IIA IIA Certifications IIA-CIA-PART4 Questions & Answers

• Question 391:

  Modern management theory devotes considerable attention to employee empowerment. Done appropriately, employee empowerment:

  A. Increases managerial power.

  B. Means lack of control.

  C. Is independent of compensation.

  D. Does not require full employee participation in decision making.

  Correct Answer: A

  Modern management theory emphasizes employee empowerment. The question is not whether employees should be empowered, but the circumstances in which it should occur. The paradox isthat managers who appropriately surrender power by empowering employees actually gain power. They have an increased ability to achieve desired results.

• Question 392:

  The use of power in an organization may be defined as the ability to influence employees to do what they would not ordinarily do. The exercise of this power:

  A. Affects decisions, behavior, and situations.

  B. Tends to be accepted by employees only when it is based on legitimate power.

  C. Is most likely to be accepted by employees when a manager's source of power is informal.

  D. Requires the authority to manage.

  Correct Answer: A

  The exercise of power affects the decisions made by employees, for example, as the result of advice offered by someone with expert power. It also affects behavior, for example, as the result of a warning from someone with coercive power. Moreover, the exercise of power affects situations, for example, a change in the nature or type of resources used in operations effected by someone with any base of power.

• Question 393:

  Management literature describes generic influence tactics used to change the behavior of others in the workplace. According to the relevant research.

  A. Male managers are significantly more likely than female managers to use pressure tactics.

  B. Female managers are significantly more likely that male managers to use consultation.

  C. Influence tactics tend to be used laterally and downward, but not upward.

  D. Influence tactics tend to vary with the leadership styles of superiors.

  Correct Answer: D

  Upward influence methods used by employees of authoritarian managers are most likely to consist of ingratiating tactics and upward appeals. Rational persuasion is the method used most often by employees of participative managers.

• Question 394:

  A production worker in a plant often speaks for the entire work force when problems arise between labor and management. Although this individual has the same level of authority andexpertise as the individual's co-workers, the worker seems to possess a degree of power that others do not have. What type of power does this individual apparently have?

  A. Coercive.

  B. Referent.

  C. Legitimate.

  D. Reward.

  Correct Answer: B

  Referent power is based on identification of subordinates with a superior. Thus, personal magnetism (charisma) may be a basis for influencing others to comply with a manager's directives.

• Question 395:

  Which of the following strengthens and increases acceptable behavior by termination or withdrawal of undesirable consequences?

  A. Positive reinforcement.

  B. Negative reinforcement.

  C. Reward.

  D. Punishment.

  Correct Answer: B

  Negative reinforcement removes an existing unpleasant condition when the desired behavior occurs. In contrast, positive reinforcement rewards the desired behavior. For example, a crying child negatively reinforces a parent's behavior when (s)he stops crying after receiving what (s)he wants.

• Question 396:

  When supervising employees, the behavior most likely to attain long-term positive results for a manager would be to:

  A. Discipline employees immediately using oral reprimands, written warnings, and temporary suspensions.

  B. Hold weekly meetings during which employees are reminded of work procedures and are praised for the week's accomplishments.

  C. Praise employees on a random schedule and link rewards to performance.

  D. Tell employees that working overtime now will result in a better performance review in 6 months.

  Correct Answer: C

  Variable-interval schedules of reinforcement lead to higher performance. Employees are more alert because of the uncertainty involved, and performance and reward are connected.

• Question 397:

  A manager believes that positive reinforcement is the most appropriate way to deal with employees. Which of the following actions demonstrates the principle of positive reinforcement?

  A. Employees are given 2-day suspension without pay if errors exceed a predefined level.

  B. Employees are praised when the detected error rate in their work stays below a predefined level.

  C. Time budgets, which have forced employees to rush and consequently make errors, are eliminated.

  D. Employees are not required to work overtime if errors stay below a predefined level.

  Correct Answer: B

  Positive reinforcement is a behavior modification technique that provides rewards for certain responses. It focuses on desirable rather than undesirable behavior. The practice of praising employees when the detected error rate in their work stays below a predefined level demonstrates positive reinforcement.

• Question 398:

  A leader who is able to gain compliance from a group based solely on personal attraction is said to have: A. Reward power.

  B. Coercive power.

  C. Referent power.

  D. Legitimate power.

  Correct Answer: C

  Referent power is based on identification of subordinates with a superior. Thus, personal magnetism (charisma) maybe a basis for influencing others to comply with a manager's directives.

• Question 399:

  Power is synonymous with leadership. Simply, it is the ability to influence other people. The sources of power are various. For example, the kind of power arising from the strength of the leader's personality is known as:

  A. Coercive power.

  B. Legitimate power.

  C. Expert power.

  D. Referent power.

  Correct Answer: D

  Power may be classified as reward power (the leader controls resources), coercive power (the leader may punish the subordinate), legitimate power (the leader has the right to lead), referent power (the leader has fame, charisma, etc.), and expert power (the leader has specialized ability or knowledge).

• Question 400:

  The punishing of employees is made less effective by

  A. Stating the offending behavior specifically.

  B. Postponing the start of disciplinary procedures.

  C. Permitting employees to challenge individual culpability.

  D. Focusing the discussion on the offending behavior instead of the offender.

  Correct Answer: B

  The most effective discipline requires immediate corrective action to eliminate the negative effects of the undesirable employee conduct and to establish and reinforce appropriate behavior. Delay merely invites more serious consequences. Moreover, the punishment should becommensurate with the offense, and the employee should clearly perceive the relationship between the punishment and the behavior.