Deck 11: Change and Innovation: New Organizational Forms

Question 1

Post-Fordism describes flexible systems of production that are designed to produce differentiated goods and services for niche markets.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Japanese-style management control systems rely on which of the following?

A)Pre-employment screening
B)Pluralist perspectives
C)Suggestion programmes
D)High wages

Answer 2

A AND C

Question 3

Resistance of one form or another is always possible in organizations.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following is a feature of the impact of 'downsizing' on employees?

A)Betrayal
B)Guilt
C)Relief
D)Greater commitment

Question 5

The critical approach challenges the credibility of main stream thinking and exposes its limitations.

Question 6

Job enrichment requires workers to specialise in a limited number of tasks to increase efficiency.

Question 7

Which of the following are reasons for the changes in public sector organizations?

A)To erode inefficiencies
B)To promote 'new right' political ideologies
C)To provide better value-for-money
D)All of the above

Question 8

In advanced industrial societies in recent decades a radical change has taken place in the way that work is organized and experienced.

Question 9

Strong organizational cultures can provide employees with a valued sense of purpose and self-identity.

Question 10

Which of the following are benefits of job enrichment?

A)Increased job satisfaction
B)Increased sense of achievement
C)Higher bonuses
D)Reduced conflict

Question 11

People resist change for a variety of reasons.

Question 12

Which of the following are characteristics of 'Post-Fordism' organizations?

A)Close supervision
B)Flexible systems of production
C)Differentiated goods produced
D)Hierarchy of authority

Question 13

Which of the following are forms of waste in organizations according to JIT enthusiasts?

A)Rest breaks
B)Overtime
C)Idle machine time
D)Late deliveries

Question 14

Which of the following are benefits of new organizational forms?

A)Financial flexibility
B)Higher productivity
C)Numerical flexibility
D)Greater efficiency

Question 15

Cultural management alone can raise employee performance and productivity, change values and reshape beliefs and attitudes.

Question 16

Work intensification no longer exists.

Question 17

Which of the following are reasons for resisting change?

A)Fear of the unknown
B)Job security
C)Work-life balance
D)All of the above

Question 18

Which of the following list explains the principles of scientific management?

A)A scientific study of work tasks
B)Detailed instruction and close supervision
C)A concern for motivation
D)A focus on the social dimension of work

Question 19

Which of the following are disadvantages experienced by 'peripheral workers'?

A)Limited job security
B)Limited career prospects
C)Lower salaries
D)Longer hours

Question 20

The flexible firm model has incorporates functional flexibility, numerical flexibility and financial flexibility.