Deck 7: Theories of Organization and Public Administration

Question 1

Organizations are best defined as

A) a loose association of individuals who engage in a competitive process to achieve the greatest gain at minimal cost.
B) a group that exists outside the formal institutions of the government, commercial markets, and the legal system.
C) a structured system of roles and functional relationships designed to carry out certain activities or purposes.
D) structures in an organization that establishes the authority relationships among different roles and functions.
E) a vertical chain of command that coordinates and integrates the specialized tasks and functions of different areas.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following words are most descriptive of classical organization theory?

A) deconstruction, critical, decentralized
B) mechanical, clockwork, rational
C) informal, horizontal, pluralistic
D) economic, competition, utilitarian
E) value neutral, social justice, participation

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is TRUE of scientific management?

A) Increased company profits would be rewarded with higher pay for the employees.
B) In advocating for scientific management, Taylor made his case primarily to employees and union officials who were chiefly responsible for the problem.
C) Employees were not interchangeable; they had unique talents and skills that had to be carefully fitted to the tasks at hand.
D) All of the above are true of scientific management.
E) None of the above are true of scientific management.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The theory that focuses on the personal rather than the structural and material aspects of organization is called

A) organizational humanism.
B) postmodern theory.
C) classical organization theory.
D) open system theory.
E) public choice theory.

Question 5

Which of the following is TRUE of the theories of Herbert Simon?

A) Simon was the first to study the decision-making process in organizations with real scientific rigor.
B) Simon criticized the then-dominant approach to public administration on the grounds that they were unscientific and contradictory.
C) Simon agreed with the mainstream about efficiency and rationality.
D) All of the above are true.
E) None of the above are true.

Question 6

Open systems theory views which of the following as the key factor for organizations?

A) structure and function
B) self-interest maximization
C) the environment
D) non-competitive arrangements
E) informal relationships

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE about the record of the new public administration in terms of its long-term impact?

A) It has been successful in identifying certain problems in mainstream theory.
B) It has provided helpful theories in dealing with conflict.
C) It has failed to develop alternative approaches to organizational change.
D) All of the above are true.
E) None of the above are true.

Question 8

Postmodern public administration

A) views society as being in a permanent state of flux.
B) focuses on disintegration and decentralization.
C) seeks to critically examine meaning and rationality
D) All of the above are aspects of postmodern public administration.
E) None of the above are aspects of postmodern public administration.

Question 9

The underlying form of logic that public choice theory is based upon is known as

A) contingency theory.
B) satisficing.
C) bounded rationality.
D) organizational humanism.
E) utilitarianism.

Question 10

Within the zone of indifference, management's orders will be followed without hesitation.

Question 11

Herbert Simon contended that scientific administration should be based entirely on factual propositions and not on value propositions.

Question 12

The basic premise of public choice theory is that organizational success depends on an organization's fit with the environment.

Question 13

A reverse type of redistribution occurs when low-income taxpayers help subsidize public services used mainly by higher-income people.

Question 14

The new public administration sought to make efficiency and rationality the central concerns for public administrators.

Question 15

Postmodernists have produced a large number of empirical studies that support their theories.

Question 16

Public choice theory is openly critical of centralization and hierarchy.

Question 17

The dehumanizing aspects of bureaucracy were unknown until theorists from the organizational humanism school pointed them out.

Question 18

Luther Gulick favored a top-down approach with a single directing authority (the executive responsible for coordination and control).

Question 19

Elton Mayo's research supported the notion that nonmaterial incentives can have a significant impact on employee performance.

Question 20

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Chain of command

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 21

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Scientific management

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 22

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Span of control

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 23

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-POSDCORB

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 24

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Hawthorne effect

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 25

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Informal organization

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 26

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Zone of indifference

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 27

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Satisfice

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 28

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Utilitarian

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.

Question 29

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Redistribution

A) Coined by Luther Gulick as a way to draw attention to the essential management functions of the chiefexecutive.
B) The structure in an organization that establishes the authority relationshipsamong the different roles and functions.
C) Aspects of organization such as interpersonal relations that exist alongside the formal structures and roles.They do not show up on the organization chart.
D) A term originated by Herbert Simon for decisions that are less than optimal.
E) The limited number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.
F) An approach asserting that people and organizations do something only if they expect material gain from it.
G) The transfer of income or wealth from one class of society to another.
H) The phenomenon that occurs whenmanagers pay attention to workers,resulting in increased productionregardless of physical changes in the factory.
I) The area defining an employee's level of comfort with an order.
J) A theory of administration that is notable for its emphasis on the most efficient method to perform a task.