a person, or ignoring his/her opinions. For instance, if Mark’s colleagues never listen to his ideas or suggestions, he is experiencing incivility. In addition, incivility may also involve his colleagues behaving in a hostile or threatening manner. This form of discrimination is especially hard to root out because it is impossible to observe and may occur simply because the actor is not aware of the effects of his/her actions.

LO:  2.2: Demonstrate how workplace discrimination undermines organizational effectiveness.

AACSB:  Diverse and multicultural work environments

Difficulty:  Moderate

Quest. Category:  Application