An accidental invention at 3M demonstrates which cultural mechanism?

Prepare for the Management and Organizational Behavior Exam. Test your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions complete with explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

An accidental invention at 3M demonstrates which cultural mechanism?

This item is about how narratives shape how people act in a company. When 3M tells the story of an accidental invention and the culture that encouraged experimentation, risk-taking, and sharing learnings, that story becomes a powerful guide for others. It conveys tacit knowledge—the sense that curious exploration, persistent effort, and cross-team collaboration can lead to valuable breakthroughs. Because the story is memorable and repeatable, it travels through the organization, filtering into decisions and actions, and encouraging future experimentation even when outcomes are uncertain. That’s why storytelling is the best answer here: it transmits norms and expectations in a way that formal rules or static symbols alone can’t, more effectively shaping innovative behavior.

This item is about how narratives shape how people act in a company. When 3M tells the story of an accidental invention and the culture that encouraged experimentation, risk-taking, and sharing learnings, that story becomes a powerful guide for others. It conveys tacit knowledge—the sense that curious exploration, persistent effort, and cross-team collaboration can lead to valuable breakthroughs. Because the story is memorable and repeatable, it travels through the organization, filtering into decisions and actions, and encouraging future experimentation even when outcomes are uncertain. That’s why storytelling is the best answer here: it transmits norms and expectations in a way that formal rules or static symbols alone can’t, more effectively shaping innovative behavior.

More practice questions