Question 1

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 2

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 3

As the complexity in the external environment increases, so does the number of positions and departments within the organization, which in turn increases internal complexity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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.

Question 5

Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes mechanistic organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Authoritarian, unfriendly leadership 
B)  Communication is horizontal 
C)  It is a service organization with individualized customer demands 
D)  Tasks are broken down into specialized parts 
A)  Authoritarian, unfriendly leadership 
B)  Communication is horizontal 
C)  It is a service organization with individualized customer demands 
D)  Tasks are broken down into specialized parts

Question 6

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 7

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 8

Boundary-spanning roles:

Accepted Answer

A)  primarily link data to information 
B)  buffer the manufacturing department from outside intrusion that would interfere with efficiency. 
C)  bring into the organization information about environmental changes. 
D)  move the firm to internationalism. 
A)  primarily link data to information 
B)  buffer the manufacturing department from outside intrusion that would interfere with efficiency. 
C)  bring into the organization information about environmental changes. 
D)  move the firm to internationalism.

Question 9

List and describe each of the task environment sectors.

Accepted Answer

The task environment consists of specifi

Question 10

What methods are suggested for dealing effectively with resource dependence?

Accepted Answer

Resource dependence theory posits that o

Question 11

In the mechanistic organization, communication is vertical.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

All of the following, except ____, are ways high-moderate uncertainty influences organizational characteristics.

Accepted Answer

A)  mechanistic structure: formal, centralized 
B)  few integrating roles 
C)  planning orientation; fast response 
D)  few departments, much boundary spanning 
A)  mechanistic structure: formal, centralized 
B)  few integrating roles 
C)  planning orientation; fast response 
D)  few departments, much boundary spanning

Question 14

The ____ 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)  general environment 
B)  international context 
C)  task environment 
D)  buffering roles 
A)  general environment 
B)  international context 
C)  task environment 
D)  buffering roles

Question 15

Describe both a mechanistic and an organic organization with which you are familiar (from reading or personal experience), explaining why you have classified them as such. Comment on how well this structure is suited to the environment of each organization.

Accepted Answer

I am familiar with a mechanistic organiz

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Contrast the two dimensions (axes) of the framework for environmental uncertainty.

Accepted Answer

The two dimensions of the framework for

Question 18

Distinguish between complexity and instability in an organization's environment.

Accepted Answer

Complexity in an organization's environm

Question 19

A company in a highly uncertain environment is more likely to need a formal integrator.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What can an organization do to have effect on controlling its environment? If you were president of a medium-sized state supported college, what strategy would you pursue and why?

Accepted Answer

An organization can have an effect on co

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

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

As the complexity in the external environment increases, so does the number of positions and departments within the organization, which in turn increases internal complexity.

The task environment is:

Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes mechanistic organizations?

An organization's domain is:

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

Boundary-spanning roles:

List and describe each of the task environment sectors.

What methods are suggested for dealing effectively with resource dependence?

In the mechanistic organization, communication is vertical.

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

All of the following, except ____, are ways high-moderate uncertainty influences organizational characteristics.

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

Describe both a mechanistic and an organic organization with which you are familiar (from reading or personal experience), explaining why you have classified them as such. Comment on how well this structure is suited to the environment of each organization.

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

Contrast the two dimensions (axes) of the framework for environmental uncertainty.

Distinguish between complexity and instability in an organization's environment.

A company in a highly uncertain environment is more likely to need a formal integrator.

What can an organization do to have effect on controlling its environment? If you were president of a medium-sized state supported college, what strategy would you pursue and why?

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 It for Coordination and Control

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

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

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

As the complexity in the external environment increases, so does the number of positions and departments within the organization, which in turn increases internal complexity.

The task environment is:

Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes mechanistic organizations?

An organization's domain is:

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

Boundary-spanning roles:

List and describe each of the task environment sectors.

What methods are suggested for dealing effectively with resource dependence?

In the mechanistic organization, communication is vertical.

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

All of the following, except ____, are ways high-moderate uncertainty influences organizational characteristics.

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

Describe both a mechanistic and an organic organization with which you are familiar (from reading or personal experience), explaining why you have classified them as such. Comment on how well this structure is suited to the environment of each organization.

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

Contrast the two dimensions (axes) of the framework for environmental uncertainty.

Distinguish between complexity and instability in an organization's environment.

A company in a highly uncertain environment is more likely to need a formal integrator.

What can an organization do to have effect on controlling its environment? If you were president of a medium-sized state supported college, what strategy would you pursue and why?

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 It for Coordination and Control

Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

Organizational Culture and Ethical Values

Innovation and Change

Decision Making Processes

Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters