Deck 12: Structuring the Organization

Question 1

Out of the three types of coordination, new technology has facilitated the most mutual adjustment.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The Internet has generally helped organizations to coordinate their activities.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Two managers who discuss alternating use of a piece of equipment are using direct supervision as a coordinating mechanism.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Hiring only employees who have certain educational backgrounds is an example of behavioral standardization.

Question 5

Skill standardization is used most often when neither behaviors nor outputs can be standardized.

Question 6

Norm standardization is accomplished through training and hiring professionals.

Question 7

Socialization processes support norm standardization.

Question 8

Generally, organizations use only one coordination mechanism.

Question 9

Generally, organizations use more than one coordination mechanism, but one is primary.

Question 10

The most commonly used coordination mechanism in very small organizations is direct supervision.

Question 11

Mutual adjustment fails in medium-sized groups because of process loss.

Question 12

Direct supervision fails in groups over medium size because supervisors get overloaded.

Question 13

Divisional structures offer more flexibility than functional structures.

Question 14

Centralization is becoming more common in business organizations today.

Question 15

Bureaucratic organizations rely on direct supervision as their primary coordination mechanism.

Question 16

The primary strength of a functional structure is its adaptability to change.

Question 17

In a matrix structure, most employees have two or more bosses.

Question 18

Matrix structures tend to be inefficient.

Question 19

Working in a matrix structure is likely to be stressful.

Question 20

Multiunit structures are appropriate for large, complex businesses.

Question 21

Multiunit structures are extremely decentralized.

Question 22

An alliance of companies pursuing an opportunity is called a modular structure.

Question 23

Modular and virtual organizations are bureaucratic in that they rely on standardization as a coordination mechanism.

Question 24

Modular structures are highly efficient, but not flexible.

Question 25

Virtual structures are both highly efficient and highly flexible.

Question 26

The process through which otherwise disorganized actions become integrated to produce a desired result is called__________.

A) differentiation
B) grouping
C) coordination
D) creating a liaison

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a basic coordination mechanism for organizations?

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) standardization
D) reciprocal interdependence

Question 28

A group of faculty discussing how to team-teach a class is using the _______________ mechanism for coordination.

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 29

Coordination accomplished through person-to-person communication is said to be:

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 30

Mutual adjustment works to coordinate people's actions because it__________.

A) involves people agreeing to adapt to each other
B) makes people's actions predictable
C) relies on one person to link others together
D) creates lateral communication mechanisms

Question 31

Coordination accomplished when one person takes responsibility for the work of a group of other people is said to be:

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 32

Coordination accomplished by providing procedures is said to be:

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 33

A project manager telling one of his people to work on a different project is using the _______________ mechanism for coordination.

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 34

Direct supervision works to coordinate people's actions because it__________.

A) involves people agreeing to adapt to each other
B) makes people's actions predictable
C) relies on one person to link others together
D) creates lateral communication mechanisms

Question 35

Using information technologies, mutual adjustment allows for greater ___________.

A) flexibility
B) productivity
C) satisfaction
D) commitment

Question 36

The main difference between behavioral standardization and output standardization, is that in output standardization employees __________.

A) set their own goals
B) decide how to reach their goals
C) follow the direction of the supervisor
D) don't set goals

Question 37

A manager writing up how a new task is to be performed is using the _______________ mechanism for coordination.

A) direct supervision
B) mutual adjustment
C) reciprocal interdependence
D) standardization

Question 38

All of the following are forms of standardization EXCEPT __________.

A) formalization
B) job analysis
C) job descriptions
D) liaison roles

Question 39

Organizations coordinate jobs by standardizing__________.

A) workers' behaviors
B) workers' skills
C) norms
D) all of the above

Question 40

When a manager specifies particular work processes that subordinates are to use, he/she is using__________.

A) behavioral standardization
B) output standardization
C) skills standardization
D) norm standardization

Question 41

When a manager sets performance goals, he/she is using__________.

A) behavioral standardization
B) output standardization
C) skills standardization
D) norm standardization

Question 42

When a manager sends a subordinate to a training class, he/she is using__________.

A) behavioral standardization
B) output standardization
C) skills standardization
D) norm standardization

Question 43

Standardization works to coordinate people's activities because it__________.

A) involves people agreeing to adapt to each other
B) makes people's actions predictable
C) relies on one person to link others together
D) creates lateral communication mechanisms

Question 44

When an organization puts new employees through an extensive orientation program, it is using__________.

A) behavioral standardization
B) output standardization
C) skills standardization
D) norm standardization

Question 45

Universities use ________________ standardization to make the behavior of faculty predictable.

A) behavioral standardization
B) output standardization
C) skills standardization
D) norm standardization

Question 46

Small groups normally find _______________ to be a sufficient mechanism to handle coordination.

A) mutual adjustment
B) standardization
C) direct supervision
D) norm standardization

Question 47

Groups larger than 20 people generally employ ___________ as a coordination mechanism.

A) mutual adjustment
B) standardization
C) direct supervision
D) norm standardization

Question 48

Groups of 50 people or more generally find it useful to use ________________ as a coordination mechanism.

A) mutual adjustment
B) standardization
C) direct supervision
D) norm standardization

Question 49

Faced with environments that are not stable, organizations need to use ______________ to be flexible and adaptable.

A) mutual adjustment
B) standardization
C) direct supervision
D) norm standardization

Question 50

How an organization groups its activities together is called__________.

A) standardization
B) formalization
C) departmentalization
D) divisionalization
E) mutual adjustment

Question 51

Divisional departmentalization is most like__________.

A) work flow grouping
B) functional grouping
C) lateral grouping
D) cluster grouping

Question 52

All of the following are ways to group units on a divisional basis EXCEPT __________.

A) geographical distance
B) similar products
C) similar customers
D) similar employee functions

Question 53

The differentiation of rank that results from layers of management is called__________.

A) hierarchy
B) status
C) formalization
D) standardization

Question 54

The form of organization, which governs through written rules and standards, is called__________.

A) undifferentiated structure
B) simple differentiated structure
C) bureaucratic structure
D) virtual structure

Question 55

When there is a great deal of information for the manager to sift through, and there is a consistent need for flexibility, the organization is best __________.

A) centralized
B) undifferentiated
C) hierarchical
D) decentralized

Question 56

The __________ structure relies on mutual adjustment for coordination.

A) simple undifferentiated
B) simple decentralized
C) simple differentiated
D) simple centralized

Question 57

The key difference between bureaucratic structures and pre-bureaucratic structures is__________.

A) the use of mutual adjustment
B) the use of direct supervision
C) the use of standardization
D) the absence of direct supervision

Question 58

The primary strength of the functional structure is__________.

A) focus on products
B) focus on customers
C) focus on geographical areas
D) focus on efficiency

Question 59

A functional structure can coordinate the work of an organization effectively in all but one of the following situations. Which one?

A) makes only one type of product
B) has three types of customers
C) manufactures in four geographical locations
D) operates in a relatively stable environment

Question 60

Most often, functional structures rely on standardization of__________.

A) outcomes
B) norms
C) behaviors
D) skills

Question 61

Divisional structures rely on standardization of__________.

A) behaviors
B) outputs
C) skills
D) all of the above

Question 62

Divisional structures are typically__________.

A) highly centralized
B) low in formalization
C) coordinated by mutual adjustment
D) moderately decentralized

Question 63

The primary strength of a divisional organization is__________.

A) focus on a product or customer type, or geographic area
B) focus on efficiency
C) focus on flexibility
D) both a and c

Question 64

Structures that use both functional and divisional departmentalization are called__________.

A) pre-bureaucratic
B) post-bureaucratic
C) matrix
D) virtual

Question 65

The primary advantage of a matrix structure is its__________.

A) efficiency
B) flexibility
C) ease of management
D) use of technology

Question 66

In a matrix structure__________.

A) everyone has two bosses
B) most people have two bosses
C) some people have two bosses
D) only one person has two bosses

Question 67

A unit within a matrix organization is called a__________.

A) cell
B) module
C) division
D) department

Question 68

The primary coordination mechanism used at the top level in matrix structures is__________.

A) standardization
B) bureaucracy
C) mutual adjustment
D) direct supervision

Question 69

Beneath the upper level of each cell of a matrix, the primary coordination mechanism is__________.

A) standardization
B) formalization
C) mutual adjustment
D) direct supervision

Question 70

The matrix structure actually consists of a ________________ designed into the upper layers of a bureaucracy.

A) simple differentiated
B) simple undifferentiated
C) complex differentiated
D) complex undifferentiated

Question 71

Disadvantages of matrix structures include all but one of the following. Which one?

A) proliferation of managers
B) high stress levels
C) high absenteeism and turnover
D) slower responses to customers

Question 72

Firms that choose matrix structures and function effectively are those that__________.

A) have a strong CEO
B) face radical environmental change
C) operate in industries with little competition
D) sell to one customer

Question 73

The type of structure that decouples divisions to achieve high flexibility is__________.

A) modular
B) virtual
C) multi-unit
D) matrix

Question 74

A major strength of the multiunit structure is__________.

A) cost efficiency
B) strong links between units
C) coordination of large, complex organizations
D) ability to handle between-unit interdependence

Question 75

The type of organization that consists of a collection of autonomous cells connected by a computerized intranet is called__________.

A) virtual structure
B) modular structure
C) multi-unit structure
D) matrix structure

Question 76

The type of organization that is formed from a network of allied companies that bands together to exploit a business opportunity quickly is called__________.

A) virtual structure
B) modular structure
C) multi-unit structure
D) matrix structure

Question 77

What is coordination, and why do organizations need to make sure it happens?

Question 78

What is mutual adjustment? How does it act as a coordinating mechanism, and when do organizations need to use it?

Question 79

How does direct supervision act as a coordinating mechanism, and when it is used by organizations?

Question 80

How does standardization act as a coordinating mechanism? When it beneficial for organizations to use it?