Question

Which of the following is an example of a norm rather than a rule?

A. A general mandatory guideline asking all employees to leave their work machines in good order

B. A specific mandatory guideline asking employees to oil machine parts labeled A and B; and replace C and D

C. An informal code of conduct recommending that employees help each other if time permits

D. A recommendation by the HR department that employees wear formal clothes during the week

E. A suggestion by the technical department that all work-related files are saved in a common location

Answer 1

Option C, recommending that employees help each other if time permits, is an example of a norm rather than a rule. Norms are more casual guidelines for behavior that are widely adopted and informally enforced, as opposed to formal rules, which are written and obligatory.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question you’re asking distinguishes between formal and informal norms within societal behavior. Among the given options, C. An informal code of conduct recommending that employees help each other if time permits is an example of a norm rather than a rule, according to sociological definitions. Norms are behaviors that reflect compliance with what cultures and societies have defined as good, right, and important, and most members adhere to them without the need of written rules. Norms like helping each other out at the workplace are learned through socialization, observation, and imitation, and dictate appropriate behaviors in a more casual and less strictly enforced way than formal rules.

While formal norms are established, written rules found in things like employee manuals and law codes, informal norms are those widely conformed casual behaviors that organize social interactions smoothly. Therefore, a recommendation to assist colleagues does not have the weight of a formal rule but serves as a cultural expectation within the work environment.