MASENO UNIVERSITY
YEAR II BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE CODE: ABA 201
17TH JANUARY, 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
This paper consists of SIX questions
Answer question ONE and any other THREE questions
All questions carry equal marks
1. (a) Describe the origin of behavioral science (10 marks)
Nature & nurture/Neural genes development
Care giver training & follow-up
Psychological distress
Peer influence
Cultural dynamics e.g. religion, ethnicity
Norms for accepted & expected behavior
Individualism & priority to one’s goals
Collectivism/Giving priority to one’s group
Personality & individual differences
Attitudes of the society
Socio-economical influences
Professional achievements
Age recapitulation
Migration due to trade or war
Foreign or community based working opportunity & explorations
Climatic & ecological changes
Innovation & technology development
Political & economic patterns
(b) Explain causes of individual differences and how they should be taken care of at
workplace (10 marks)
Causes of individual differences
Social & economic status
Interest & attitude
Hereditary/Nature
Environment/Nature
Temperament & emotional stability
Sex/Gender
Physical & motor ability
Personality & race
Occupation & achievements
Education & home background
Intelligence & aptitude
Leadership, religion & power
Self-direction & independence
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness & patience
Motivation & perceptions
Physique & traits
How to take care of individual differences
Be aware of biases
Facilitate effective communication
Encourage collectivism
Encourage capacity building
Embrace & enhance differences
Listen actively for better understanding
Observe & recognize individual differences
Create opportunities for personal growth
Empathize & provide insights
Preserve & enhance welfare facilities
Discourage actions that harm others
Value other people’s success
Evaluate the hiring process
Formulate & implement inclusive policies
Enhance best work practices
Encourage interaction among employees
Provide diversity training
Ensure security of tenure
Create mentorship programs
Promote uniform/equal wages
Follow the rule of law
Improve governance
Safeguard privacy & confidentiality
Recognize & reward high-performing employees
Promote equality & fairness
Improve moral & motivation
Promote unity
Protect interests of workers
Promote gender equality & non-discrimination
Protect employees from unfair dismissal
Provide advice, guidance & support
Foster respect & dignity
Enhance goodwill
(c) Discuss factors that affect perception process (5 marks)
Personal characteristics
Expectation & prior knowledge
Current psychological state
Context & environment
Motivation & interest
Attention & distraction
Self-concept
Manner of communication & appearance
Bullying & aggressive behavior
Communication & information processing
Specific culture of a community
Interaction with the environment
Emotional & moral motivations
Individual differences
Organizational behavior
Needs & desire
Past experiences
Status of an individual
Personality of the perceiver
Beliefs & situations
Values & attitudes
Stereotype & cognitive biases
Mental noise
Social influence
2. (a) Explain reasons for group formation in organizations (10 marks)
Companionship & support
Sense of identification
Source of information
Minimize frustrations & stress
Maintain a culture of values
Generate new ideas
Self-evaluation
Improve responsibility of employees
Ensure proper & careful planning
Source of power & leadership
Ensure co-operation & collaboration to reach goals
Provide opportunities for social interactions
Enhance solving work problems
Create a positive work environment
Build trust among employees
Provide encouragement to the staff
Ensure better co-ordination
Improve decision making
Build better relations
Develop recognize future leaders
Facilitate channel of communication
Restraint on managers from misuse of power
Provide safety, protection & security needs
Ensure better utilization of manpower
Enhance directing group activities
(b) Discuss causes of group conflicts suggesting how such causes can be avoided (5 marks)
Causes of group conflicts
Leadership wrangles
Misunderstanding among group members
Personal differences
Information deficiency
Lack of role clarification
Threat to status
Lack of trust
Scarce resources
Unpredictable policies
Resistance to change
Poor communication
Toxic work environment
Organizational changes
Inaccurate/Incomplete data
Relationship issues
Lack of opportunities
Lack of empathy
Indecisiveness & greed
Different standards/values
Poor staff selection
Discrimination & harassment
Privacy & confidentiality breaches
Poor office practices
Abuse of office
Non-compliance with laws & regulations
How conflicts can be managed
Define the problem
Investigate the situation
Identify solutions
Encourage effective communication
Focus only on facts
Ensure training of employees
Hold regular meetings
Clarify reporting procedures
Be clear & concise
Build good reputation
Safeguard privacy & confidentiality
Focus on adding principles & values
Listen actively for better understanding
Encourage compromise/reconciling
Ask the wider team for ideas
Ensure compliance with laws & regulations
Ask open-ended questions
Give & take feedback
Form connections with others
Encourage co-operation & collaboration among staff
Set clear objectives/goals & expectations
Prioritize your work
Encourage participation of employees for solutions
Enhance dispute resolution strategies
Enhance emotional intelligence
Enhance stress management skills
Gather adequate information
Always provide documentary evidence/proof
Ensure proper documentation of your work
Avoid conflicts
Enhance expansion of resources
Enhance problem solving skills
Encourage resilience & courage
Re-structure the organization
Enhance capacity building
Change the composition of the team
Rotate team leaders
Keep follow-ups
Encourage arbitration/local tribunals
Use a mediator if necessary
Enhance ethical competence of employees
Provide effective social support
Approach the problem with empathy
Apologize when appropriate
Ensure best alternative solution
3. (a) Explain effects of stress at workplace (10 marks)
Poor performance & productivity
Poor time management
Absenteeism
Low morale
Poor motivation levels
Loss of concentration
Poor decision-making
Drug abuse/alcoholism
Inappropriate display of behavior
Increased employee complaints
Increased illness, accidents & incident reports
Anxiety & irritability
Depression & headaches
Increased unsafe working practices
Decreased quality of work
Increased staff turnover
Decreased revenue/profits
Increased work overload
Privacy & confidentiality breaches
Security breaches
Gross misconduct e.g. fraud & theft
Corruption/Misuse of funds
Espionage & sabotage
(b) Describe stress management strategies that individuals can use at workplace (5 marks)
Encourage open-communication
Encourage workplace wellness
Take control
Recognize & reward high-performing employees
Organize stress management training
Facilitate flexible work environment
Preserve & protect the environment
Socialize with your co-workers
Embrace a culture of flexibility
Spend time with your family
Make a vacation
Create a strong work-life balance
Minimize distractions
Delegate work
Prepare contingency plan
Prioritize your work
Get a mentor
Hold regular meetings
Establish social network
Do not overcommit
Stay organized
Maintain close workplace relationship
Take frequent short breaks
Avoid multi-tasking
Improve your communication skills
Improve your analytical skills
Avoid unhealthy habits
Ensure compliance with laws & regulations
Reduce anxiety
Practice self-care
Connect with supportive people
Focus on what is actable
Set clear objectives
Change your attitude
4. (a) Discuss styles of leadership and conditions that they are best applicable (10 marks)
Democratic/Participative/Consensual: Supportive & innovative
Autocratic: Authoritarian & result-oriented
Servant: Humble & protective
Pace setters: Helpful & motivational
Bureaucratic: Hierarchical & duty focused
Coach: Motivational
Affiliative: Build & sustain relationships
Coercive: Problem solving & immediate compliance
Charismatic: Charisma, transformation of values
Visionary: Visions
Team leadership: Teamwork, hearts & minds
Laissez-Faire: Delegation & authority
(b) Describe forms of politics at work and how managers can manage such politics (5 marks)
Forms of politics at work
Self-promotion
Office politics
Factionalism
Gate keeping
Territorialism
Bossism
Gossip/spreading rumors
Intentionally withholding important information
Blackmailing
The Ruler
Restrictor
The advisor
How workplace politics can be managed
Reduce uncertainty of the future
Promote effective collaborative working
Understand the informal network
Always be authentic
Listen actively
Ask questions
Empathize with employees
Assume positive intent
Be a servant
Focus on inclusion & participation
Perform duties on time
Maintain positive relationship with employees
Communicate respectfully
Attend meetings
Focus on organization’s core values
Recognize & reward high-performing employees
Delegate work
Build effective teamwork
Create open & transparent organization culture
Evaluate the hiring process
Demonstrate strong leadership & discipline
Give positive feedback
5. (a) Organizations should have a culture as source of identification. Discuss functions of
organization culture (10 marks)
Source of organization identity
Enhance collective commitment of employees
Enhance social system stability
Improve performance & productivity of the organization
Improve performance & productivity of employees
Boost morale of employees
Improve motivation of employees
Stimulate enthusiasm of employees
Generate new ideas
Guide employees behavior
Provide justifications for actions
Provide sense of belonging
Improve communication in the organization
Enhance control of duties
Improve decision making
Enhance co-operation & collaboration of employees
Encourage shared perceptions
Encourage sharing of information
Reinforce core values & behaviors in the organization
Establish unified purpose
Enhance accountability & transparency
Preserve & protect the environment
Encourage reward & recognition of employees
Ensure compliance with laws & regulations
Safeguard privacy & confidentiality
Ensure safety & security of the organizations resources
Ensure continuity of business
Ensure security of tenure
Improve problem solving
Enhance dispute resolution
Provide effective feedback
Enhance the structure of the organization
Minimize uncertainty of the future
Enhance development & implementation of policies & procedures
Ensure high professional standards
Improve flexibility & responsibility of employees
Improve consistency & loyalty of employees
Create sense of stability
Enhance response to external pressures
(b) Explain relevance of expectancy theory in motivating employees (5 marks)
Boost morale of employees
Improve motivation of employees
Keep the team focused
Build trust among employees
Improve performance & productivity of employees
Improve responsibilities & abilities of employees
Enhance empowerment of employees
Provide clarity & understanding
Encourage & support research
Recognize & reward high-performing employees
Emphasize on expectations & perception
Result-oriented/ensure achievement of organization goals
Basis for leadership
Enhance consistency at work
Recognize personalization/individual unique values & preferences
Ensure effective feedback
Enhance flexibility among employees
6. (a) Discuss causes of organizational change and its benefits (10 marks)
Causes of organizational change
Loss of control of processes
Workforce diversity
High staff turnover & absenteeism
Lack of effective communication
New leadership/change in personnel
Employee pressure
Technological advancements
New innovations
Slow decision making
Compliance with laws & regulations
Unsatisfactory performance & productivity
Concern of external stakeholders
Structural change of the organization
Change in economy
Decline in profitability
Union actions
Desire for leisure
Alternative work schedules
New systems & procedures
Unresolved disputes
Mergers & acquisition
Low morale & motivation
Changes in consumer preference
Competition
New agreements with customers
International change
Resource availability
New employment opportunities
Product obsolescence
Political factors
Benefits of organizational change
Improve efficiency & effectiveness of operations
Increase profits/revenues
Build a culture of excellence
Build good reputation
Ensure clarity of procedures & processes
Enhance financial stability
Minimize discord & miscommunication
Enhance ethical competence of employees
Improve performance & productivity of employees
Minimize data loss
Build teamwork
Increase organization performance
Promote positive culture
Enhance collaboration & innovation
Ensure effective decision making
Improve customer service
Ensure best office practices
Minimize disputes & misunderstandings
Ensure consistency & smooth running of operations
Improve the organization structure
Ensure effective response to external environment
Attract talented business
Improve strategic planning
(b) Describe ways through which organizational members learn (5 marks)
Training of employees
Coaching/Mentoring
Job rotation
Re-use of experts
Person-to-person communication
Developed think tanks
Informal encounters
Imitation & role modeling
Informal organization routines
Communities of practice
Group discussion & activities
Networked learning
Information acquisition & dissemination
Participative decision making
Continuous learning & self-development
Integration & information sharing
Collaborative & roleplaying training
Employee engagement & knowledge sharing
Industry workshops & conferences
Knowledge management
Capacity building
Strategic alliances
Build teamwork
Facilitate experimenting
Sharing team experiences
Empowerment by the managers
Embedded systems learning
Learning from the leadership
Dialogue & inquiry
Review & evaluations as part of learning
