Question 1

The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom is termed ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  chain of command 
B)  path of power 
C)  span of control 
D)  line of responsibility 
E)  web of authority 
A)  chain of command 
B)  path of power 
C)  span of control 
D)  line of responsibility 
E)  web of authority

Question 2

Which of the following is a drawback of a narrow span of control?

Accepted Answer

A)  It reduces effectiveness. 
B)  It is more expensive. 
C)  It encourages employee autonomy. 
D)  It decreases the number levels in the organizational hierarchy. 
E)  It increases participatory decision making. 
A)  It reduces effectiveness. 
B)  It is more expensive. 
C)  It encourages employee autonomy. 
D)  It decreases the number levels in the organizational hierarchy. 
E)  It increases participatory decision making.

Question 3

The strength of a bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In structural terms, a virtual organization is highly centralized, with little or no departmentalization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Span of control is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?

Accepted Answer

A)  On what basis will jobs be grouped together? 
B)  To whom do individuals and groups report? 
C)  To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers? 
D)  How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct? 
E)  To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs? 
A)  On what basis will jobs be grouped together? 
B)  To whom do individuals and groups report? 
C)  To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers? 
D)  How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct? 
E)  To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs?

Question 6

Which of the following dimensions of an environment describes the degree to which the environment can support growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  capacity 
B)  flexibility 
C)  volatility 
D)  sustainability 
E)  complexity 
A)  capacity 
B)  flexibility 
C)  volatility 
D)  sustainability 
E)  complexity

Question 7

A ________ is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization.

Accepted Answer

A)  bureaucracy 
B)  matrix organization 
C)  simple structure 
D)  networked organizational structure 
E)  hierarchical organization 
A)  bureaucracy 
B)  matrix organization 
C)  simple structure 
D)  networked organizational structure 
E)  hierarchical organization

Question 8

Blastkrieg, a chain of audio equipment stores, uses computerized inventory control and customer self- service to eliminate the category of sales clerks from its force of employees. After diversifying into computer electronics, it now plans to employ the same concept in selling desktop PCs and laptops. Which of the following is an assumption made in Blastkrieg's strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  All computer electronics stores use a similar strategy. 
B)  Sales personnel are not required for selling computer electronics successfully. 
C)  The same kind of computers will be used in inventory control for both audio equipment and electronics at Blastkrieg. 
D)  A self-service strategy cannot be employed without computerized inventory control. 
E)  Sales clerks are the only employees of Blastkrieg who could be assigned tasks related to inventory control. 
A)  All computer electronics stores use a similar strategy. 
B)  Sales personnel are not required for selling computer electronics successfully. 
C)  The same kind of computers will be used in inventory control for both audio equipment and electronics at Blastkrieg. 
D)  A self-service strategy cannot be employed without computerized inventory control. 
E)  Sales clerks are the only employees of Blastkrieg who could be assigned tasks related to inventory control.

Question 9

You are interested in explaining the different types of organizational designs to students of basic management. These students need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each structure as well as the structure's characteristics.
-You describe to your students a new committee within the university that brings together specialists from all different departments to develop a new interdisciplinary program. The structure of the committee best meets the definition of the ________ structure.

Accepted Answer

A)  matrix 
B)  simple 
C)  boundaryless 
D)  virtual 
E)  bureaucratic 
A)  matrix 
B)  simple 
C)  boundaryless 
D)  virtual 
E)  bureaucratic

Question 10

The simple structure is most widely practiced in small businesses in which ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the manager and owner are one and the same 
B)  the number of employees is between 100 to 150 
C)  employees are highly skilled 
D)  managers are hired directly by the company's owner 
E)  training budgets are limited 
A)  the manager and owner are one and the same 
B)  the number of employees is between 100 to 150 
C)  employees are highly skilled 
D)  managers are hired directly by the company's owner 
E)  training budgets are limited

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A)  innovation 
B)  cost-minimization 
C)  imitation 
D)  organic 
E)  mechanistic 
A)  innovation 
B)  cost-minimization 
C)  imitation 
D)  organic 
E)  mechanistic

Question 12

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of the mechanistic model of organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  low formalization 
B)  rigid departmentalization 
C)  decentralized management 
D)  wide spans of control 
E)  low specialization 
A)  low formalization 
B)  rigid departmentalization 
C)  decentralized management 
D)  wide spans of control 
E)  low specialization

Question 13

Explain the concept of the "boundaryless" organization and how boundaryless organizations are useful in breaking down cultural barriers in a global workplace.

Accepted Answer

Jack Welch coined the term "boundaryless

Question 14

Work specialization contributes to higher employee productivity - but at the price of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced economies of scale 
B)  increased cost 
C)  reduced job satisfaction 
D)  restricted flow of information 
E)  increased complexity 
A)  reduced economies of scale 
B)  increased cost 
C)  reduced job satisfaction 
D)  restricted flow of information 
E)  increased complexity

Question 15

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of an organic model of organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  narrow spans of control 
B)  centralization 
C)  free flow of information 
D)  high formalization 
E)  inflexibility 
A)  narrow spans of control 
B)  centralization 
C)  free flow of information 
D)  high formalization 
E)  inflexibility

Question 16

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 ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  scores low on the degree of work specialization 
B)  scores low on the degree of decentralization 
C)  scores high on the degree of departmentalization 
D)  scores high on the degree of centralization 
E)  scores low on the degree of formalization 
A)  scores low on the degree of work specialization 
B)  scores low on the degree of decentralization 
C)  scores high on the degree of departmentalization 
D)  scores high on the degree of centralization 
E)  scores low on the degree of formalization

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true regarding a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bureaucracies are characterized by a low degree of formalization. 
B)  Bureaucracy is an ideal organizational design for those organizations that operate under highly uncertain conditions. 
C)  Typically, bureaucracies have wider spans of control. 
D)  Bureaucracies can get by with less talented middle- and lower-level managers. 
E)  Bureaucracies encourage employee empowerment. 
A)  Bureaucracies are characterized by a low degree of formalization. 
B)  Bureaucracy is an ideal organizational design for those organizations that operate under highly uncertain conditions. 
C)  Typically, bureaucracies have wider spans of control. 
D)  Bureaucracies can get by with less talented middle- and lower-level managers. 
E)  Bureaucracies encourage employee empowerment.

Question 18

A narrow span of control ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  encourages employee autonomy 
B)  is expensive because it adds levels of management 
C)  simplifies vertical communication 
D)  increases the speed of decision making 
E)  discourages overly tight supervision 
A)  encourages employee autonomy 
B)  is expensive because it adds levels of management 
C)  simplifies vertical communication 
D)  increases the speed of decision making 
E)  discourages overly tight supervision

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  span of control 
B)  departmentalization 
C)  cross-functionality 
D)  centralization 
E)  unity of command 
A)  span of control 
B)  departmentalization 
C)  cross-functionality 
D)  centralization 
E)  unity of command

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom is termed ________.

Which of the following is a drawback of a narrow span of control?

The strength of a bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.

In structural terms, a virtual organization is highly centralized, with little or no departmentalization.

Span of control is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?

Which of the following dimensions of an environment describes the degree to which the environment can support growth?

A ________ is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization.

The simple structure is most widely practiced in small businesses in which ________.

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

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of the mechanistic model of organization?

Explain the concept of the "boundaryless" organization and how boundaryless organizations are useful in breaking down cultural barriers in a global workplace.

Work specialization contributes to higher employee productivity - but at the price of ________.

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of an organic model of organization?

Which of the following statements is true regarding a bureaucracy?

A narrow span of control ________.

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

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

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

The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom is termed ________.

Which of the following is a drawback of a narrow span of control?

The strength of a bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.

In structural terms, a virtual organization is highly centralized, with little or no departmentalization.

Span of control is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?

Which of the following dimensions of an environment describes the degree to which the environment can support growth?

A ________ is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization.

The simple structure is most widely practiced in small businesses in which ________.

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

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of the mechanistic model of organization?

Explain the concept of the "boundaryless" organization and how boundaryless organizations are useful in breaking down cultural barriers in a global workplace.

Work specialization contributes to higher employee productivity - but at the price of ________.

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of an organic model of organization?

Which of the following statements is true regarding a bureaucracy?

A narrow span of control ________.

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

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

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