Deck 2: Perspectives on Organizations

Question 1

Of the following, which one is least likely to represent a challenge organizations may face today?

A) Sallie-Anne's is a business that offers hand-crocheted blankets and bed throws. This is the only such business in Bromsgrove, England and Sallie-Anne is content with the size and style of her operation. Sallie-Anne and her sister are the only employees and have no desire to expand the business into neighbouring areas.
B) Jim's brake and muffler business is located in Barnsley. His business faces tremendous competition from foreign companies that manufacture the same type of products he offers to customers.
C) Charlotte's business provides a highly effective heart monitoring device to its customers. Her operation is one of twelve located within the UK. This level of competition requires Charlotte to pay close attention to her external environment in order to remain profitable.
D) The Home Loan Store of Brighton maintains impeccable records on each of its customers and provides training to potential customers on the process of purchasing a new home. It prides itself on ensuring that customers are well-informed of its business practices before they sign the mortgage contract.
E) SJM Enterprises has a diverse, multi-ethnic workforce stemming from a range cultures and backgrounds.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The organizations are important to society because of all of these except:

A) They produce goods and services efficiently.
B) They use modern manufacturing and information technologies.
C) They facilitate innovation.
D) They create value for government.
E) They bring together resources to achieve desired goals.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Of the following structural dimensions, which one is sometimes referred to as division of labour?

A) Hierarchy of authority
B) Professionalism
C) Centralization
D) Formalization
E) Specialization

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following is best described as being a micro examination of an organization that focuses on the people inside the organization and examines concepts such as motivation, personality, and leadership style?

A) Stakeholder approach
B) Needs theory
C) Meso theory
D) Adhocracy
E) Organizational behaviour

Question 5

Of the following structural dimensions, which one would include the organization's job descriptions, its human resource policies, and the internal regulations established for the firm?

A) Hierarchy of authority
B) Professionalism
C) Centralization
D) Formalization
E) Specialization

Question 6

A closed-systems perspective does not focus exclusively upon the organization.

Question 7

Structural dimensions provide labels to distinguish some key, internal characteristics of an organization.

Question 8

Organization A has decided it will place 70% of its workforce in production, 10% in managerial capacities, and 20% in various administrative positions. It has determined 42.67% of its budget will be devoted to providing what is necessary for its employees to assist the company in achieving the desired end result of operations. Which contextual dimension of Organization A is this describing?

A) Environment
B) Organizational strategy
C) Organizational size
D) Organizational goals
E) Personnel ratios

Question 9

In order to make quick decisions, many organizations are being redesigned and/or developed to become so-called learning organizations.

Question 10

At Organization B it takes 300 employees working 40-hour workweeks, a €2 million budget per year, 1 ton of raw materials per month, and 150 suppliers to ensure the organization reaches its desired level of output. This is describing the of the organization.

A) adhocracy
B) organizational goals
C) culture
D) efficiency
E) effectiveness

Question 11

Efficiency refers to the amount of resources used to achieve the organization's goals.

Question 12

The Scents Place is a well-organized, highly productive business that manufactures a variety of perfumes sold within Africa. Its employees are dedicated to providing superior customer service and respecting each other and the organization. Each work day employees report on time and are professionally dressed even though there is no dress code in place at the business. The workers are very pleased by the benefit package provided by the company and constantly discuss how well their employers take care of them. The company, in turn, is very pleased by the dedication, ethical behaviours, and efficiency of its workers.
This is a description of the of The Scents Place.

A) professional bureaucracy
B) organizational strategy
C) culture
D) organizational culture
E) external environment

Question 13

The idea of balancing the preferences of different groups has been characterized as a classical approach.

Question 14

is/are attributed with being a strong contributor to the development of bureaucratic organizations.

A) The Hawthorne Studies
B) The meso theory
C) Organizational culture
D) The chaos theory
E) Administrative principles

Question 15

Which of the following is not a structural dimension of organizations?

A) All of these are structural dimensions of organization.
B) Hierarchy of authority
C) Environment
D) Centralization
E) Formalization

Question 16

According to the ideas proposed by Henry Mintzberg, in which part of an organization would workers who produce the product fit?

A) Professional bureaucracy
B) Technical core
C) Top management
D) Middle management
E) Technical support

Question 17

Brenda Oshogbo works at S&S Operations. She heads that company's human resource department and is primarily responsible for establishing employee compensation and benefit programs. Brenda would most likely be considered to be in which one of the following parts of the organization?

A) Technical support
B) Technical core
C) Top management
D) Professional bureaucracy
E) Administrative support

Question 18

When an organization willingly adopts different organizational activities, practices, and methods in order to better satisfy the various individuals who have an interest in it, it could be stated the organization is using a(n) .

A) professional bureaucracy approach
B) scientific management approach
C) entrepreneurial structure
D) structural dimension
E) stakeholder approach