SCENARIO-BASED QUESTIONS

Application of Sources of Resistance To Change

Your supervisor has restructured the jobs within your division and some of your colleagues are not pleased. Don is concerned that he will not be able to perform the new tasks. Since he is paid by the amount he produces, his pay might be reduced. Tony is afraid that his job may be in jeopardy and he may be laid off. Doug dislikes uncertainty and has developed a negative attitude.

1. The source of Tony’s resistance is _____.a. habitb. selective information processingc. securityd. group inertiae. none of the above

2. The source of Don’s resistance is _____.a. habitb. economicc. securityd. structural inertiae. none of the above

3. The source of Doug’s resistance is _____.a. habitb. economicc. selective information processingd. fear of the unknowne. none of the above

4. Since the restructuring, your division has had trouble filling the open positions with appropriate candidates. The selection processes used by human resources have not yet adjusted to the new criteria required for the restructured job positions. This problem is an example of which kind of resistance to change?a. structural inertiab. limited focus of changec. group inertiad. threat to expertisee. threat to established power relationships

Application of Overcoming Resistance to Change

Your company, Johnson Farm Products, has decided to expand its traditional business serving farm owners in order to include home gardeners in its customer base. This change is not met with enthusiasm by the sales personnel who have had good long-term relationships with area farmers. You know that the change will be difficult if you cannot overcome the resistance of the sales personnel and obtain their cooperation.

1. You have brought in the local extension agent to explain demographics and the changing nature of the area in which you live. The method for overcoming resistance that you have chosen is _____.a. education and communicationb. participationc. negotiationd. manipulation and cooptatione. coercion

2. You have decided to involve the sales personnel in planning for the change and in stocking appropriate new items to sell to gardeners. The method for overcoming resistance that you have chosen is _____.a. education and communicationb. participationc. negotiationd. manipulation and cooptatione. coercion

3. You have threatened to eliminate positions and even to close down the company if your employees don’t change their attitudes. The method for overcoming resistance that you have chosen may be _____.a. education and communicationb. participationc. negotiationd. manipulation e. building support and commitment

4. In reaction to your threat to close down the company, your employees accuse you of manipulating them to gain their cooperation with the new sales approach. Their accusation is ________.a. accurate, because you fully intend to follow through on your threat if the sales team refuses to

support the new customer focusb. accurate, because you plan to eliminate many sales positions regardless of whether your

sales force accepts the new customer focusc. inaccurate, because your threat to eliminate positions and close down the company is simply

a ruse to gain employees’ complianced. inaccurate, because you fully intend to follow through on your threat if the sales team refuses

to support the new customer focuse. accurate, because your threat to eliminate positions and close down the company is

simply a ruse to gain employees’ compliance

Application of Approaches to Managing Organizational Change

Mintz’s Motor Repair is moving its location to a larger community 100 miles away. Mintz would like for its mechanics to move with the company but realizes that there will be some hardships associated with the move. Mintz has decided to use Lewin’s three-step model in order to make the change.

1. As a manager in charge of the relocation effort, you are offering a $2,000 moving bonus for any employee who will go to the new location. In Lewin’s terms, you are attempting to _____.a. unfreeze the status quob. move the process alongc. refreeze the changed. bribe your employeese. none of the above

2. You have implemented a permanent upward adjustment of salaries for employees who relocate. You are attempting to _____.a. unfreeze the status quob. move the process alongc. refreeze the changed. change a driving forcee. none of the above

3. You counsel each employee individually, trying to lessen each person’s fears about the move. This is an example of _____.a. removing driving forcesb. increasing driving forcesc. removing restraining forcesd. brainwashinge. none of the above

4. Despite your attempts to unfreeze the status quo at Mintz, your employees are still resistant to the relocation. According to Kotter’s model, which of the following would most likely help to overcome this problem?a. emphasizing the importance of short-term wins by discouraging risk takingb. creating a set of strategies for the move and sticking with them at all costsc. limiting your discussion of your vision for the move to employees with the highest rankingsd. postponing the moving deadline since it isn’t critical that the move occur immediatelye. providing employees with a list of compelling reasons for the move

5. You decide to put more effort into planning the relocation effort, and you choose to institute an appreciative inquiry (AI) to increase employee investment in the change. To coordinate the AI, an outside consultant is hired who does which of the following?a. focuses on reviewing past mistakes and avoiding shortcomingsb. demonstrates to your employees that you are at fault for not planning the relocation properlyc. focuses on identifying the problems of your organizationd. convenes a large-group meeting of your employees over a 2 day time periode. none of the above