Deck 10: Designing Organizational Structure - Basic Designs

Question 1

Marcus was asked to represent the cardiac unit as part of a Total Quality Management (TQM)initiative that is aimed at improving the overall quality of care at his hospital.Other departments,such as orthopedics,neurology,oncology,and pediatrics also have representatives on this team.This TQM team is an example of ________.

A)a multi-cultural team
B)a cross-functional team
C)process integration
D)an interdepartmental team

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Eric works with a team that includes production workers as well as marketing specialists to design the latest products the company was planning to offer.This implies ________.

A)the company is becoming more centralized
B)that Eric's job responsibilities have been reduced
C)the company is becoming more mechanistic
D)that Eric is a part of a cross-functional team

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Michelle is very concerned about the formal framework by which job tasks are divided,grouped,and coordinated within her unit.This implies that she is concerned about ________.

A)the chain of command
B)the organizational structure
C)the organizational design
D)decentralization

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The process of grouping jobs together is known as ________.

A)departmentalization
B)centralization
C)formalization
D)organizational design

Question 5

The process of dividing work activities into separate job tasks is known as ________.

A)work specialization
B)organizational design
C)differentiation
D)span of control

Question 6

In the case of functional departmentalization,jobs are grouped according to ________.

A)tasks
B)territories
C)product lines
D)customer flow

Question 7

Wilson is offered a chance to help direct the efforts of some employees assigned to his work group.This is a chance for Wilson to experience ________.

A)responsibility
B)leadership
C)command
D)authority

Question 8

What kind of departmentalization would be in place in a government organization where different public service responsibilities are divided into activities for employees,children,and the disabled?

A)product departmentalization
B)geographic departmentalization
C)process departmentalization
D)customer departmentalization

Question 9

When Bryan is offered a chance to help direct the efforts of some employees assigned to his work group,he sees this new assignment as a(n)________.

A)decrease in authority
B)increase in departmentalization
C)increase in his responsibility
D)decrease in work specialization

Question 10

________ is the formal arrangement of jobs within an organization.

A)Departmentalization
B)Organizational design
C)Organizational structure
D)Work specialization

Question 11

Melanie has noticed that everyone is very concerned about the line of authority within the hospital.This implies that the employees at the hospital are worried about the ________.

A)unity of command
B)chain of command
C)span of control
D)departmentalization

Question 12

Which of the following statements accurately defines work specialization?

A)It is the basis of grouping jobs together.
B)Individual employees specialize in doing part of an activity rather than the entire activity.
C)It is the line of authority extending from upper organizational levels to the lower levels.
D)It clarifies who reports to whom.

Question 13

A disadvantage of ________ departmentalization is poor communication across the different groups.

A)geographic
B)functional
C)process
D)customer

Question 14

In the early 20th century,automobiles were made one at a time by craftsmen who could perform every operation necessary to build the car.Henry Ford decided to limit the number of tasks each worker performed so each person could become expert in his position.With this practice,Ford introduced ________.

A)departmentalization
B)work specialization
C)centralization
D)formalization

Question 15

Organizational design is a process that involves decisions about ________.

A)work specialization and cost-leadership
B)chain of command and span of control
C)centralization and differentiation
D)departmentalization and diversification

Question 16

________ departmentalization is based on the product or customer flow through the organization.

A)Product
B)Functional
C)Process
D)Customer

Question 17

________ refers to the rights inherent in a managerial position to tell people what to do and to expect them to do it.

A)Responsibility
B)Liability
C)Bureaucracy
D)Authority

Question 18

Work teams composed of individuals from various functional specialties are known as ________ teams.

A)cross-control
B)cross-training
C)cross-functional
D)cross-department

Question 19

Departmentalization based on ________ groups jobs on the basis of territory or physical location.

A)customer
B)product
C)geography
D)process

Question 20

The line of authority that extends from upper organizational levels to lower levels,clarifying who reports to whom,is known as the ________.

A)employee power distance
B)unity of command
C)span of control
D)chain of command

Question 21

In highly ________ organizations,there are explicit job descriptions,numerous organizational rules,and clearly defined procedures covering work processes.

A)formalized
B)decentralized
C)departmentalized
D)specialized

Question 22

All other things being equal,the wider or larger the span of control,the more ________ an organization is.

A)ambitious
B)rigid
C)mechanistic
D)cost efficient

Question 23

Organizational design is the degree to which standardized procedures are in place in an organization.

Question 24

Willard has been assigned to a project development team in addition to his regular duties as a quality engineer.During this assignment he will report to both the project manager and his quality department manager.This situation ________.

A)violates span of control
B)violates unity of command
C)violates chain of command
D)violates the acceptance theory of authority

Question 25

Organizational structure is the formal chain of command of jobs within an organization.

Question 26

Which of the following factors calls for a more centralized organizational structure?

A)when the decisions to be taken are significant
B)when the company is geographically dispersed
C)when the organization is facing a crisis
D)when the environment is complex

Question 27

Bill manages the quality department.His people check parts made by the production departments to assure all specifications are met.Bill is ________.

A)a non-manager
B)a middle manager
C)a staff manager
D)a line manager

Question 28

________ is the degree to which decision making takes place at upper levels of the organization.

A)Centralization
B)Decentralization
C)Formalization
D)Departmentalization

Question 29

________ refers to how standardized an organization's jobs are and the extent to which employee behavior is guided by rules and procedures.

A)Specialization
B)Centralization
C)Decentralization
D)Formalization

Question 30

If top managers make key decisions with little input from below,then the organization is ________.

A)less mechanistic
B)more decentralized
C)less formalized
D)more centralized

Question 31

________ is the obligation or expectation to perform a duty.

A)Responsibility
B)Authority
C)Commitment
D)Duty

Question 32

According to the acceptance theory of authority,________.

A)employees will accept orders only if certain conditions are met
B)employees have the authority to negotiate conditions with their employers
C)managers must accept responsibility for the actions of their subordinates
D)managers must accept the authority delegated to them before they can expect their subordinates to comply with their orders

Question 33

The fact that Monica's signature is required on all documents and her word is the last word on all decisions relating to her department suggests that ________.

A)her employer has a centralized structure
B)her employer has a decentralized structure
C)her employer has a simple structure
D)her employer has an organic structure

Question 34

According to the traditional view,managers could not - and should not - directly supervise more than ________ subordinates.

A)four or five
B)five or six
C)ten or eleven
D)fifteen or sixteen

Question 35

Which one of Fayol's 14 principles of management states that a person should report to only one manager?

A)unity of direction
B)unity of command
C)division of work
D)division of authority

Question 36

As organizations become more flexible and responsive to environmental trends,there is a distinct shift toward ________ decision making.

A)centralized
B)decentralized
C)concentrated
D)departmentalized

Question 37

Bob works in a mid-sized organization with other skilled workers who all pitch in to do what needs to be done to satisfy the customer.It is likely Bob works in a ________ organization.

A)formalized
B)decentralized
C)departmentalized
D)cross-functional

Question 38

Which of the following factors would require a more decentralized organizational structure?

A)when the lower-level managers want a voice in decisions
B)when the lower-level managers are not capable of making decisions
C)when the decisions to be made are not significant
D)when the company is large

Question 39

The ________ determines the number of levels and managers in an organization.

A)delegation of authority
B)unity of command
C)chain of command
D)span of control

Question 40

After extensive job cuts to reduce costs,upper level managers are spending significant amounts of time solving problems in the production units.Lower level managers are resentful that they cannot make decisions for their own units.What recommendation would you make for this firm?

A)Reorganize; departmentalize around customers instead of products.
B)Formalize; write explicit job descriptions,rules,and procedures so the upper managers won't have to decide each case individually.
C)Centralize; create a department that does nothing but make decisions.
D)Decentralize; give authority to the lower level managers regarding events in their own units.

Question 41

Explain centralization,decentralization.How do these relate to employee empowerment?

Question 42

Customer departmentalization works well because it emphasizes interdepartmental communication regarding customer's needs.

Question 43

Write a short essay on work specialization.How does specialization affect productivity? How does it affect a firm's cost structure?

Question 44

In highly formalized organizations,employees have more discretion in how they do their work.

Question 45

Work specialization is also known as division of labor.

Question 46

Today's organizations mostly rely on strict rules and standardization to guide and regulate employee behavior.

Question 47

Managers today continue to see work specialization as important because it helps employees be more efficient.

Question 48

The more the decision-making power of lower-level employees,the more decentralized the organization is.

Question 49

At one end of the spectrum,organizations can be absolutely centralized,while at the other end,they can be completely decentralized.

Question 50

The chain of command is a principle that states that a person should report to only one boss.

Question 51

Define the process of organizing and explain how it helps an organization.

Question 52

Employee empowerment gives employees more authority to delegate responsibility.

Question 53

What is meant by departmentalization? In a short essay,list and discuss the five common forms of departmentalization,their advantages and disadvantages.

Question 54

Explain the contemporary view of span of control.

Question 55

List a few factors that influence the amount of centralization or decentralization in an organization.

Question 56

In a short essay,explain authority and responsibility

Question 57

Discuss the differences between line and staff authority.

Question 58

Given other things unchanged,managers with well-trained and experienced employees can function well with a wider span of control than those with a less talented workforce.

Question 59

Explain the traditional view of span of control.

Question 60

All other things unchanged,the narrower the span of control,the more efficient the organization is.

Question 61

________ is a type of technology that centers on small-batch production.

A)Unit production
B)Mass production
C)Process production
D)Flow production

Question 62

________ is a type of technology that centers on large-batch production and requires moderate levels of complexity and sophistication.

A)Unit production
B)Mass production
C)Process production
D)Service production

Question 63

Which of the following is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization?

A)cross-functional teams
B)free flow of information
C)wide spans of control
D)clear chain of command

Question 64

If a firm wants to become more adaptive and flexible,which of the following organizational structures is it likely to prefer?

A)formalized
B)mechanistic
C)organic
D)centralized

Question 65

Many of Custom Leather's employees are experienced artisans.The jobs most of them perform are not highly standardized.They take great pride in their craft and require few formal rules and little direct supervision.These traits are most typical of a(n)________ organization.

A)departmentalized
B)mechanistic
C)organic
D)formalized

Question 66

The type of assembly line typically found in automobile manufacturing is an example of ________.

A)unit production
B)mass production
C)process production
D)continuous production

Question 67

A(n)________ organization is highly specialized and rigidly departmentalized.

A)organic
B)complex
C)learning
D)mechanistic

Question 68

What are the four contingency variables that an organization's structure depends on?

A)strategy,size,technology,and equity
B)management,technology,equity,and degree of environmental uncertainty
C)management,funding,technology,and degree of environmental uncertainty
D)strategy,size,technology,and environmental uncertainty

Question 69

Explain the concepts of mechanistic and organic structures.

Question 70

The building of a bridge would be a type of ________.

A)unit production
B)mass production
C)process production
D)flow production

Question 71

A(n)________ organization is highly formalized and centralized.

A)organic
B)mechanistic
C)complex
D)learning

Question 72

An organic organization strictly adheres to the chain-of-command principle and has a wide span of control.

Question 73

An organic organization is low in centralization.

Question 74

Joan Woodward divided firms into three distinct technologies that had increasing levels of complexity and sophistication: unit production,mass production,and ________.

A)continuous production
B)repetitive flow production
C)product production
D)process production

Question 75

Which of the following is a characteristic of an organic organization?

A)high specialization
B)cross-functional teams
C)rigid departmentalization
D)narrow span of controls

Question 76

Large organizations are more ________.

A)mechanistic
B)organic
C)disorganized
D)decentralized

Question 77

Large organizations tend to have more ________ than smaller organizations.

A)specialization
B)departmentalization
C)centralization
D)rules and regulations

Question 78

Paul Abdul Oil Corporation (PAOC)began as a relatively small oil company.As PAOC has grown,the company has gained a highly trained group of managers and analysts at the corporate headquarters.This group is highly adaptive in its structure.Members of this group do not have standardized jobs,but are empowered to handle diverse job activities and problems.PAOC seems to have a(n)________ structure.

A)mechanistic
B)divisional
C)functional
D)organic

Question 79

A(n)________ organization is highly adaptive,loose,and flexible.

A)organic
B)centralized
C)customer-oriented
D)mechanistic

Question 80

GlaxoSmithKline would become more ________ if it starts allowing its lab scientists to set the priorities and allocate the resources.

A)profitable
B)mechanistic
C)diversified
D)organic