Question 1

A virtual organization lacks flexibility.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

A(n) ________ model is generally synonymous with the bureaucracy in that it has highly standardized processes for work, high formalization, and more managerial hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

A)  mechanistic 
B)  organic 
C)  network 
D)  boundaryless 
E)  pyramidal 
A)  mechanistic 
B)  organic 
C)  network 
D)  boundaryless 
E)  pyramidal A

Question 3

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a virtual organization.

Accepted Answer

Typically, a virtual organization is a small, core organization that outsources its major business functions. The major advantage of the virtual organization is its flexibility, which allows individuals with an innovative idea and little money to successfully compete against larger, more established organizations. Virtual organizations also save a great deal of money by eliminating permanent offices and hierarchical roles. Virtual organizations' drawbacks have become increasingly clear as their popularity has grown. They are in a state of perpetual flux and reorganization, which means roles, goals, and responsibilities are unclear, setting the stage for political behavior. Cultural alignment and shared goals can be lost because of the low degree of interaction among members. Team members who are geographically dispersed and communicate infrequently find it difficult to share information and knowledge, which can limit innovation and slow response time.

Question 4

You have learned about the traditional and new design options for organizational structures. You have decided that one of the designs developed during the last decade or two is probably the most appropriate for your newly formed organization.
-You have recently started your business with a small capital investment. Your business needs a very high degree of flexibility so that you can quickly respond to environmental changes and you are also interested in minimizing costs. Which of the following types of organizations is best suitable for your business?

Accepted Answer

A)  a highly centralized organization 
B)  a virtual organization 
C)  a formalized organization 
D)  a bureaucracy 
E)  a hierarchical organization 
A)  a highly centralized organization 
B)  a virtual organization 
C)  a formalized organization 
D)  a bureaucracy 
E)  a hierarchical organization

Question 5

Proctor & Gamble has separate departments for Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  function 
B)  process 
C)  geography 
D)  product 
E)  interest 
A)  function 
B)  process 
C)  geography 
D)  product 
E)  interest

Question 6

You are the CEO of Achilles Incorporation. You have decided to hire other organizations to perform many of the basic functions of your business. You have hired an accounting firm to keep your records, a recruiting firm to handle human resource functions, and a computer firm to handle all records. To keep costs down, you are looking for other areas in which to outsource operations. You have chosen to operate your business as a ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  matrix organization 
B)  virtual organization 
C)  highly centralized organization 
D)  highly formalized organization 
E)  bureaucracy 
A)  matrix organization 
B)  virtual organization 
C)  highly centralized organization 
D)  highly formalized organization 
E)  bureaucracy

Question 7

The more scarce, dynamic, and complex the environment, the more organic a structure should be.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Gordon is a new divisional manager at AskSocrates.com. In reorganizing his division, he must make some decisions regarding the span of control for management within his division.
-While observing the departments in his division, Gordon notices that some managers with wide spans of control seem to perform more effectively than other managers with similarly sized spans of control. Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding the high-performing managers?

Accepted Answer

A)  These managers are paid higher salaries than the low-performing managers. 
B)  These managers have external locus of control. 
C)  The employees within their departments tend to compete to reach productivity goals, which boosts performance. 
D)  The employees within their departments score high on agreeableness. 
E)  The employees within their departments are highly skilled and very knowledgeable about their jobs. 
A)  These managers are paid higher salaries than the low-performing managers. 
B)  These managers have external locus of control. 
C)  The employees within their departments tend to compete to reach productivity goals, which boosts performance. 
D)  The employees within their departments score high on agreeableness. 
E)  The employees within their departments are highly skilled and very knowledgeable about their jobs.

Question 9

A boundaryless organization strives to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  break down barriers between the company, its customers, and suppliers 
B)  reduce bureaucracy costs associated with managing the projects in the organization 
C)  outsource projects to a competent third party 
D)  create a higher level of formalization in the organization 
E)  centralize power within the organization 
A)  break down barriers between the company, its customers, and suppliers 
B)  reduce bureaucracy costs associated with managing the projects in the organization 
C)  outsource projects to a competent third party 
D)  create a higher level of formalization in the organization 
E)  centralize power within the organization

Question 10

The major advantage of a virtual organization is its ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  decentralized structure 
B)  ability to enhance role clarity 
C)  flexibility 
D)  highly departmentalized structure 
E)  ability to minimize organizational politics 
A)  decentralized structure 
B)  ability to enhance role clarity 
C)  flexibility 
D)  highly departmentalized structure 
E)  ability to minimize organizational politics

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Formalization 
B)  Empowerment 
C)  Work specialization 
D)  Departmentalization 
E)  Decentralization 
A)  Formalization 
B)  Empowerment 
C)  Work specialization 
D)  Departmentalization 
E)  Decentralization

Question 12

The simple structure is characterized by a high degree of departmentalization and narrow span of control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

For much of the first half of the twentieth century, managers viewed work specialization as ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a means to encourage employee satisfaction 
B)  an effective solution to over-centralization 
C)  an unending source of increased productivity 
D)  difficult to implement without automation technology 
E)  a frustrating cause of reduced efficiency 
A)  a means to encourage employee satisfaction 
B)  an effective solution to over-centralization 
C)  an unending source of increased productivity 
D)  difficult to implement without automation technology 
E)  a frustrating cause of reduced efficiency

Question 14

A mechanistic model is similar to a boundaryless organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following is a method that companies can use to break down cultural barriers in the global market?

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the degree of formalization 
B)  use only organic structures 
C)  increase the degree of centralization 
D)  limit global expansion 
E)  form strategic alliances 
A)  increase the degree of formalization 
B)  use only organic structures 
C)  increase the degree of centralization 
D)  limit global expansion 
E)  form strategic alliances

Question 16

A(n) ________ model is a structure that is flat, uses cross-hierarchical and cross-functional teams, has low formalization, possesses a comprehensive information network, and relies on participative decision making.

Accepted Answer

A)  mechanistic 
B)  organic 
C)  boundaryless 
D)  network 
E)  pyramidal 
A)  mechanistic 
B)  organic 
C)  boundaryless 
D)  network 
E)  pyramidal

Question 17

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is the difference between a mechanistic model and an organic model of organizational structure?

Accepted Answer

A mechanistic model is generally synonym

Question 19

A bureaucracy is characterized by decentralized authority and wider spans of control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is most likely to be a characteristic of an organization pursuing a cost-minimization strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of tight control 
B)  wide span of control 
C)  low work specialization 
D)  high centralization 
E)  low formalization 
A)  lack of tight control 
B)  wide span of control 
C)  low work specialization 
D)  high centralization 
E)  low formalization

A virtual organization lacks flexibility.

A(n) ________ model is generally synonymous with the bureaucracy in that it has highly standardized processes for work, high formalization, and more managerial hierarchy.

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a virtual organization.

Proctor & Gamble has separate departments for Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.

The more scarce, dynamic, and complex the environment, the more organic a structure should be.

A boundaryless organization strives to ________.

The major advantage of a virtual organization is its ________.

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

The simple structure is characterized by a high degree of departmentalization and narrow span of control.

For much of the first half of the twentieth century, managers viewed work specialization as ________.

A mechanistic model is similar to a boundaryless organization.

Which of the following is a method that companies can use to break down cultural barriers in the global market?

A(n) ________ model is a structure that is flat, uses cross-hierarchical and cross-functional teams, has low formalization, possesses a comprehensive information network, and relies on participative decision making.

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

What is the difference between a mechanistic model and an organic model of organizational structure?

A bureaucracy is characterized by decentralized authority and wider spans of control.

Which of the following is most likely to be a characteristic of an organization pursuing a cost-minimization strategy?

What Is Organizational Behavior

Diversity in Organizations

Attitudes and Job Satisfaction

Emotions and Moods

Personality and Values

Perception and Individual Decision Making

Motivation Concepts

Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

Foundations of Group Behavior

Understanding Work Teams

Communication

Leadership

Power and Politics

Conflict and Negotiation

Organizational Culture

Human Resource Policies and Practices

Organizational Change and Stress Management

Filters

Exam 15: Foundations of Organization Structure

A virtual organization lacks flexibility.

A(n) ________ model is generally synonymous with the bureaucracy in that it has highly standardized processes for work, high formalization, and more managerial hierarchy.

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a virtual organization.

Proctor & Gamble has separate departments for Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.

The more scarce, dynamic, and complex the environment, the more organic a structure should be.

A boundaryless organization strives to ________.

The major advantage of a virtual organization is its ________.

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

The simple structure is characterized by a high degree of departmentalization and narrow span of control.

For much of the first half of the twentieth century, managers viewed work specialization as ________.

A mechanistic model is similar to a boundaryless organization.

Which of the following is a method that companies can use to break down cultural barriers in the global market?

A(n) ________ model is a structure that is flat, uses cross-hierarchical and cross-functional teams, has low formalization, possesses a comprehensive information network, and relies on participative decision making.

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

What is the difference between a mechanistic model and an organic model of organizational structure?

A bureaucracy is characterized by decentralized authority and wider spans of control.

Which of the following is most likely to be a characteristic of an organization pursuing a cost-minimization strategy?

What Is Organizational Behavior

Diversity in Organizations

Attitudes and Job Satisfaction

Emotions and Moods

Personality and Values

Perception and Individual Decision Making

Motivation Concepts

Motivation: From Concepts to Applications

Foundations of Group Behavior

Understanding Work Teams

Communication

Leadership

Power and Politics

Conflict and Negotiation

Organizational Culture

Human Resource Policies and Practices

Organizational Change and Stress Management

Filters