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Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.
Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.
But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.
Q. The central idea of the passage relates to
  • a)
    the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firms
  • b)
    the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisation
  • c)
    "Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisations
  • d)
    importance of social capital in creating engaged organisations
  • e)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which...
Central Idea of the Passage
The passage primarily explores the evolving nature of work relationships in today’s organizations compared to traditional industrial firms. The key focus is on the distinction between being an "employee" and a "member" of an organization.
Key Differences Highlighted
- Employee vs. Member
- The passage suggests that traditional terms like "employee" imply a transactional relationship, where individuals are treated as mere cogs in a machine.
- In contrast, a "member" signifies a deeper, voluntary commitment to the organization, emphasizing engagement and collaboration.
- Nature of Work
- Today’s organizations demand creativity, collaboration, and responsiveness rather than simply performing mechanical tasks.
- The emphasis is on joint enterprise, where individuals are engaged not just in their tasks but also in fostering relationships and trust within the team.
Importance of Engagement
- Voluntary Participation
- The passage argues that productive work in knowledge-intensive firms depends on the willingness of individuals to engage fully, indicating that the quality of work relies heavily on personal investment and commitment.
- Social Capital
- While social capital is important, the core distinction lies in the relationship dynamics, highlighting that current work requires mutual respect and collaboration rather than isolated or mechanical efforts.
In conclusion, the central idea revolves around understanding the transformation from being merely an "employee" to becoming an integral "member" of a knowledge-based organization, emphasizing the importance of engagement and collaboration over mechanical participation.
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Community Answer
Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which...
The passage mainly discusses how traditional manufacturing firms treat people i.e. just as an employee and how knowledge firms treat people as one of the members of the organisation by giving details about these. Hence, the central idea of the passage is the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisation
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Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow. Although broad generalization always over-simplifies complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work. But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative spark people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.The central idea of the passage relates to

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The above passage implies that

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. Based on your reading of the above passage, identify the INCORRECT option.

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow. Although broad generalization always over-simplifies complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work. But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative spark people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The above passage implies that

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. In the light of your reading of the passage above, identify the option that contains the set of words CLOSEST in meaning to the set of words in CAPITAL lettersMETAPHORICALLY : STANDARD : COG : ENGAGEMENT

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Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for CAT 2024 is part of CAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the CAT exam syllabus. Information about Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for CAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for CAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for CAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.Although broad generalization always oversimplify complex realities, we find numerous truths in the contrast between hierarchical, industrial manufacturing firms that dominated most of the twentieth century and today's service-based and knowledge-sensitive organisations. When industry meant repeatedly carrying out standard, well-defined tasks and workers were seen metaphorically (and sometimes literally) as part of a machine, progress could still be made when the social networks and relationships of individual employees were ignored or discouraged. In fact, those firms strongly depended on social capital and sometimes suffered from lack of it. Without some level of trust, respect, and generalised reciprocity, coordinated work of any kind is hard to accomplish. Still, as Henry Ford has commented, a certain rough logic lies behind treating people like cogs in a machine when you only expect and want them to do machine-like work.But very little of the work of today's knowledge firm is repetitive or mechanical. It requires responsiveness, inventiveness, collaboration and attention. Judgement, persuasiveness, shared decisions, the pooling of knowledge, and the creative sparks people strike off one another depend on engagement with the work and one another, on the commitment that makes one genuinely a member of an organisation rather than simply an "employee". Although we ourselves sometimes fall into the trap of talking about "employers" and "employees" - the users and the used - those terms really belong to the industrial-age modal and are inappropriate to the kind of work and working relationships we consider here. Today's most economically productive work is largely voluntary, in the sense that doing it well calls for a willing engagement of the whole self in the task. "Going through the motions" is insufficient when the motions are not prescribed but change as you go along. In our view, the firm is neither a machine with each cog firmly in place performing its clearly defined task nor an unorganized (or self-organising) flock of opportunistic entrepreneurs pursuing their individual destinies. It is - it should be - a social organisation of people willingly engaged in a joint enterprise.Q. The central idea of the passage relates toa)the key difference between industrial and knowledge-intensive firmsb)the key difference between an "employee" and a "member" in an organisationc)"Mechanical" vs. "Voluntary" organisationsd)importance of social capital in creating engaged organisationse)None of theseCorrect answer is option 'B'. 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