Question 1

Draw and label the contingency framework for environmental uncertainty and organizational responses.

Accepted Answer

The contingency framework for environmen

Question 2

Compare and contrast the four quadrants in the framework for environmental uncertainty.

Accepted Answer

The framework for environmental uncertai

Question 3

____ is especially important in highly competitive consumer industries and in industries that experience variable demand.

Accepted Answer

A)  Advertising 
B)  Cooptation 
C)  Executive recruitment 
D)  Contracts 
A)  Advertising 
B)  Cooptation 
C)  Executive recruitment 
D)  Contracts

Question 4

An organization's domain is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the set of positions and departments within the organization. 
B)  the buildings and grounds that are owned or leased by the organization in which inputs are transformed into outputs. 
C)  the organization's niche that has been staked out for itself with respect to products, services, and markets served. 
D)  the technical core that is buffered by other departments so that it can operate as a closed system. 
A)  the set of positions and departments within the organization. 
B)  the buildings and grounds that are owned or leased by the organization in which inputs are transformed into outputs. 
C)  the organization's niche that has been staked out for itself with respect to products, services, and markets served. 
D)  the technical core that is buffered by other departments so that it can operate as a closed system.

Question 5

Transferring or exchanging executives offers a method of establishing favorable linkages with external organizations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The purpose of boundary-spanning roles is to absorb uncertainty from the environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

____ means that organizations depend on the environment but strive to acquire control over resources to minimize their dependence.

Accepted Answer

A)  Integration 
B)  Resource dependence 
C)  Organic process 
D)  Cooptation 
A)  Integration 
B)  Resource dependence 
C)  Organic process 
D)  Cooptation

Question 8

The general environment includes those sectors that might not have a direct impact on the daily operations of a firm but will indirectly influence it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Bobby Barista is a researcher in the R&D department at 3M. Part of her job is to read technical and scientific journals, and to attend conferences to find out what new developments are occurring. When she is doing this part of her job she is carrying out a ____ role.

Accepted Answer

A)  buffering 
B)  maintenance 
C)  boundary spanning 
D)  managerial 
A)  buffering 
B)  maintenance 
C)  boundary spanning 
D)  managerial

Question 10

Boundary spanners can prevent the organization from stagnating by keeping top managers informed about environmental changes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The following examples illustrate how various sectors can impact organizations:

Accepted Answer

A)  in the industry sector, labor unions are a significant force. 
B)  in the market sector, we see an increasing number of foreign-owned manufacturing plants built in the U.S. 
C)  in the raw materials sector, we note that steel makers owned the beverage can market until the mid-1960s. 
D)  in the human resources sector, brand names are fighting it out with lower-cost store brands. 
A)  in the industry sector, labor unions are a significant force. 
B)  in the market sector, we see an increasing number of foreign-owned manufacturing plants built in the U.S. 
C)  in the raw materials sector, we note that steel makers owned the beverage can market until the mid-1960s. 
D)  in the human resources sector, brand names are fighting it out with lower-cost store brands.

Question 12

Organizations in which of the following types of industries would face the greatest amount of environmental uncertainty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Beer distributors because of simplicity 
B)  Universities because of complexity 
C)  Airlines because of instability 
D)  Appliance manufacturers because of complexity 
A)  Beer distributors because of simplicity 
B)  Universities because of complexity 
C)  Airlines because of instability 
D)  Appliance manufacturers because of complexity

Question 13

In the ____ sector, regulations influence every phase of organizational life.

Accepted Answer

A)  sociocultural 
B)  human resources 
C)  international 
D)  government 
A)  sociocultural 
B)  human resources 
C)  international 
D)  government

Question 14

What type of environment would Tommy Hilfiger have on the stable-unstable dimension? Explain and defend. Then use Tommy Hilfiger as an example for illustrating proper adaptation to that dimension of the environment.

Accepted Answer

Tommy Hilfiger would likely have a stabl

Question 15

Allowing customers in an auto dealership service department to talk directly to the mechanic rather than to a service manager:

Accepted Answer

A)  is an example of creating a buffering role. 
B)  is creating a boundary-spanning role. 
C)  will make the company less fluid. 
D)  will make the company less responsive to customers. 
A)  is an example of creating a buffering role. 
B)  is creating a boundary-spanning role. 
C)  will make the company less fluid. 
D)  will make the company less responsive to customers.

Question 16

Incompetence means that decision makers do not have sufficient information about environmental factors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

When differentiation is high, integration should be high if the level of environmental uncertainty is high.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

List and describe three organizational adaptations to environmental uncertainty.

Accepted Answer

1. Flexible organizational structure: In

Question 19

Which of the following is a proper dimension of the framework for assessing environmental uncertainty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dispersion-contiguity 
B)  Simple-complex 
C)  Certain-uncertain 
D)  Internal-external 
A)  Dispersion-contiguity 
B)  Simple-complex 
C)  Certain-uncertain 
D)  Internal-external

Question 20

The task environment is:

Accepted Answer

A)  all elements that exist outside the organizational boundary. 
B)  sectors with which the organization interacts directly. 
C)  domain. 
D)  all jobs and positions inherent within the organizational activity. 
A)  all elements that exist outside the organizational boundary. 
B)  sectors with which the organization interacts directly. 
C)  domain. 
D)  all jobs and positions inherent within the organizational activity.

Draw and label the contingency framework for environmental uncertainty and organizational responses.

Compare and contrast the four quadrants in the framework for environmental uncertainty.

____ is especially important in highly competitive consumer industries and in industries that experience variable demand.

An organization's domain is:

Transferring or exchanging executives offers a method of establishing favorable linkages with external organizations.

The purpose of boundary-spanning roles is to absorb uncertainty from the environment.

____ means that organizations depend on the environment but strive to acquire control over resources to minimize their dependence.

The general environment includes those sectors that might not have a direct impact on the daily operations of a firm but will indirectly influence it.

Bobby Barista is a researcher in the R&D department at 3M. Part of her job is to read technical and scientific journals, and to attend conferences to find out what new developments are occurring. When she is doing this part of her job she is carrying out a ____ role.

Boundary spanners can prevent the organization from stagnating by keeping top managers informed about environmental changes.

The following examples illustrate how various sectors can impact organizations:

Organizations in which of the following types of industries would face the greatest amount of environmental uncertainty?

In the ____ sector, regulations influence every phase of organizational life.

What type of environment would Tommy Hilfiger have on the stable-unstable dimension? Explain and defend. Then use Tommy Hilfiger as an example for illustrating proper adaptation to that dimension of the environment.

Allowing customers in an auto dealership service department to talk directly to the mechanic rather than to a service manager:

Incompetence means that decision makers do not have sufficient information about environmental factors.

When differentiation is high, integration should be high if the level of environmental uncertainty is high.

List and describe three organizational adaptations to environmental uncertainty.

Which of the following is a proper dimension of the framework for assessing environmental uncertainty?

The task environment is:

Organizations and Organization Theory

Strategy, Organization Design, and Effectiveness

Fundamentals of Organization Structure

Interorganizational Relationships

Designing Organizations for the International Environment

Manufacturing and Service Technologies

Using Information Technology for Control and Coordination

Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

Organizational Culture and Ethical Values

Innovation and Change

Decision Making Processes

Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters

Exam 4: The External Environment

Draw and label the contingency framework for environmental uncertainty and organizational responses.

Compare and contrast the four quadrants in the framework for environmental uncertainty.

____ is especially important in highly competitive consumer industries and in industries that experience variable demand.

An organization's domain is:

Transferring or exchanging executives offers a method of establishing favorable linkages with external organizations.

The purpose of boundary-spanning roles is to absorb uncertainty from the environment.

____ means that organizations depend on the environment but strive to acquire control over resources to minimize their dependence.

The general environment includes those sectors that might not have a direct impact on the daily operations of a firm but will indirectly influence it.

Bobby Barista is a researcher in the R&D department at 3M. Part of her job is to read technical and scientific journals, and to attend conferences to find out what new developments are occurring. When she is doing this part of her job she is carrying out a ____ role.

Boundary spanners can prevent the organization from stagnating by keeping top managers informed about environmental changes.

The following examples illustrate how various sectors can impact organizations:

Organizations in which of the following types of industries would face the greatest amount of environmental uncertainty?

In the ____ sector, regulations influence every phase of organizational life.

What type of environment would Tommy Hilfiger have on the stable-unstable dimension? Explain and defend. Then use Tommy Hilfiger as an example for illustrating proper adaptation to that dimension of the environment.

Allowing customers in an auto dealership service department to talk directly to the mechanic rather than to a service manager:

Incompetence means that decision makers do not have sufficient information about environmental factors.

When differentiation is high, integration should be high if the level of environmental uncertainty is high.

List and describe three organizational adaptations to environmental uncertainty.

Which of the following is a proper dimension of the framework for assessing environmental uncertainty?

The task environment is:

Organizations and Organization Theory

Strategy, Organization Design, and Effectiveness

Fundamentals of Organization Structure

Interorganizational Relationships

Designing Organizations for the International Environment

Manufacturing and Service Technologies

Using Information Technology for Control and Coordination

Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

Organizational Culture and Ethical Values

Innovation and Change

Decision Making Processes

Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters