Exam 9: Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

In what kind of organizations is clan control most often used?

Despite the increasing size of many companies, the economic vitality of North America is tied to small and mid-sized businesses.

Which of the following is the primary reason the CEO of a large company such as Tim Hortons would push decisions as far down the hierarchy as he or she can?

Clan control is generally used by companies that are small and informal or have a strong culture.

Explain the patterns found in the study of personnel ratios for administrative, clerical, and professional support staff.

Traditional authority refers to control coming from the exemplary character of an individual and the aura he or she creates.

Which of the following is high formalization most closely associated with?

Describe the life cycle of a specific organization that has gone through at least three stages of the organizational life cycle. In your answer explain the crisis this organization is now facing, and how you would recommend that it overcome its crisis.

Discuss each stage of the life cycle.

Describe Weber's dimensions of bureaucracy and bases of organizational authority.

Two brothers, Jake and Tommy, were hired by an organization with a bureaucratic organizational structure. Because they had different sets of skills, they ended up working in different parts of the organization. Which dimension of bureaucracy is this an example of?

Is bigger organization size better? Whether you say yes or no, defend your answer. Then explain the countering or opposite position, trying to make it as convincing an argument as you can.

In which stage does denial occur despite signs of deteriorating performance?

What term is used for a condition in which a substantial, absolute change in an organization's resource base occurs over a period of time?

If Max Weber were living in Canada today, and observing the push away from bureaucracy, what do you think he would say? Would he defend the use of bureaucracy today, or are there different environmental factors that would cause him to abandon bureaucracy?

Identify an organization in which you have worked. Analyze its management as related to the size of the organization.

The following organization is in its collectivity stage: Employees at Ace identify with the company mission and goals, and they typically put in 55-hour work weeks. Ace is established in the marketplace, and is concentrating on getting more and more dealers to sign on. Ace does not have a written policies and procedures manual for its own employees.

In the incident command system, who or what ensures all activities that occur are appropriate?

Describe the incident command system.

Ninety-nine percent of businesses that make it past the first year still fail within five years because they can't make the transition from the entrepreneurial stage.