OB MIDTERM MCMASTER ACTUAL EXAM
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ Manager
Answer: Someone who achieves goals through other people. Key
functions: Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling (POLC).
◉ Mintzberg's Roles
Answer: 10 managerial roles in 3 categories: (1) Interpersonal —
Figurehead, Leader, Liaison; (2) Informational — Monitor,
Disseminator, Spokesperson; (3) Decisional — Entrepreneur,
Disturbance Handler, Resource Allocator, Negotiator.
◉ Management Skills
Answer: Technical (specialized knowledge), People/Interpersonal
(motivate others), Conceptual (analyze complex situations). Lack of
interpersonal skills = #1 reason people don't get promoted.
◉ Evidence-Based Management
,Answer: Decision-making grounded in best available evidence,
complementing intuition. Avoids relying solely on gut instinct, which
uses incomplete information.
◉ 3 Components of Attitude
Answer: (1) Cognitive — beliefs/evaluations; (2) Affective —
emotional reaction; (3) Behavioral — action intention.
◉ Cognitive Dissonance
Answer: Tension when what we say/believe doesn't match what we
do. Drives behavior change.
◉ Job Satisfaction
Answer: Overall happiness with one's job. Driven by: job conditions,
social support, personality (positive CSE), pay up to a comfort
threshold, and genuine CSR.
◉ EVLN Framework
Answer: 4 responses to dissatisfaction: Exit (active/destructive),
Voice (active/constructive), Loyalty (passive/constructive), Neglect
(passive/destructive).
◉ Organizational Commitment
, Answer: Identifying with the company's goals and wanting to
remain employed there.
◉ Perceived Organizational Support (POS)
Answer: Belief that the organization genuinely values your well-
being and contributions.
◉ Employee Engagement
Answer: Degree to which employees are involved, enthusiastic, and
emotionally invested in their work.
◉ Perception
Answer: How we interpret sensory impressions. Behavior is based
on perceived reality, not objective reality.
◉ Factors Influencing Perception
Answer: (1) The Perceiver; (2) The Target; (3) The Situation.
◉ Attribution Theory
Answer: Framework for explaining why people behave as they do:
internal vs. external causes.
◉ Distinctiveness
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ Manager
Answer: Someone who achieves goals through other people. Key
functions: Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling (POLC).
◉ Mintzberg's Roles
Answer: 10 managerial roles in 3 categories: (1) Interpersonal —
Figurehead, Leader, Liaison; (2) Informational — Monitor,
Disseminator, Spokesperson; (3) Decisional — Entrepreneur,
Disturbance Handler, Resource Allocator, Negotiator.
◉ Management Skills
Answer: Technical (specialized knowledge), People/Interpersonal
(motivate others), Conceptual (analyze complex situations). Lack of
interpersonal skills = #1 reason people don't get promoted.
◉ Evidence-Based Management
,Answer: Decision-making grounded in best available evidence,
complementing intuition. Avoids relying solely on gut instinct, which
uses incomplete information.
◉ 3 Components of Attitude
Answer: (1) Cognitive — beliefs/evaluations; (2) Affective —
emotional reaction; (3) Behavioral — action intention.
◉ Cognitive Dissonance
Answer: Tension when what we say/believe doesn't match what we
do. Drives behavior change.
◉ Job Satisfaction
Answer: Overall happiness with one's job. Driven by: job conditions,
social support, personality (positive CSE), pay up to a comfort
threshold, and genuine CSR.
◉ EVLN Framework
Answer: 4 responses to dissatisfaction: Exit (active/destructive),
Voice (active/constructive), Loyalty (passive/constructive), Neglect
(passive/destructive).
◉ Organizational Commitment
, Answer: Identifying with the company's goals and wanting to
remain employed there.
◉ Perceived Organizational Support (POS)
Answer: Belief that the organization genuinely values your well-
being and contributions.
◉ Employee Engagement
Answer: Degree to which employees are involved, enthusiastic, and
emotionally invested in their work.
◉ Perception
Answer: How we interpret sensory impressions. Behavior is based
on perceived reality, not objective reality.
◉ Factors Influencing Perception
Answer: (1) The Perceiver; (2) The Target; (3) The Situation.
◉ Attribution Theory
Answer: Framework for explaining why people behave as they do:
internal vs. external causes.
◉ Distinctiveness
