Exam 8: Organizational Culture, Structure, and Design: Building Blocks of the Organization

Key IT Products has decided to retain its computer design, human resources, and marketing departments at its corporate office. But to cut costs and increase speed, it outsources many other functions such as production in Canada, accounting in a neighboring city, warehousing and distribution across town. Many components are manufactured overseas. This is an example of a matrix structure.

Having realistic expectations and thinking about the kind of manager you want to be, not forgetting to manage upward and sideways as well as downward, getting guidance from other managers, and resisting isolation is good advice for those who are _____.

Contrast centralized and decentralized authority. Give an advantage and example of each.

The process of assigning managerial authority and responsibility to lower-level managers and employees is known as ____.

Oakland, California, productivity expert Odette Pollar proposed that "To do more in a day, you must do more and do everything faster."

The employees of XYZ Production enjoy a culture that has developed over time to become a model for local companies. A manager with XYZ mentioned that "Through a careful selection process while hiring and the strong culture we have developed, our employee turnover is one of the lowest our industry." This is an example of how low turnover can be a consequence of a good organizational culture.

According to productivity expert Odette Pollar, "To do more in a day, ____."

The elements that drive an organization's culture also vary, representing the values of the founder, the industry and business environment, the national culture, the organization's vision and strategies, and the behavior of leaders.

Sometimes culture can be strong enough to take the place of an organization's ____.

Making formal statements, holding rites and rituals, utilizing employee training and coaching, demonstrating how a leader reacts to a crises, being a role model, and giving rewards, promotions, and bonuses are some of the teaching methods that organizations can utilize to ____.

The simple structure is not often found in a firm's very early, entrepreneurial stages.

A box-and-lines illustration showing the formal lines of authority and the organization's official positions or work specializations is known as an organization chart.

Dr. Jones is retiring from the hospital and he wants to start an organization, Doctor Help, that will provide low-income individuals in the United States with medical assistance at no cost. Doctor Help is an example of a(n) ____.

Peter, the owner of Happy Burger, is involved in the company's daily decisions and has established procedures for every task. The company rules are clearly specified in the handbook, and Peter also believes in close supervision of all employees. Happy Burger is a(n) _______ organization.

IT Technology has designed its corporate structure with divisions based on its location. For example, there are the Southern and Northern Divisions, and globally there is the European Division. This is an example of a structure with _____.

Another type of culture that stems from a dysfunctional organization, with an internal focus and little flexibility, innovation, and creativity, is an adhocracy culture.

After John's father died, John inherited his successful tire business. John wanted to make sure the company's culture, which his father had built for over 40 years, was not lost but embedded in the organization. Summarize four of the ways that a particular culture can become embedded in an organization.

Quality Paper Products utilizes a structure that includes functional divisions, such as accounting and production, and a divisional chain of command, such as the home products and office divisions. For example, Mary Beth, a salesperson, reported to both her sales manager and the office products manager when she first started working on the city of Springfield account. Quality Paper Products has developed a _____.

Organizations that are formed to offer services to clients and not make a profit are ____, and those organizations that are formed to make money, or profits, by offering products or services are _____.

The formal and informal marketing systems of goods, services, and ideas, along with the customer relationships, that an organization sells are known as its organizational structure.