Exam 9: Organisational Structure and Design

General Hospital (Scenario) Maha is a registered nurse in charge of a new unit at her hospital. She would like to have a more laid back approach in dealing with her new staff, but the hospital demands that there be strict hierarchical levels and that all decisions must be signed off by Maha. Sometimes this drives Maha crazy the constant filling out of forms, and so forth. She also feels that the numerous levels of hierarchy are unnecessary and place barriers between herself and her staff. She isn't sure why things have to be so "organized" and is thinking about speaking with her boss in an attempt to change her unit so that it has more flexibility and fewer rules. -Maha has noticed that everyone is very concerned about the line of authority within the organization. The line of authority within the organization is also called ________.

A(n) ________ organization is able to change rapidly as needs require.

In a short essay, list the three traditional organizational designs. Describe the characteristics that are commonly associated with each.

It is critical for members in a virtual organization to collaborate on work activities throughout the entire organization.

What is a strength of a simple structure?

________ is the obligation or expectation to perform a duty.

Innovators need the efficiency, stability, and tight controls of the mechanistic structure.

Organizations that work like efficient, well-oiled machines are described as ________.

The concept that defines the number of subordinates that report to a manager and that indirectly specifies the number of levels of management in an organization, is called ________.

An organic organization would likely be very flexible.

In describing the relationship between structure and strategy, it can be said that ________.

Which one of Fayol's 14 principles of management helps preserve the concept of a continuous line of authority?

In a short essay, list six factors that influence the amount of centralization (or decentralization) in an organization.

Global competition, accelerated product development by competitors, and increased demands by customers for better service have encouraged organizations to become more ________.

Why is keeping employees connected a major structural design challenge for managers?

In a short essay, describe the boundaryless organization. What types of boundaries are there? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this organizational design?

Concepts such as chain of command and authority are considerably less relevant today because of things like ________.

The degree to which jobs are standardized and guided by rules and procedures is called ________.

Which of the following would likely be found in mechanistic organizations?

Many of today's organizations are extremely reliant on strict rules and standardization to guide and regulate employee behavior.