Coping with Uncertainty Is an Important Source of Power in Organizational

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Students might identify any two of several jobs in a university.One common example may be the people who forecast enrolments for the upcoming year.They help the school to anticipate the number of students entering various programs, which makes it easier to shift resources as required.The university vice-chancellor copes with uncertainty through all three strategies.The vice-chancellor might prevent uncertainties from occurring, such as by discouraging governments or alumni from changing practices that affect the university.The vice-chancellor might forecast uncertainties by serving as a listening post in the external environment.For example, the vice-chancellor might learn that other universities are changing their curriculum and warn various departments about these changes.Third, the vice-chancellor might absorb concerns raised by stakeholders (e.g.government, alumni or community).For example, alumni might demand more emphasis placed on technology-based courses, so the vice-chancellor would mobilize other executives and administrators to make these changes, if warranted.
Whichever jobs students identify when answering this question, you should keep in mind the three strategies for coping with uncertainty:
Prevention.The most effective strategy is to prevent environmental changes and variations from occurring.For example, financial experts acquire power by preventing the organization from experiencing a cash shortage or defaulting on loans.
Forecasting.The next best strategy is to be able to predict environmental changes or variations.In this respect, marketing specialists gain power by predicting changes in consumer preferences.
Absorption.People and work units also gain power by absorbing or neutralizing the impact of environmental shifts as they occur.A classic example is the ability of maintenance crews to come to the rescue when machines break down and the production process stops.

Coping with Uncertainty Is an Important Source of Power in Organizational

Definitions: