COM264 Exam 3 (Answered) 105
Questions and Correct Answers, 100%
Verified. 2025/2026.
Unitary frame of reference
Unitary - emphasis is placed on common organizational goals; conflict is seen as rare and negative
and power is the natural prerogative of management
Pluralist frame of reference
Pluralist - organization consists of many groups with divergent interests; conflict seen positively
Radical frame of reference
Radical - organization viewed as battle ground where rival forces strive for achievement of largely
incompatible ends; conflict and power seen as reflections of larger class struggles in society
Which frame of reference do the critical and feminist approaches represent? Explain why.
Radical frame of reference by considering organizations as sites of domination; these approaches
see theory as a force that can emancipate individuals from dominating org forces or consider how
employees resist organizational dominance
How does the role of the theorist (i.e., scholar) differ in the critical approach, as compared to the
other approaches we have studied so far (e.g., classical, HR, systems, etc.)?
Critical theorists agree on 3 things:
1. Certain societal structures and processes lead to fundamental imbalances of power
2. These imbalances of power lead to alienation and oppression for certain social classes and groups
3. The role of the critical theorist is to explore and uncover these imbalances and bring them to the
attention of the oppressed group
4. THEN, EMANCIPATION IS THEN POSSIBLE
How do critical and feminist approaches view the organization? (hint: see p. 100)
Consider organizations as sites of domination; theorist takes an activist role in instigating and
encouraging organizational transformation
According to critical theorists, what role does power play in organizational life?
Critical theorists see power as a defining, ubiquitous feature of organizational life;
Power is important and affects everything that happens in organizations
Name four sources of power in organizations, and give an example of each. (hint: see Table 6.1)
Formal authority
Control of scarce resources
Control of knowledge
Information
, In lecture, we discussed two generic sources of power in organizations; what were they?
1. Control of modes and means of production (Marxist theory)
2. Control of organizational discourse (Mumby)
Control of modes and means of production
a. Modes of production - economic conditions that underlie the production process (growth,
increase profit)
b. Means of production - actual work processes; how products are made and services are rendered
(makes people feel less treated like a person);
Manager influences MEANS of production
Control of organizational discourse
Words, phrases, and narratives produce and reproduce power relationships
Distinguish between the modes of production and the means of production. Which does a manager
influence?
Modes of production - refers to economic conditions that underlie the production process
Means of production - refers to actual work processes - how products are made and services
rendered
What is alienation, and how might it occur in a workplace setting?
Estrangement workers feel when work becomes repetitive and boring
Can occur through repetitive and boring jobs created by technology; worker is separate from work
process; being taken out of thinking in workplace
What is oppression, and how might it occur in a workplace setting?
When there are severe limitations on advancement because of technological achievements
Can occur as workers are replaced or limited in advancement by robotics or other technical
achievements
What is organizational discourse? How is organizational discourse related to the use of power?
Organizational discourse - communicative interaction that socially constructs organizational realities
that can become sites of domination as they recreate power structures
There are a number of ways in which org discourse can be seen as creating and re-creating power
structures in the workplace. For example, the use in our culture of particular phrases to describe
work can be seen as reinforcing dominant power structures
Mumby's research on a famous IBM story and its implications about power illustrates what form of
organizational discourse?
IBM story - about stories told in organizations; stories people tell reinforce power relationships in
organizations
Zoller's research on OSHA terminology illustrates what form of organizational discourse?
Every day conversations; about what you see in rules in policy
Questions and Correct Answers, 100%
Verified. 2025/2026.
Unitary frame of reference
Unitary - emphasis is placed on common organizational goals; conflict is seen as rare and negative
and power is the natural prerogative of management
Pluralist frame of reference
Pluralist - organization consists of many groups with divergent interests; conflict seen positively
Radical frame of reference
Radical - organization viewed as battle ground where rival forces strive for achievement of largely
incompatible ends; conflict and power seen as reflections of larger class struggles in society
Which frame of reference do the critical and feminist approaches represent? Explain why.
Radical frame of reference by considering organizations as sites of domination; these approaches
see theory as a force that can emancipate individuals from dominating org forces or consider how
employees resist organizational dominance
How does the role of the theorist (i.e., scholar) differ in the critical approach, as compared to the
other approaches we have studied so far (e.g., classical, HR, systems, etc.)?
Critical theorists agree on 3 things:
1. Certain societal structures and processes lead to fundamental imbalances of power
2. These imbalances of power lead to alienation and oppression for certain social classes and groups
3. The role of the critical theorist is to explore and uncover these imbalances and bring them to the
attention of the oppressed group
4. THEN, EMANCIPATION IS THEN POSSIBLE
How do critical and feminist approaches view the organization? (hint: see p. 100)
Consider organizations as sites of domination; theorist takes an activist role in instigating and
encouraging organizational transformation
According to critical theorists, what role does power play in organizational life?
Critical theorists see power as a defining, ubiquitous feature of organizational life;
Power is important and affects everything that happens in organizations
Name four sources of power in organizations, and give an example of each. (hint: see Table 6.1)
Formal authority
Control of scarce resources
Control of knowledge
Information
, In lecture, we discussed two generic sources of power in organizations; what were they?
1. Control of modes and means of production (Marxist theory)
2. Control of organizational discourse (Mumby)
Control of modes and means of production
a. Modes of production - economic conditions that underlie the production process (growth,
increase profit)
b. Means of production - actual work processes; how products are made and services are rendered
(makes people feel less treated like a person);
Manager influences MEANS of production
Control of organizational discourse
Words, phrases, and narratives produce and reproduce power relationships
Distinguish between the modes of production and the means of production. Which does a manager
influence?
Modes of production - refers to economic conditions that underlie the production process
Means of production - refers to actual work processes - how products are made and services
rendered
What is alienation, and how might it occur in a workplace setting?
Estrangement workers feel when work becomes repetitive and boring
Can occur through repetitive and boring jobs created by technology; worker is separate from work
process; being taken out of thinking in workplace
What is oppression, and how might it occur in a workplace setting?
When there are severe limitations on advancement because of technological achievements
Can occur as workers are replaced or limited in advancement by robotics or other technical
achievements
What is organizational discourse? How is organizational discourse related to the use of power?
Organizational discourse - communicative interaction that socially constructs organizational realities
that can become sites of domination as they recreate power structures
There are a number of ways in which org discourse can be seen as creating and re-creating power
structures in the workplace. For example, the use in our culture of particular phrases to describe
work can be seen as reinforcing dominant power structures
Mumby's research on a famous IBM story and its implications about power illustrates what form of
organizational discourse?
IBM story - about stories told in organizations; stories people tell reinforce power relationships in
organizations
Zoller's research on OSHA terminology illustrates what form of organizational discourse?
Every day conversations; about what you see in rules in policy
