Deck 12: Restructuring Organizations

Question 1

Global competition, rapid technological and environmental changes are forcing organizations to become more hierarchical and immutable.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Customer centric organizations work best under which of the following conditions?

A) stable and predictable markets
B) uncertain and complex markets
C) small organizations
D) highly focused on innovation

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Reengineering begins with and of an organization's context and objectives:

A) strategic planning/implementation
B) process planning/implementation
C) clarification/assessment
D) all of the above

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Diagnostic guidelines are extremely important for determining the appropriate structure for a particular organization.

Question 5

Process-based structures generally appear in small to medium sized organizations having several products or projects.

Question 6

Which requirements are necessary for the success of a matrix structure?

A) dual focus, high information processing capacity, low intra-organizational conflict
B) shared scarce resources, dual focus, and high information processing capacity
C) dual focus, low intra-organizational conflict, shared scarce resources
D) shared scarce resources, dual focus, and low intra-organizational conflict

Question 7

The primary goal of any team in a process-based structure is quality of work life.

Question 8

Process structures eliminate ______________ and _____________:

A) process stagnation/autonomy
B) hierarchical/departmental boundaries
C) technology/help work design
D) process stagnation/help job satisfaction

Question 9

When sub-units operate as independent profit centers, an internal market network exists.

Question 10

Process-based structures are essential for eliminating many of the hierarchical and departmental boundaries that can impede task coordination.

Question 11

Which of the following is not one of the four basic network-based structures?

A) internal market network
B) opportunity network
C) strategic market network
D) aftermarket network

Question 12

Interventions aimed at structural design include

A) traditional ways of dividing the organization's overall work
B) integrative and flexible ways of dividing work
C) structural changes like downsizing
D) all of the above

Question 13

Downsizing is generally a response to at least two major conditions: organization decline due to implementation of a new structure or opposition to growth and expansion issues.

Question 14

Network structures typically have the following characteristics

A) vertical disaggregation
B) brokers
C) coordinating mechanisms
D) all of the above

Question 15

Which is not a characteristic of reengineering?

A) involves a fundamental rethinking of work
B) vertical disaggregation of structure
C) radical redesign of business processes
D) associated with downsizing and work redesign

Question 16

Process-based structures remove layers of management, and consequently information flows more quickly and accurately throughout the organization.

Question 17

Two organization structures that are more integrative and flexible are

A) process-based and functional
B) self-contained and functional
C) network-based and process-based
D) matrix and hybrid

Question 18

The matrix structure is the best and most flexible organization structure.

Question 19

Which of the following is a key step in the downsizing intervention?

A) working without a clear strategy
B) announcing the layoffs early in the process
C) addressing the needs of survivors and those who leave
D) clarifying the strategy after the layoffs

Question 20

Which is not a characteristic of a process-based structure?

A) management defines performance metric standards
B) structures organized around 3-5 key processes that define the work of the organization
C) work is simplified by removing non-essential tasks and reducing layers of management
D) teams are fundamental

Question 21

It is possible to have the self-contained unit and matrix organization structure in the same organization at the same time.

Question 22

Discuss the difference between process-based and network-based structures.

Question 23

Under what conditions are customer-centric structures appropriate? What challenges does this type of organization structure face and why?

Question 24

Describe the short term, medium and longer term approaches to downsizing. What are the key differences between them?

Question 25

Describe either a functional, self-contained, or matrix structure and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

Question 26

Compare the two primary technostructural interventions (downsizing and reengineering) discussed in this chapter and note their general differences and similarities.