Examination Topics

Management and Organization

May 2011, Keszthely

  1. Organizational behaviour

-What is the importance of interpersonal skills?

-What do managers do in terms of functions, roles and skills?

-What is organizational behaviour (OB)?

-What are the three levels of analysis of an OB model?

  1. Foundations of individual behaviour

-What are the two types of ability?

-What is intellectual or cognitive ability and how is it relevant to OB?

-What are the key biographical characteristics and why are they relevant to OB?

-What is learning and what are the major theories of learning?

  1. Communication 1

-Which are the basic elements in communication?

-Which are the six steps (or stages) of communication?

-What is the role of encoding and decoding in the communication process?

-What is the interpersonal communication?

  1. Communication 2

-What are the primary functions of the communication process in organizations?

-What are the key parts of the communication process and how do you distinguish formal and informal communication?

-What are the unique challenges to oral, written and non-verbal communication?

-How are formal communication networks and the grapevine similar and different?

  1. Communication 3

-Why is channel richness fundamental to the choice of communication channels?

-What are some common barriers to effective communication?

-What unique problems underlie cross-cultural communication?

  1. Motivation 1 (Human behaviour, motives and needs)

-What is the meaning of motivation?

-Which are the survival and security needs in the Maslow’s hierarchy of basic needs?

-Characterize the affiliation, recognition and self-actualisation needs.

-Describe the „frustration” concept in motivation

  1. Motivation 2

-What is cognitive evaluation theory? What does it assume about the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards on behaviour?

-What are the major predictions of goal-setting theory?

-What is reinforcement theory? How is it related to goal-setting theory?

-Do you think motivation theories are often culture-bound? Why or why not?

  1. Motivation 3

-What is the job characteristics model? How does it motivate employees?

-What are the three major ways that jobs can be re-designed? (In your view in what situations would one of the methods be favoured over the others?)

-What are the three alternative work arrangements of flextime, job sharing and telecommuting? (What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?)

-What is variable pay? What are their advantages and disadvantages?

  1. The role of groups in organizations

-Define group. What are the different types of groups?

-What are the five stages of group development?

-Do role requirements change in different situations? If so, how?

-How do group norms and status influence an individual’s behaviour?

  1. Conflict and negotiation

-What is conflict and negotiation?

-What are the steps of the conflict process?

-What are the five steps in the negotiation process?

-How does culture influence negotiations?

  1. Foundation of organization structure

-What are the six key elements that define an organization’s structure?

-What is a bureaucracy and how does it differ from an simple structure?

-What is a matrix organization?

-Why do organizational structures differ and what is the difference between a mechanistic structure and an organic structure?