Deck 15: Organizational Design and Structure

Question 1

What is the difference between authority and responsibility in the organizational hierarchy?

A) the centralization in the organization
B) the gap of accountability in the organization
C) the type differentiation in the organization
D) the span of control in the organization

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which organization has the greatest complexity?

A) a car rental office at a busy airport
B) a high school basketball team
C) an auto dealership's repair shop
D) a university

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What is the term for the process of coordinating the different parts of an organization?

A) hierarchy of authority
B) integration
C) horizontal differentiation
D) horizontal complexity

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A manager asks the question,"How much standardization should be required in the output of each position?" What is this manager demonstrating?

A) an understanding of liaison roles
B) an understanding of designated integrators
C) an understanding of task forces
D) an understanding of basic design dimensions

Question 5

What best summarizes an organization's complexity?

A) the number of employees within it
B) the difficulty of coordinating its different parts
C) the number of activities and amount of differentiation
D) the number of levels within it

Question 6

What best describes the concept of an organization chart?

A) the specific tasks for each job
B) the number of people who are employed by an organization
C) formal lines of authority and supervisor-employee reporting relationships
D) the number of positions in each department

Question 7

Your organization is increasing its differentiation based on changes in its external complexity.What are the next steps for the organization?

A) train employees in communication
B) improve and/or increase integration
C) develop teams
D) clarify roles

Question 8

What is the term for the degree to which the organization has official rules,regulations,and procedures?

A) specialization
B) formalization
C) complexity
D) standardization

Question 9

What is the beginning of the organizational design process?

A) the organization's goals
B) diagramming channels of communication
C) arranging jobs into departments
D) task specifications of each job

Question 10

Which statement best describes the relationship between span of control and authority?

A) The relationship is different depending on the circumstances.
B) The relationship depends on the number of tasks in a given position.
C) The relationship depends on who reports to whom in the chain of command.
D) The relationship depends on the number of levels in the organization.

Question 11

Two HR advisors each have their assigned tasks within the same organization.Their job descriptions indicate different requirements.What type of differentiation is this?

A) formalization
B) specialization
C) standardization
D) proximity difference

Question 12

What is the process of constructing and adjusting an organization's structure to achieve its goals?

A) strategy-structure fit
B) strategic management
C) organizational reconfiguration
D) organizational design

Question 13

Which of the following factors would you use if you wanted to create an organizational structure that is standardized?

A) work activities are described and performed routinely; little variation
B) tasks are subdivided into separate jobs; formal job descriptions
C) number of activities within an organization; number of jobs within an organization
D) decision making held at the top; limited decisions making in lower levels

Question 14

What is the process of linking the organization together by jobs and departments?

A) organizational structure
B) strategic management
C) organizational reconfiguration
D) organizational design

Question 15

What is the process of breaking organizational goals into tasks and dividing work?

A) organization charting
B) integration
C) differentiation
D) coordination

Question 16

What kind of differentiation is characterized by the employee's specialized knowledge,education,or training?

A) departmental
B) vertical
C) horizontal
D) spatial

Question 17

Which type of structure is Domino's pizza outlet an example of?

A) an adhocracy
B) a simple structure
C) a divisional form
D) a machine bureaucracy

Question 18

The Royal Bank of Canada decided to move its loan-processing work from headquarters to branch banks in order to avoid bottlenecks.What is this an example of?

A) formalization
B) decentralization
C) specialization
D) standardization

Question 19

What is the term for the extent to which work activities are defined and routinely performed in the same way?

A) complexity
B) standardization
C) formalization
D) centralization

Question 20

Which department would most likely be an example of a flexible structure due to the nature of its work?

A) human resource management
B) research and development
C) marketing
D) operations

Question 21

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

A) an organic structure is not bound by job descriptions while in mechanistic they are
B) an organic structure has longer communication channels while in mechanistic the communication channel is short
C) an organic structure has large spans of control while in mechanistic the span of control is small
D) an organic structure has very close supervision while in mechanistic supervision is random

Question 22

What is the term for the tools,techniques,and actions used by an organization to transform inputs into outputs?

A) technology
B) transformation process
C) work design
D) throughput

Question 23

What is the difference between structural dimensions and purpose within organizational design elements?

A) structural dimensions influence the organizational processes while purpose influences the organizational strategies
B) structural dimensions influence the context of the organization while purpose considers how well the structure fits the purpose
C) structural dimensions influence how managers perceive structural needs while purpose considers how well the structure meets the purpose
D) structural dimensions characterize the organizational process while purpose considers the formal lines of authority

Question 24

According to Woodward's classification theme for technology,what is needed when the technology is more complex?

A) more complex administration
B) more investment in training
C) more participative leadership
D) more investment capital

Question 25

Tim is in Human Resources,Fatima is in Webservices,and Xio is in Operations.Which type of structure is this an example of?

A) functional structure
B) basic structure
C) matrix structure
D) geographic structure

Question 26

In terms of Perrow's technology framework,what is a key principle of problem analyzability?

A) whether the solution can be reduced by quantitative methods
B) the amount and type of information searched for to solve problems with the throughput
C) the type of technology being used in the transformation process
D) whether the solution can be reduced by qualitative methods

Question 27

What is the term for anything outside the boundaries of an organization?

A) the technology
B) the contextual variables
C) the environment
D) the market

Question 28

An automobile plant performs predominantly routine operating tasks,such as installing brakes.What type of structure is this?

A) functional
B) matrix
C) simple
D) divisional

Question 29

Nora reports to a manager in marketing as well as a manager in corporate communications.What type of structure is Nora's job an example?

A) decentralized structure
B) organic structure
C) matrix structure
D) simple structure

Question 30

What is usually associated with a tall hierarchy of authority?

A) centralization
B) a loose chain of command
C) informal and unofficial work roles
D) decentralization

Question 31

What best describes divisional structures?

A) the creation of self-contained units that focus on products,services,clients,or geographical regions
B) the creation of democratic decision making
C) the creation of dual authority structures
D) the creation of reporting relationships

Question 32

Which of the following factors would you use if you wanted to have a shorter life cycle in an organization?

A) there would need to be greater formalization
B) there would need to be a degree of specialization
C) there would need to be greater vertical differentiation
D) there would need to be greater flexibility

Question 33

What is an example of how a centralized structure is affected by the strategic decision process?

A) The strategic decision process will become more reactive rather than proactive.
B) The strategic decision process will move forward incrementally.
C) The strategic decision process will be initiated by only a few dominant individuals.
D) The strategic decision process will become more politicized.

Question 34

What is the relationship between charismatic leaders and organic structures?

A) greater compatibility as structure influences leadership
B) greater compatibility as structure influences political considerations
C) greater compatibility as structure influences the economic factors
D) greater compatibility as structure influences justice expectations

Question 35

Which organizational design has a combination of two structures?

A) simple
B) functional
C) matrix
D) divisional

Question 36

What is the term for an organization that is divided by geographic location?

A) functional
B) simple
C) divisional
D) matrix

Question 37

What is characteristic of environmental uncertainty?

A) It is a stable variable that most influences flexibility in organizational design.
B) It is a contextual variable that most influences organizational design.
C) It is a contextual variable the influences the enactment of organizational design.
D) It is a stable variable that influences formalization of organizational design.

Question 38

What factor is dominant in a global organization?

A) horizontal differentiation
B) vertical differentiation
C) spatial differentiation
D) strategic differentiation

Question 39

According to Woodward's classification scheme for technology,which of the following applies to custom home building?

A) process is non-sequential
B) batches are large
C) process is continuous
D) batches are small

Question 40

Which factors are generally greater in larger organizations?

A) cross functional authority,span of control
B) formalization,specialization,and standardization
C) formalization,complexity,and authority
D) vertical integration,standardization,and organic characteristics

Question 41

What type of organization uses a web-like structure where some or all of its operating functions are contracted to other organizations?

A) cellular
B) circle
C) virtual
D) network

Question 42

What affects the strategic decision process for centralization?

A) incremental and precise strategic moves
B) differentiation not balanced with integrative mechanisms
C) more politicized strategic decision process
D) initiative by a few dominant employees

Question 43

Which statement contrasts the structural roles of managers today with those of managers of the future?

A) Future managers will strictly adhere to boss-employee authority relationships.
B) Future managers will encourage cross-functional collaboration and team development.
C) Future managers will tend to get things done by giving employees orders.
D) Future managers will adopt a relatively narrow functional focus.

Question 44

Which of the following applies to a mechanistic structure?

A) formalization is high,specialization is high,and centralization is high
B) formalization is high,specialization is high,and centralization is low
C) formalization is low,specialization is low,and complexity is high
D) standardization is low,specialization is high,and complexity is high

Question 45

What basic design dimension would be most appropriate for decentralizing the decision making within an organization?

A) complexity and specialization
B) formalization and standardization
C) formalization and specialization
D) standardization and specialization

Question 46

What best exemplifies a web-like structure within a networked organization?

A) some or all operating functions are contracted to other organizations and managed centrally
B) some or all of the jobs are specialized and managed centrally
C) some or all of the organization consists of independent enterprises with a defined set of policies and procedures
D) some or all the structure represents a molecular structure and de-emphasizes hierarchy

Question 47

Horizontal differentiation accounts for the difference in authority and responsibility in the organizational hierarchy.

Question 48

Which of the following applies to an organization that confronts a situation with scarce resources,large amounts of change,and many competitors?

A) high environmental certainty
B) high strategic disadvantage
C) high environmental uncertainty
D) difficult to achieve a profit

Question 49

What is a key consideration in the choice of structure for managing an international business?

A) hierarchy,global product,and global divisional
B) level of vertical differentiation; level of horizontal differentiation; and degree of formalization,specialization,standardization,and centralization
C) level of vertical differentiation; level of integration; and degree of formalization,specialization,standardization,and centralization
D) level of integration; level of horizontal differentiation; and degree of formalization,specialization,standardization,and centralization

Question 50

An organization continuously faces an environment of considerable uncertainty.What would characterize its strategy and goals?

A) innovation
B) status quo
C) inflexibility
D) expansion

Question 51

What type of structure do Americans typically prefer?

A) complex structures
B) formalized structures
C) centralized structures
D) decentralized structures

Question 52

Which of the following best summarizes the changing forces that managers are experiencing?

A) an efficiency orientation that supports an organic structure
B) an efficiency orientation that results in on-time delivery and a quality orientation
C) an efficiency orientation that focuses on manager-employee relationships
D) an efficiency orientation that supports a professional bureaucracy

Question 53

What do shorter life cycles put pressure on organizations to have?

A) formalization of job requirements and interpersonal relationships at work
B) greater specialization and standardization
C) flexibility and efficiency
D) hierarchical control and centralized decision making

Question 54

What contextual variable could be defined as anything outside the boundaries of the organization?

A) technology
B) internal labour market
C) size
D) environment

Question 55

What is the difference between managers of today and managers of the future?

A) Managers of today work from a functional structure while managers of the future work within a matrix structure.
B) Managers of today and managers of the future are very similar.
C) Managers of today get things done by coaching their workers while managers of the future get things done by controlling their workers.
D) Managers of today get things done by giving orders while managers of the future get things done by negotiating.

Question 56

What is a consequence of an inappropriate or misaligned structure?

A) lower levels of conflict
B) good responses to a changing environment
C) poor quality decision-making
D) lower levels of teamwork

Question 57

The degree of vertical differentiation affects organizational effectiveness,but there is no consistent finding that flatter or taller organizations are better.

Question 58

How can an organization meet the conflicting demands of efficiency and customization?

A) invest in robotics
B) become a knowledge-based company
C) become dynamically stable
D) strategically choose one or the other

Question 59

What term is best summarized as temporary network organizations consisting of independent enterprises?

A) cellular structure
B) virtual structure
C) circle structure
D) network structure

Question 60

According to Dess and Beard,what variables would you use to assess the degree of environmental uncertainty?

A) capacity,demand and supply,and economic growth
B) global GDP,domestic GDP,and local market conditions
C) volatility,complexity,and analyzability
D) volatility,capacity,and complexity

Question 61

As an organization grows,additional people reduce the strain on the owner

Question 62

Employees working with managers who have a large span of control generally have coordinated activities which are routine.

Question 63

The greater the differentiation,the greater the complexity and the greater the need for integration.

Question 64

An employee who works with ill-defined duties and changing expectations generally do not consider this stressful.

Question 65

A divisional structure groups people according to their function in the organization.

Question 66

Organic forms of organization are simple,informal,and standardized.

Question 67

The degree to which jobs are narrowly defined and depend on unique expertise defines standardization.

Question 68

A job description is an example of formalization.

Question 69

In a functional structure,an employee generally will be working with individuals who are experts in the area.

Question 70

A start-up company typically has work variability,few rules,and decisions made by the owner.

Question 71

The four contextual variables are design,size,technology,and environment.

Question 72

Designing and building linkage coordination mechanisms is known as specialization.

Question 73

Matrix structures typically impose tri-authority.

Question 74

Differentiation is the process of deciding how to divide the work in an organization.

Question 75

The geographic dispersion of an organization's offices,plants,and personnel is known as spatial integration.

Question 76

Most organizations start off as a simple structure.

Question 77

Large-scale organizations tend to exhibit specialization,formalization,and complexity.

Question 78

A matrix structure will generally involve project teams.

Question 79

High school can be considered a highly structured environment

Question 80

Usually,the more specialized the jobs within an organization,the more departments are differentiated within that organization.