Deck 6: The Evolution of Management Organizational Theory

Question 1

________________argued that organizations strive to maintain a state of dynamic equilibrium through a process of adaptation. This person explained that organizations self-regulate and adapt to survive.

A) Max Weber.
B) Norbert Weiner.
C) Catheryn Seckler-Hudson.
D) James Gleick.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The scholar who shattered the apparent politics-administration dichotomy and held that politics is an integral part of administration was

A) David Lilienthal.
B) Paul Appleby.
C) Luther Gulick.
D) Dwight Waldo.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is Burns and Stalker's contribution to organization theory?

A) MBO
B) Cybernetics
C) POSDCORB
D) None of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Paul Appleby argued that

A) a political governmental processes were antithetical to the American experience.
B) politics and administration ought to remain separate.
C) Administration is a skill only available to a few.
D) upper level management could be studied scientifically.

Question 5

All of the following describe sociologist Philip Selznick, EXCEPT:

A) He was a sociologist that argued organizations are not isolated from their environments.
B) He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority.
C) "Opened up" the field of Organizational Theory to broader views.
D) He was systems theorist.

Question 6

Mary, a union shop steward, says that the Supervisor of her unit keeps very strict time and motion control over employee work, and that there is only one way to do the job-which is the Supervisor's way. Mary refers to this as:

A) Management by Objectives.
B) Scientific Management
C) Punitive Management.
D) Management by score-keeping

Question 7

When we hear jokes about the malfunctioning rocket that was called the "civil servant," because it would not work and you could not fire it, this is an indictment against "bureaucrats."

Question 8

The concept of scientific management is associated with Max Weber who incorporated scientific principles into management.

Question 9

The acknowledged father of scientific management and the author of The Principles of Scientific Management was

A) Hugo Munsterberg.
B) James Gleick.
C) Frederick W. Taylor.
D) Henri Fayol.

Question 10

The PODSCORB principles were closest to which of the following theorists?

A) Herbert Simon
B) Amitai Etzioni
C) Luther Gulick
D) Charles Lindblom.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a basic tenet of classical organization theory?

A) Organizations exist to accomplish production-related and economic goals.
B) Production is maximized through specialization and division of labor.
C) People in organizations act in accordance with Nicolo Machiavelli's principles.
D) People in organizations act in accordance with rational economic principles.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of "the bureaucracy"?

A) It is the totality of the government
B) It often refers to a general invective that refers to inefficient organizations encumbered by red tape.
C) It often refers to all public officials of a government.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 13

Henri Fayol was the first to develop a comprehensive theory of management that covered six principles, including production of goods, financial and commercial analysis, security, accounting, and managerial coordination.

Question 14

Herbert Simon's theory of bounded rationality states that human beings "satisfice" because they do not have the intellectual capacity to maximize.

Question 15

Administrative Theory began with:

A) Authoritarian systems of management.
B) Democratic systems of management
C) Laissez Faire systems of management
D) None of the above

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT included in Max Weber's theory of the ideal type bureaucracy?

A) The bureaucrat has complete and total control over all aspects of the position.
B) Appointments to office are made on the basis of technical qualifications, which are substantiated by examination.
C) The bureaucrat's conduct must be subject to systematic control and strict discipline.
D) The functions of each office are clearly specified in writing.

Question 17

Words from a military lexicon are peppered throughout writings on public administration, and these words reveal the discipline's military heritage.

Question 18

"Strategy" comes to management theory from the ancient management scholar, Augustus Caesar, and means "the art of the general."

Question 19

The "Butterfly Effect" postulates that

A) problems are solved step-by-step on an incremental basis.
B) the tiniest change in the smallest part of the system can eventually produce enormous effects.
C) Insect wings have powerful effects upon the system.
D) None of the above.

Question 20

The experience of building and operating the Tennessee Valley Authority determined that the process of government was blatantly political.

Question 21

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, public administrators are turning to the study of complex adaptive systems to help them understand nonlinear relationships, quickly changing circumstances and threats.

Question 22

The concept of complex adaptive systems suggests that organizations are systems that are capable of reacting quickly to changing circumstances and threats.

Question 23

Adam Smith believed the capitalist, in fostering his own self-interest, may often find the workings of the "invisible hand" promoting the public interest.

Question 24

From the work of Philip Selznick and other sociologists we learned that organizations do not exist as islands in the environment separate from each other, but are interrelated and interacting.