Exam 15: Foundations of Organization Structure

________ refers to the degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in the organization.

Departmentalization refers to the degree to which jobs within the organization are standardized.

A ________ organization is a small, core organization that outsources major business functions.

A boundaryless organization tries to flatten the hierarchy and minimizes status and rank.

Which of the following types of organizations is most likely to operate in a state of perpetual flux and reorganization?

HyperShield is an international securities firm which specializes in securing loans for cross-national transactions, such as real estate purchases and joint ventures. With offices in several countries, the organization operates in a virtual format. Lately, the productivity of the organization has been greatly diminishing and the number of completed transactions per month has gone down to 25% of the transactions of this time last year. Which of the following could explain why this organization is struggling?

Employee discretion is inversely related to ________.

Samantha is the owner of a flower shop. She has five employees that all report directly to her and she makes all the decisions regarding the type and quantity of flowers and looks after the shop's finances. Which type of organizational structure does Samantha have?

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority.

An organization pursuing a(n) ________ tightly controls costs, refrains from incurring unnecessary expenses, and cuts prices in selling a basic product.

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

Describe the five common ways of departmentalization. Give an example of each.

What are the three dimensions that characterize the environment of an organization?

Publishing representatives who call on college professors to inform them of their company's new publications have a great deal of freedom in their jobs. They have only a general sales pitch, which they tailor as needed. Based on this information, we can say that the job of these publishing representatives scores ________.

Some individuals want work that makes minimal intellectual demands and provides the security of routine; for them, ________ is a source of job satisfaction.

Which one of the following is not one of the primary ways to group jobs?

Rahael's Bakery is a small organization which specializes is cakes, cookies, and other treats for special events such as birthdays, weddings, and religious affairs. In an effort to increase profit margins, the bakery management is implementing a cost-minimization strategy. Which of the following activities would not be a possible action under this strategy?

Describe the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of a virtual organization.

A(n) ________ strategy emphasizes the introduction of major new products and services.

Describe the simple structure. Discuss its advantages and disadvantages.