Organizational-Behavior Exam Dumps : WGU Organizational Behavior (GTO1, C715)

Astrong organizational cultureis one in which the core values are both intensely held and widely shared by the members. One of the primary advantages of such a culture is theformation of strong employee commitment. When employees believe in and identify with the organization's values, they are more likely to be dedicated to its goals and more willing to put in extra effort to see the organization succeed.

A strong culture also serves to reduce turnover because it creates a high level of agreement among members about what the organization stands for. This unanimity of purpose builds cohesiveness and loyalty. Furthermore, a strong culture acts as a substitute for formalization; it tells employees how they are expected to behave without the need for thick manuals or rigid rules. While it can have liabilities (as noted in Q32), the immediate organizational benefit is a motivated, committed workforce that shares a common sense of direction.

Group cohesiveness refers to the degree to which members are attracted to one another and are motivated to remain part of the group. When members are "working in different directions," it indicates a lack of alignment and shared purpose. One of the most effective structural methods to foster unity is togive group rewards rather than individual rewards. When rewards are tied to the collective output of the team, members are incentivized to collaborate, share information, and support one another to ensure the entire group succeeds. Individual rewards often foster internal competition, which can further fragment a group that is already struggling with alignment.

In addition to group-based rewards, other strategies to increase cohesiveness include making the group smaller, increasing the time members spend together, and stimulating competition withothergroups (rather than avoiding it). By shifting the focus from individual achievement to collective success, the organization encourages members to coordinate their efforts, thereby increasing the "we-feeling" necessary for high-performing teams.

In the context of group dynamics, "roles" refer to a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit. Within this framework,Role Perceptionis defined as an individual’s own view of how he or she is supposed to act in a given situation. We get these perceptions from various stimuli around us—friends, books, movies, or observing how successful colleagues behave.

It is important to distinguish Role Perception fromRole Expectations, which are howothersbelieve a person should act in a given situation. For example, a manager might have a role expectation that a supervisor should be stern, but the supervisor's own role perception might be that they should be a supportive mentor. When role perception and role expectation do not align, it can lead to confusion or poor performance.Role Identityrefers to the certain attitudes and behaviors consistent with a role, whileRole Conflictoccurs when an individual finds that compliance with one role requirement may make it difficult to comply with another. Because the question specifically asks for thepersonal viewof behavior, "Role Perception" is the correct technical term.