Question 1

Publishing representatives who call on college professors to inform them of their company's new publications have a great deal of freedom in their jobs. They have only a general sales pitch, which they tailor as needed. Based on this information, we can say that the job of these publishing representatives scores ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  low on the degree of work specialization 
B)  low on the degree of decentralization 
C)  high on the degree of departmentalization 
D)  high on the degree of centralization 
E)  low on the degree of formalization

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true regarding a matrix structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  It breaks the unity-of-command concept. 
B)  It cannot achieve economies of scale. 
C)  It reduces ambiguity about who reports to whom. 
D)  It prevents power struggles. 
E)  It enhances role clarity and avoids role conflict.

Question 3

Job candidates who prefer ________ are likely to seek out and take employment in mechanistic structures, and those who want ________ are more likely to end up in an organic structure.

Accepted Answer

A)  predictability; autonomy 
B)  centralization; decentralization 
C)  job satisfaction; job security 
D)  simple structure; matrix structure 
E)  virtual organizations; boundaryless organizations

Question 4

Aeronautics Inc., a parts supplier, has departments for government aircraft and contracts, large commercial aircraft clients, and small personal aircraft clients. This is an example of ________ departmentalization.

Accepted Answer

A)  product 
B)  function 
C)  geography 
D)  customer 
E)  service

Question 5

A(n) ________ strategy emphasizes the introduction of major new products and services.

Accepted Answer

A)  innovation 
B)  cost-minimization 
C)  imitation 
D)  organic 
E)  mechanistic

Question 6

Functional departments stifle interaction among functions, product lines, and units.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

As compared to a decentralized organization, a centralized organization can act more quickly to solve problems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority.

Accepted Answer

A)  span of control 
B)  chain of command 
C)  cross-functionality 
D)  centralization 
E)  unity of command

Question 9

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What is work specialization? Discuss its advantages and drawbacks.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is work specialization? Discuss its advantages...

Question 11

________ is the key concept that underlies all bureaucracies.

Accepted Answer

A)  A dual line of command 
B)  Standardization 
C)  Decentralization 
D)  Employee empowerment 
E)  Wider span of control

Question 12

In a boundaryless organization, how does management flatten the hierarchy and minimize status and rank?

Accepted Answer

A)  by eliminating cross-hierarchical teams 
B)  by removing vertical boundaries 
C)  by discouraging participative decision-making practices 
D)  by dividing jobs into small standardized tasks 
E)  by enforcing the chain of command

Question 13

The organizational design of simple structure is highly risky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Any organization's environment has three dimensions. Identify these dimensions.

Accepted Answer

A)  stability, adaptability, and employee-orientation 
B)  complexity, volatility, and capacity 
C)  replaceability, product-orientation, and stability 
D)  flexibility, employee-orientation, and capacity 
E)  volatility, product-orientation, and adaptability

Question 15

A ________ is consistent with recent efforts by companies to reduce costs, cut overhead, speed up decision making, increase flexibility, get closer to customers, and empower employees.

Accepted Answer

A)  wider span of control 
B)  high degree of formalization 
C)  longer chain of command 
D)  lack of work specialization 
E)  high degree of centralization

Question 16

Narrow spans of control make vertical communication in the organization more complex.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The strength of the bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

A mechanistic model is similar to a boundaryless organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Organizations following a(n) ________ strategy try to both minimize risk and maximize opportunity for profit, moving into new products or new markets only after innovators have proven their viability.

Accepted Answer

A)  innovation 
B)  cost-cutting 
C)  imitation 
D)  organic 
E)  mechanistic

Question 20

Volatility refers to the degree of ________ within an environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  sustainability 
B)  instability 
C)  flexibility 
D)  complexity 
E)  adaptability

Exam 15: Foundations of Organizational Structure

Which of the following statements is true regarding a matrix structure?

Job candidates who prefer are likely to seek out and take employment in mechanistic structures, and those who want are more likely to end up in an organic structure.

Aeronautics Inc., a parts supplier, has departments for government aircraft and contracts, large commercial aircraft clients, and small personal aircraft clients. This is an example of ________ departmentalization.

A(n) ________ strategy emphasizes the introduction of major new products and services.

Functional departments stifle interaction among functions, product lines, and units.

As compared to a decentralized organization, a centralized organization can act more quickly to solve problems.

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority.

The matrix structure reduces the possibility of power struggles.

What is work specialization? Discuss its advantages and drawbacks.

________ is the key concept that underlies all bureaucracies.

In a boundaryless organization, how does management flatten the hierarchy and minimize status and rank?

The organizational design of simple structure is highly risky.

Any organization's environment has three dimensions. Identify these dimensions.

A ________ is consistent with recent efforts by companies to reduce costs, cut overhead, speed up decision making, increase flexibility, get closer to customers, and empower employees.

Narrow spans of control make vertical communication in the organization more complex.

The strength of the bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.

A mechanistic model is similar to a boundaryless organization.

Organizations following a(n) ________ strategy try to both minimize risk and maximize opportunity for profit, moving into new products or new markets only after innovators have proven their viability.

Volatility refers to the degree of ________ within an environment.