Deck 13: Organizational Structure

Question 1

Which organizational theory emphasized the informal aspects of organization social structure and was influenced by the Hawthorne experiments?

A) Bureaucratic theory
B) Scientific management school
C) Classical management theory
D) Human relations school

Answer 1

Human relations school

Question 2

The patient is a 69-year-old woman who has a history of diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and myocardial infarctions. She was admitted to the hospital with a stroke and is being transferred to a subacute facility and then to a rehabilitation facility. At every admission, she must review her entire history, provide telephone numbers of family members, list all 30 of her medications, and list all home care and medical supply companies. Also, at each facility, a physician or nurse practitioner completes a total history and physical about her and orders the same laboratory tests to be done. This is an example of:

A) continuum of care.
B) fragmented service delivery.
C) optimal health care economics.
D) seamless care provision.

Answer 2

fragmented service delivery.

Question 3

The phrase "the buck stops here" best describes which of the following terms?

A) Accountability
B) Authority
C) Responsibility
D) Trustworthiness

Answer 3

Accountability

Question 4

A group of nurse entrepreneurs from the American Nurses Association has formed to develop a new coding system for nursing language. This coding system will enhance billing and could be used with a computer software program. This scenario best depicts which type of organizational structure?

A) Health structure
B) Hierarchical structure
C) Project team structure
D) Pyramid structure

Question 5

According to the contingency theory of organizational performance, an organization must structure and adapt its nursing units to complement which two factors (select all that apply)?

A) Skill set
B) Patient population
C) Environment
D) Technology
E) Finances

Question 6

The ways in which work is divided and coordinated among members and the resulting network of relationships, roles, and work groups is the:

A) organization.
B) organizational social structure.
C) structure.
D) formal relationship.

Question 7

The structure of authority in an organization is known as the:

A) authority.
B) centralization.
C) bureaucracy.
D) hierarchy.

Question 8

An organizational chart with one line of management and one line of staff reflects which of the following types of organizational structures?

A) Authoritarian structure
B) Flat structure
C) Power structure
D) Vertical structure

Question 9

The nursing staff on a critical care unit thought that professional growth could be enhanced. Which of the following interventions would support empowerment of the nursing staff (select all that apply)?

A) Eliminating computers and reverting back to paperwork
B) Increasing pay wages for ancillary and professional staff
C) Providing various methods for ongoing education and continuing education units
D) Working to make equipment and medications readily available

Question 10

Which of the following factors influences the structure of an organization?

A) Age of the building
B) Brand of computer system
C) Number of employees
D) Square footage of the facility

Question 11

Benefits of using a matrix structure in the hospital setting include:

A) cross-training of staff in general and specific care delivery.
B) disintegration of horizontal expansion across departments.
C) focusing managerial attention on the functional unit.
D) increases in efficiency from specialization of nursing.

Question 12

A staff nurse has been working in the neonatal critical care unit for 10 years. She believes that a professional nurse is a lifelong learner. Many staff members come to her for clinical problem solving and advice. This nurse has:

A) decisional authority.
B) formal power.
C) informal power.
D) quantum authority.

Question 13

According to the _____ organizational approach, organizations are logical and predictable with identifiable and scientifically measurable characteristics that can be predicted, observed, or manipulated.

A) objective
B) subjective
C) postmodern
D) realistic

Question 14

According to organization theories, there are three perspectives regarding the nature of reality and knowledge within an organization. Which of the following are those perspectives (select all that apply)?

A) Objectivism
B) Subjectivism
C) Postmodernism
D) Realism
E) Idealism

Question 15

Patient surveys convey that they are uncertain about who is the registered nurse (RN). The CEO makes a decision that mandates that white nursing caps will be worn by all RNs and blue nursing caps by all licensed practical nurses to differentiate professional nurses and occupational nurses from nurse's aides and other ancillary staff. Which type of power does this represent?

A) Centralized
B) Decentralized
C) Nonparticipative
D) Participative

Question 16

The division of work by occupation or function is a form of:

A) specialization.
B) interdependence.
C) uncertainty.
D) technology.

Question 17

The network or pattern of social relationships and friendship circles within an organization is known as the:

A) clique.
B) formal structure.
C) informal structure.
D) hierarchy.

Question 18

The nursing chief executive officer (CEO) works in a major rehabilitation and subacute facility network. Her span of control refers to the number of:

A) miles in which the network resides.
B) ancillary staff accountable to her.
C) nurses and non-nurses reporting to her.
D) inpatients that the facilities service.

Question 19

Standardization of _____ provides a uniform method of exchange of information among those involved in common work.

A) physician orders
B) communication
C) work processes
D) work outputs

Question 20

A rapid response team within an acute care hospital is comprised of critical care physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists. The team assists staff throughout the hospital with detecting and managing imminent patient deterioration. This is an example of a _____ organizational form.

A) parallel
B) functional
C) modified program
D) matrix

Question 21

Managers apply their leadership skills to their reporting relationships to release energy and talents of people in a manner that adds value to the work they perform. What are some examples of the effects of added value (select all that apply)?

A) Increased compensation
B) Improved productivity
C) Organizational commitment
D) Organizational citizenship behaviors

Question 22

Dividing work by occupation leads to a functional organization where services are arranged by the type of work performed. What are some benefits of the functional form within the health care organization (select all that apply)?

A) Professional silo
B) Fragmented care delivery
C) Cost reduction
D) Enhanced performance and quality
E) Promotion of professional development

Question 23

Which of the following statements describe the benefits of specialization in the health care setting (select all that apply)?

A) Improved work performance
B) Increase in expertise
C) Improved efficiency and outcomes
D) Increased workload
E) Increased error reporting

Question 24

An organizational chart is used to depict (select all that apply):

A) a visual display of the organization's positions.
B) the intentional relationships among positions.
C) open positions within human resources.
D) flow of authority.
E) advisory committees.

Question 25

Which of the following statements are accurate when describing responsibility and accountability (select all that apply)?

A) The assignment of responsibility assumes accountability.
B) A manager is assigned responsibility by a subordinate.
C) Accountability is the liability for task performance.
D) The assignment of responsibility and the granting of authority create accountability.
E) Accountability flows upward or outward.

Question 26

An organization with a flat structure has minimal layers of management. What are some of the advantages of a flat organizational structure (select all that apply)?

A) Fewer divisions facilitating streamlining of goals and problem solving
B) Greater supervisory capability
C) Greater innovation
D) Layers of accountability for completion of work
E) Enhanced responsiveness to consumers