BLEPP I/O Warm-Up Mock Refresher

A technology firm is experiencing a decline in innovation and collaboration. The leadership, in response, decides to flatten its management structure and organize employees into temporary, cross-functional teams to work on specific, time-bound projects. This approach is most closely aligned with which type of organizational structure?

A mid-level manager observes that their team's performance has significantly improved ever since they started giving them more complex tasks and greater decision-making authority. The manager attributes this change to a feeling of greater ownership and responsibility among the team members. Which of the following concepts best explains this scenario?

In a large manufacturing company, a senior supervisor notices that a new employee, Maria, is consistently underperforming despite having the necessary skills. The supervisor, believing Maria is lazy and unmotivated, assigns her only the most repetitive and least challenging tasks. Over time, Maria's performance further declines, seemingly confirming the supervisor's initial belief. This cycle is a classic example of:

A new HR manager is tasked with improving employee morale. She decides to implement a new rewards system that gives employees a bonus based on their individual performance, rather than on group output or company-wide profit. This new system is best described as:

An organization's leaders are attempting to implement a new customer relationship management system. Before the change, they communicate the need for the new system by highlighting the inefficiencies and limitations of the current one. According to Lewin's Change Model, in which stage is the organization currently operating?

A company finds that employees who move to a new department at the same level of responsibility gain new skills and a broader understanding of the organization's operations. This strategic horizontal movement is a hallmark of a:

A human resources department is tasked with designing a new training program to address widespread performance issues in the sales team. The first step they take is to conduct a survey to determine which specific employees are struggling and what skills they lack. This is an example of which type of training needs analysis?

A manager believes that for an employee to be motivated, they must believe that their effort will lead to good performance, that good performance will lead to a desired outcome, and that the outcome is valuable to them. This manager's perspective is most closely aligned with the work of which theorist?

A consultant is brought in to help a company that is struggling to adapt to rapid changes in the market. The consultant advises the leadership to move away from a rigid, hierarchical structure and to instead embrace a more fluid and flexible approach, recognizing that there is no one "best" way to organize. The consultant's advice is rooted in which modern organizational theory?

A department head is considered a transactional leader. Which of the following actions is this leader most likely to take?

An HR manager at a tech company is tasked with improving employee motivation. He believes that providing flexible working hours and a comfortable office environment will significantly boost employee satisfaction. According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, which of the following is the manager focusing on?

A new team has been formed to tackle a complex client project. The team members are still getting to know each other and there is some uncertainty about roles and responsibilities. While some team members are hesitant to share their ideas, others are more vocal, leading to minor disagreements. According to Tuckman's Model of Group Development, what stage is the team most likely in?

A manager operates with complete trust in her subordinates, allowing them to actively participate in all major decisions. Communication flows freely in all directions, and motivation is based on rewards and group involvement in setting goals. According to Likert's System of Management, which management style is the manager using?

A team leader believes that for the team to be effective, they must provide clear instructions and constant guidance, especially for new and inexperienced members. However, as the team becomes more skilled, the leader shifts to a more supportive role, allowing team members to take more initiative. Which leadership theory does this approach best represent?

A new management team wants to improve efficiency and reduce the layers of management. They decide to reduce the number of managers and increase the number of employees reporting to each manager. What is this structural change called?