Deck 4: Organizing

Question 1

Define and discuss the different types of departmentalization within an organization.

Answer 1

Functional,placing together jobs that are performed by people with the same kinds of training and experience.Product,each major product area in the organization is under the authority of a specialist.Geographic,divides on the basis of geography or territory.Customer,grouping around common interest,concerns,or needs of a customer or client.Process,dividing by the needs of varied skills and specialized equipment.

Question 2

When an entire job is broken down into a number of steps,rather than being done by one individual,and each step is completed by a separate individual,it is called ________.

A)work coordination
B)work specialization
C)job rotation
D)contingency planning
E)management by objectives

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A non-elaborate configuration,low in complexity,with little formalization,and with authority centralized in a single person;a "flat" organization with only two or three levels is referred to as a ________ structure.

A)chain of command
B)simple
C)scalar chain
D)bureaucratic
E)informal

Answer 3

B

Question 4

An important trend currently taking place in organizations is that spans of control are almost universally being expanded.

Question 5

The organizational configuration that breaks the rules and creates a dual chain of command is called the ________ structure.

A)simple
B)matrix
C)divisional
D)functional
E)complex

Question 6

The supervisor in the matrix structure with authority over the functional members of the team is called a ________ supervisor.

A)functional
B)virtual
C)project
D)presiding
E)dual

Question 7

The configuration of an organization made up of self-contained units that focus on results is referred to as a(n)________ structure.

A)formal
B)simple
C)informal
D)functional
E)divisional

Question 8

Individuals and groups will develop formal alliances that are informally structured and organizationally determined.

Question 9

The process of arranging and grouping jobs,allocating resources,and assigning work in a department so that activities can be accomplished as planned is ________.

A)commanding
B)planning
C)controlling
D)organizing
E)leading

Question 10

A system that groups activities on the basis of work or customer flow is known as ________.

A)unity of command
B)scalar chain
C)process departmentalization
D)control departmentalization
E)individualized departmentalization

Question 11

Assembly-line production,in which each worker does the same standardized task over and over again,is an example of ________ in which individuals focus on doing part of an activity rather than the entire activity.

A)inefficiency
B)extra expense
C)specialization
D)effortless work
E)unskilled work

Question 12

In the 1920s and 1930s,as organizations got bigger and more formal,supervisors felt a need to provide more coordination of activities and tighter control over operations.

Question 13

According to the unity of command principle when allocating tasks to individuals in a department each employee should report directly to one manager.

Question 14

One problem that may result from work specialization is ________.

A)economic inefficiencies
B)more demanding tasks
C)less demanding tasks
D)low productivity
E)highly skilled workers do easy tasks

Question 15

Today supervisors understand that work specialization provides economic efficiencies and is an unending source of increased productivity.

Question 16

In the ________ structure,putting like specialties together results in economies of scale,minimizes duplication of personnel and equipment,and makes employees comfortable and satisfied with peers.

A)mechanistic
B)virtual
C)functional
D)network
E)bureaucratic

Question 17

The optimal span of control for a supervisor is ________ employees.

A)15-50
B)1-5
C)3-7
D)5-30
E)25-75

Question 18

Organizations are departmentalized based on the following EXCEPT ________.

A)functional
B)product
C)customer
D)specialization
E)geographic

Question 19

The configuration most widely used in smaller businesses in which the supervisor and the owner are often the same person is called a ________ structure.

A)simple
B)line
C)process
D)network
E)functional

Question 20

The number of employees a supervisor can efficiently and effectively direct is called span of control.Contemporary organizations find that ________ create flat organizations with fewer vertical levels.

A)wide spans
B)narrow spans
C)specialized work teams
D)assembly lines
E)demanding tasks

Question 21

Supervisory obligations such as achieving unit goals,keeping costs within budget,following organizational policies,and motivating employees fall under the heading of ________.

A)accountability
B)responsibility
C)functional authority
D)line authority
E)unity of command

Question 22

Decision-making responsibility in the hands of top management is called ________.

A)empowerment
B)functionalization
C)centralization
D)de-functionalization
E)decentralization

Question 23

There are three different types of authority: functional,line,and unity of command.

Question 24

The rights inherent in a supervisory position to give orders and expect the orders to be obeyed is ________.

A)responsibility
B)work simplification
C)authority
D)coordination
E)accountability

Question 25

Today supervisors and operatives are being actively included in ________.In this way those most familiar with a problem are able to quickly analyze and solve it.

A)top management decisions
B)restructuring
C)the decision-making process
D)reorganization
E)chain of command

Question 26

Identify and explain the difference between responsibility and authority for a supervisor.

Question 27

Staff authority supports line authority by advising,servicing,and assisting,but it is typically ________.

A)unlimited
B)rare
C)common
D)limited
E)misused

Question 28

Identify and explain the difference between the traditional departmentalization of an organization and the simplified grouping of work for today's organizations.

Question 29

The types of authority include which of the following?

A)assigned
B)assumed
C)staff
D)servicing
E)assisting

Question 30

Identify and explain the different types of authority a supervisor may possess.

Question 31

Employees in a matrix structure have two managers: their functional departmental supervisor,and their product or project supervisor.

Question 32

Responsibility without authority creates ________.

A)frustration and the feeling of powerlessness
B)excessive demands and coerciveness
C)a feeling of control and ability to exploit
D)dominance and decisiveness
E)confidence and satisfaction

Question 33

Many of today's most successful organizations are finding that they can operate most effectively by remaining ________.

A)bounded and structured
B)flexible and unstructured
C)virtual
D)defined by categories
E)diverse

Question 34

As many organizations have cut costs and streamlined their organizational design to respond better to customer needs,decision-making authority has been pushed down to the lowest levels in the organization.

Question 35

When supervisors empower employees and delegate to them the authority to make decisions on those things that affect their work and change the way that they think about work,that's ________.

A)authority
B)responsibility
C)centralization
D)departmentalization
E)decentralization

Question 36

An organization that has developed a capacity to continuously adapt and change because all its members take an active role in identifying and resolving work-related issues is referred to as a(n)________ organization.

A)diverse
B)boundaryless
C)learning
D)changing
E)modern

Question 37

Supervisors who have authority rights over individuals outside their own direct areas of responsibility have ________.

A)staff authority
B)line authority
C)functional authority
D)unity of command
E)chain of command

Question 38

________ gives the supervisor the right to direct the work of reporting employees and make certain decisions without consulting others.

A)Staff authority
B)Line authority
C)Functional authority
D)Chain of command
E)Work simplification

Question 39

When top management creates organizational units like divisions,regions,territories,and departments and allocates supervisory personnel to each with specific goals and responsibilities,it must also give these supervisors enough ________.

A)span of management to exercise the chain of command
B)authority to successfully carry out those responsibilities
C)restructuring of work to implement job specialization
D)decentralization to maintain authority within the management hierarchy
E)work simplification to implement management objectives

Question 40

Authority without responsibility creates opportunities for abuse.

Question 41

Once the departmental structure is in place,how does a supervisor organize an employee's job?

Question 42

A written statement of what a jobholder does,how the job is done,and why it is done is called a ________.

A)job specification
B)work standard
C)job classification
D)chain of command
E)job description

Question 43

There is no question supervisors need to ________.

A)multitask
B)be authoritarian
C)be able to delegate
D)assume responsibility for all tasks
E)specialize

Question 44

Before a supervisor can delegate authority,allocation of the ________ over which the authority extends must be made to an employee.

A)job description
B)duties
C)duration
D)expectations
E)principles

Question 45

A job description is a written statement of what a jobholder does,how the job is done,and why it is done.

Question 46

Once the organization structure is in place,a supervisor must identify the tasks to be done,combine them into jobs,and then formalize the process through a ________.

A)matrix organization
B)bureaucratic organization
C)scalar chain
D)series of job descriptions
E)chain of command

Question 47

When supervisors increase employee involvement in their work through greater participation in decisions that control their work and expand responsibility for work outcomes it is called ________.

A)empowerment
B)unity of command
C)unanimity
D)chain of command
E)scalar chain

Question 48

With ________ employees and teams,there is little need for supervisors to direct and control.Instead,supervisors serve as facilitators,supporters,and advocates for employee teams.

A)multiple
B)vertical
C)diverse
D)empowered
E)virtual

Question 49

In a ________ organization employees practice knowledge management by continually acquiring and sharing new knowledge and are willing to apply that knowledge in making decisions or performing their work.

A)network
B)virtual
C)vertical
D)learning
E)formal

Question 50

The four-step process of delegation includes all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)allocation of duties
B)delegation of authority
C)assignment of responsibility
D)creation of accountability
E)transfer of blame