Question 1

Structural design influences the way in which&#8230;&#10;A) knowledge and skills are developed within an organization&#10;B) Company HQs are built&#10;C) Resources flow&#10;D) Choices are made

Accepted Answer

Structural design in an organization determines how knowledge and skills are developed by defining roles, responsibilities, and communication pathways.

Question 2

Which of the following describes one of the ways in which systems function?&#10;A) As operational systems&#10;B) As resource systems&#10;C) As command systems&#10;D) As strategy systems

Accepted Answer

Systems function as operational systems, which means they are designed to carry out specific operations or tasks within a defined framework or set of rules.

Question 3

Dynamic control systems carry which of the following characteristics?&#10;A) Strategic flexibility&#10;B) Human resource capabilities&#10;C) Resource flexibility&#10;D) Innovative initiatives

Accepted Answer

Dynamic control systems are designed to adapt to changes and uncertainties, which requires strategic flexibility to adjust strategies and operations as needed.

Question 4

Remind yourself of Eisenhardt and Sull's simple control rules for strategy (2001). Select the correct rule from their list of five:&#10;A) Boundary rules&#10;B) Limit rules&#10;C) Functional rules&#10;D) Hierarchical rules

Accepted Answer

Boundary rules are indeed one of the simple rules for strategy as proposed by Eisenhardt and Sull. These rules help organizations to make decisions about where to compete by setting boundaries based on geography, market, and technology.

Question 5

When speaking about culture, Schein (2004) argues that organizations must:&#10;A) integrate individuals into an effective whole&#10;B) Induct individuals&#10;C) Indoctrinate individuals&#10;D) Allow individual freedom

Accepted Answer

Schein argues that one of the main functions of organizational culture is to integrate individuals into an effective whole, meaning to bring people together and align them with shared values, goals, and norms. Inducting and indoctrinating individuals may be part of this process, but the ultimate goal is to create a cohesive and productive collective. Allowing individual freedom may not necessarily lead to a strong organizational culture, as it could promote individualism and divergence rather than collaboration and alignment.

Question 6

A key form of international trade for the MNC is:&#10;A) Foreign Direct Investment&#10;B) Relocation&#10;C) Greenfield sites&#10;D) Merger

Accepted Answer

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is when a company invests in and owns a business in a foreign country. This is an important form of international trade for MNCs as it allows them to establish a physical presence in a foreign market, access local resources and talent, and expand their global footprint. Relocation, greenfield sites, and mergers can also be forms of international trade, but they are not as key or common for MNCs as FDI.

Question 7

Which four of the following are Mintzberg's ideal structural forms?&#10;A) Simple structure&#10;B) Machine bureaucracy&#10;C) Professional bureaucracy&#10;D) Divisionalized form&#10;E) M-form&#10;F) Structural form

Accepted Answer

Mintzberg identified five ideal types of organizational structure: Simple Structure, Machine Bureaucracy, Professional Bureaucracy, Divisionalized Form, and Adhocracy. The options E) M-form and F) Structural form are not among Mintzberg's ideal types.

Question 8

Which two of the following are advantages of the matrix structure?&#10;A) Encourage overlapping businesses to collaborate to address relevant opportunities,&#10;B) Integrate knowledge and learning across locations&#10;C) It allows for multiple ownership, and hence a greater spread of risk around the companies making up the group&#10;D) The SBUs benefit from being exposed to a wider range of knowledge and expertise through their collaboration

Accepted Answer

The matrix structure encourages collaboration across different business units and integrates knowledge and learning across various locations, enhancing innovation and efficiency.

Question 9

The essential feature of a network structure is that the boundaries of the organization are permeable and less distinct, so that the organization becomes 'boundaryless'

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. In a network structure, the boundaries of the organization are permeable and less distinct, allowing for more communication and collaboration with external entities. This results in a boundaryless organization.

Question 10

A system can be described as a micro-structure that actually makes an&#10; organization work

Accepted Answer

A system consists of interconnected parts that work together to achieve a common goal. In an organization, systems help to facilitate communication, coordination, and decision-making processes, ultimately contributing to its overall functioning.

Deck 7: Corporate Strategy and Structure