Question 1

Which of the following best describes a central argument about bureaucracies made by Melville Dalton in his 1959 study Men Who Manage?

Accepted Answer

A)  Managers often break the rules in order to achieve their objectives. 
B)  If given the opportunity, women would make better managers than men. 
C)  Promotions are usually based on merit. 
D)  Managers and workers rarely engage in dishonest activity.

Question 2

Jane, a manager in a house-cleaning company, believes that the values, psychological needs, and attitudes of her workers all shape their work behaviour. With which of the following management approaches do her beliefs fit best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Scientific management. 
B)  Management ideology. 
C)  Human relations. 
D)  The informal side of organizations.

Question 3

Which of the following criticisms have organizational researchers made about bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Workers have too much autonomy. 
B)  Positions within bureaucratic organizations are not regulated. 
C)  They are resistant to change. 
D)  They lack a defined system of authority.

Question 4

Describe what you think makes a "good" manager. Support your position with reference to the material and debates discussed in Chapter 8.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe what you think makes a "good"...

Question 5

Which of the following criticisms did Alvin Gouldner make about bureaucracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Promotions and dismissals tend to be predictable. 
B)  Rules that reduce uncertainty for management reduce job satisfaction for workers. 
C)  Efficiency is often more important than authority. 
D)  They are often created to give managers more power over workers.

Question 6

According to Max Weber, which of the following is correct about "bureaucratic" hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was essential for pre-capitalist systems of production. 
B)  It helps coordinate and integrate many specialized tasks. 
C)  It is only found in capitalist societies. 
D)  Authority is evenly distributed.

Question 7

Explain Gerhard Lenski's theory of social inequality. What role does technology play in this theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Gerhard Lenski's theory of social inequality....

Question 8

Joan Woodward argued which of the following on the basis of her research on the best fit between production technologies and management approaches?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bureaucracies are most appropriate in industries with mass-production technology. 
B)  Modern work organizations need managers who have strong human relations skills. 
C)  The more complex the technology, the more bureaucratic rules are required. 
D)  Assembly-line technologies are a poor fit with bureaucracy.

Exam 8: Organizing and Managing Work