Question 1

Write a brief note on how organizations balance centralization and decentralization.

Accepted Answer

The ideal situation for an organization is a balance between centralization and decentralization of authority so that middle and lower managers who are at the scene of the action are allowed to make important decisions, and top managers' primary responsibility becomes managing long-term strategic decision-making. The result is a good balance between long-term strategy making and short-term flexibility and innovation as lower-level managers respond quickly to problems and changes in the environment as they occur.

Question 2

________ is the power to hold people accountable for their actions and to make decisions about how to invest and use organizational resources.

Accepted Answer

A)  Orientation 
B)  Motivation 
C)  Capability 
D)  Authority 
A)  Orientation 
B)  Motivation 
C)  Capability 
D)  Authority D

Question 3

Top managers should make all the decisions if an organization faces a rapidly changing environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Which of the following integrating mechanisms involves creating a permanent committee to promote coordination within an organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  task force 
B)  integrating department 
C)  team 
D)  liaison role 
A)  task force 
B)  integrating department 
C)  team 
D)  liaison role

Question 5

Tasks associated with a role are clearly defined in a mechanistic structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following refers to the compromise that emerges when decision-making and coordination are evolutionary processes and people use their judgment to address a problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  centralization 
B)  mutual adjustment 
C)  formalization 
D)  standardization 
A)  centralization 
B)  mutual adjustment 
C)  formalization 
D)  standardization

Question 7

________ refers to a situation where the authority to make important decisions is retained by managers at the top of the hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Centralization 
B)  Standardization 
C)  Formalization 
D)  Differentiation 
A)  Centralization 
B)  Standardization 
C)  Formalization 
D)  Differentiation

Question 8

Which of the following is an adaptive function?

Accepted Answer

A)  resource acquisition 
B)  purchasing 
C)  quality control 
D)  long-range planning 
A)  resource acquisition 
B)  purchasing 
C)  quality control 
D)  long-range planning

Question 9

________ involves choices about distributing authority within an organization.

Accepted Answer

A)  Standardization 
B)  Subunit orientation 
C)  Centralization 
D)  Vertical differentiation 
A)  Standardization 
B)  Subunit orientation 
C)  Centralization 
D)  Vertical differentiation

Question 10

Integration is the way in which a company allocates people and resources to organizational tasks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Differentiation is the process of establishing and controlling the division of labor in an organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Norms are formalized rules of behavior within an organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A(n) ________ is a classification of people in an organization according to authority and rank.

Accepted Answer

A)  hierarchy 
B)  architecture 
C)  culture 
D)  orientation 
A)  hierarchy 
B)  architecture 
C)  culture 
D)  orientation

Question 14

________ is a management approach in which the design of an organization's structure is tailored to the sources of uncertainty facing an organization.

Accepted Answer

A)  Contingency approach 
B)  Standardized approach 
C)  Specialized approach 
D)  Mechanistic approach 
A)  Contingency approach 
B)  Standardized approach 
C)  Specialized approach 
D)  Mechanistic approach

Question 15

Rate-busters are employees who ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  follow the group norms 
B)  work too quickly 
C)  work too slowly 
D)  break the formal rules 
A)  follow the group norms 
B)  work too quickly 
C)  work too slowly 
D)  break the formal rules

Question 16

Division of labor and differentiation are high in a complex organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Compare and contrast mechanistic structures and organic structures.

Accepted Answer

Mechanistic structures are designed to i

Question 18

________ structures promote flexibility, so people initiate change and can adapt quickly to changing conditions.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mechanistic 
B)  Standardized 
C)  Organic 
D)  Centralized 
A)  Mechanistic 
B)  Standardized 
C)  Organic 
D)  Centralized

Question 19

________ is the process of coordinating various tasks, functions, and divisions to work together and not be at cross-purposes.

Accepted Answer

A)  Subunit orientation 
B)  Integration 
C)  Differentiation 
D)  Decentralization 
A)  Subunit orientation 
B)  Integration 
C)  Differentiation 
D)  Decentralization

Question 20

Managers meet in temporary committees to coordinate cross-functional activities in some cases. This is an example of using a(n) ________ to integrate activities.

Accepted Answer

A)  integrating role 
B)  task force 
C)  team 
D)  integrating department 
A)  integrating role 
B)  task force 
C)  team 
D)  integrating department

Write a brief note on how organizations balance centralization and decentralization.

________ is the power to hold people accountable for their actions and to make decisions about how to invest and use organizational resources.

Top managers should make all the decisions if an organization faces a rapidly changing environment.

Which of the following integrating mechanisms involves creating a permanent committee to promote coordination within an organization?

Tasks associated with a role are clearly defined in a mechanistic structure.

Which of the following refers to the compromise that emerges when decision-making and coordination are evolutionary processes and people use their judgment to address a problem?

________ refers to a situation where the authority to make important decisions is retained by managers at the top of the hierarchy.

Which of the following is an adaptive function?

________ involves choices about distributing authority within an organization.

Integration is the way in which a company allocates people and resources to organizational tasks.

Differentiation is the process of establishing and controlling the division of labor in an organization.

Norms are formalized rules of behavior within an organization.

A(n) ________ is a classification of people in an organization according to authority and rank.

________ is a management approach in which the design of an organization's structure is tailored to the sources of uncertainty facing an organization.

Rate-busters are employees who ________.

Division of labor and differentiation are high in a complex organization.

Compare and contrast mechanistic structures and organic structures.

________ structures promote flexibility, so people initiate change and can adapt quickly to changing conditions.

________ is the process of coordinating various tasks, functions, and divisions to work together and not be at cross-purposes.

Managers meet in temporary committees to coordinate cross-functional activities in some cases. This is an example of using a(n) ________ to integrate activities.

Organizations and Organizational Effectiveness

Stakeholders, Managers, and Ethics

Organizing in a Changing Global Environment

Designing Organizational Structure: Authority and Control

Designing Organizational Structure: Specialization and Coordination

Creating and Managing Organizational Culture

Organizational Design and Strategy in a Changing Global Environment

Organizational Design, Competences, and Technology

Types and Forms of Organizational Change

Organizational Transformations: Birth, Growth, Decline, and Death

Decision Making, Learning, Knowledge Management, and Information Technology

Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity

Managing Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters

Exam 4: Basic Challenges of Organizational Design

Write a brief note on how organizations balance centralization and decentralization.

________ is the power to hold people accountable for their actions and to make decisions about how to invest and use organizational resources.

Top managers should make all the decisions if an organization faces a rapidly changing environment.

Which of the following integrating mechanisms involves creating a permanent committee to promote coordination within an organization?

Tasks associated with a role are clearly defined in a mechanistic structure.

Which of the following refers to the compromise that emerges when decision-making and coordination are evolutionary processes and people use their judgment to address a problem?

________ refers to a situation where the authority to make important decisions is retained by managers at the top of the hierarchy.

Which of the following is an adaptive function?

________ involves choices about distributing authority within an organization.

Integration is the way in which a company allocates people and resources to organizational tasks.

Differentiation is the process of establishing and controlling the division of labor in an organization.

Norms are formalized rules of behavior within an organization.

A(n) ________ is a classification of people in an organization according to authority and rank.

________ is a management approach in which the design of an organization's structure is tailored to the sources of uncertainty facing an organization.

Rate-busters are employees who ________.

Division of labor and differentiation are high in a complex organization.

Compare and contrast mechanistic structures and organic structures.

________ structures promote flexibility, so people initiate change and can adapt quickly to changing conditions.

________ is the process of coordinating various tasks, functions, and divisions to work together and not be at cross-purposes.

Managers meet in temporary committees to coordinate cross-functional activities in some cases. This is an example of using a(n) ________ to integrate activities.

Organizations and Organizational Effectiveness

Stakeholders, Managers, and Ethics

Organizing in a Changing Global Environment

Designing Organizational Structure: Authority and Control

Designing Organizational Structure: Specialization and Coordination

Creating and Managing Organizational Culture

Organizational Design and Strategy in a Changing Global Environment

Organizational Design, Competences, and Technology

Types and Forms of Organizational Change

Organizational Transformations: Birth, Growth, Decline, and Death

Decision Making, Learning, Knowledge Management, and Information Technology

Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity

Managing Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters