Henslin, Sociology, 11/e
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 17
9) Discuss the seven functions of voluntary associations.
Answer: Voluntary associations serve the following seven functions:
(1) they advance particular interests for professional, leisure, and utilitarian reasons;
(2) they offer people an identity, such as membership as a scout, a Kiwanian, or member of the PTA, and
provide in-group loyalties;
(3) they help govern nations and maintain social order by getting people out to vote, assisting in national
disasters, and serving as policemen, firemen, and EMTs;
(4) they mediate between the government and the individual. Social movements help the individual pressure the
government for change;
(5) they provide training and skills that assist the individual in career advancement;
(6) they bring people into the political mainstream, ranging from members of the NAACP to the NRA to
advance their positions;
(7) they can pave the way for social change (examples: Greenpeace is working for a safer and cleaner
environment, while gay and lesbian organizations are advancing their perceived right to same-sex marriage).
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 178
Skill: Comprehension
10) What is an "oligarchy"? According to Robert Michels, why do oligarchies develop in organizations?
Answer: Oligarchy refers to a system in which many are ruled by a few. Michels coined the phrase "the iron law of
oligarchy" to refer to the way in which formal organizations come to be dominated by a small, self-perpetuating
elite. While the majority of the members become passive, an elite inner group keeps itself in power by passing
the leading positions from one clique member to another. The purpose of the oligarchy is to perpetuate the
status quo and to support the interests of these elite few.
Diff: 6 Page Ref: 179
Skill: Evaluation
11) What does it mean to humanize the work setting? How would functionalists, symbolic interactionists, and conflict
theorists view the humanizing of a work setting?
Answer: "Humanizing a workplace" means organizing it in a way that develops rather than impedes human potential.
Functionalists would view humanizing the work setting as a means by which the corporate machine can run
more smoothly and can recognize the importance of each of its members. Symbolic interactionists would view
the corporation as being more family-oriented, more diverse, or more sensitive to the needs of workers, though
the exact view would depend on the manner in which the workplace was changed and the interpretation of each
employee. Conflict theorists simply see humanizing the workplace as being an "end around" move to
camouflage the ever-present confrontation between workers and owners.
Diff: 4 Page Ref: 180-181
Skill: Analysis
12) What is worker empowerment? Provide an example.
Answer: Worker empowerment is the ability that workers have, usually in small groups, to manage their own work
efforts and to develop creative ideas and solutions to problems. By doing so, they take greater pride in their
work, become more productive, and take on more responsibility. Examples of worker empowerment include a
work team firing and hiring within its own group without approval from upper management, coordinating its
own budget, and perhaps raising its own budget by introducing new products or increasing production.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 180
Skill: Application
13) Briefly summarize how fads in the corporate culture have changed in the past twenty years.
Answer: Twenty years ago, business practices were called "quality circles," in which workers and a manager met
regularly to try and improve the quality of both working conditions and the company’s products. Thousands of
companies across the U.S. practiced quality circles, but have since changed to a "team concept" for problem
solving. Today, other fads in the workplace are common. For example, "cook-offs" are the latest fad, in which
corporate teams slice, chop, and sauté against the clock while professional chefs oversee and judge the event.
Team-building exercises will soon pass and be replaced by yet another fad.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 181
Skill: Comprehension