Deck 9: Designing Adaptive Organizations

Question 1

Which of the following is an advantage of geographic departmentalization? 

A) ​It focuses the organization on customer needs rather than on products or business functions. 
B) ​It can reduce costs by locating unique organizational resources closer to customers. 
C) ​It allows managers and workers to specialize in one area of expertise. 
D) ​It lowers costs by reducing duplication.

Answer 1

  B

Question 2

In a decentralized organization,workers closest to problems are authorized to make the decisions necessary to solve the problems on their own.

Answer 2

  True

Question 3

Which of the following is an advantage of matrix departmentalization? 

A) ​It does not lead to cross-functional interaction. 
B) ​It does not require a high level of coordination. 
C) ​It allows companies to manage in an efficient manner large, complex tasks. 
D) ​It reduces costs by locating unique organizational resources closer to customers.

Answer 3

  C

Question 4

The primary disadvantage of customer departmentalization is: 

A) ​that it leads to slower decision making. 
B) ​that it leads to duplication of resources. 
C) ​the challenge of coordinating across the different product departments. 
D) ​the high level of coordination required to manage the complexity involved in running large projects.

Question 5

Which of the following best defines staff authority? 

A) ​It is the right to command immediate subordinates in the chain of command. 
B) ​It is the right to advise but not command others who are not subordinates in the chain of command. 
C) ​It is an activity that contributes directly to creating or selling a company's products. 
D) ​It is an activity that does not contribute directly to creating or selling a company's products but instead supports line activities.

Question 6

Bridget's Gifts,a greetings and gifts store in Janville,has four departments: flowers and soft toys,cards and e-cards,metal collectibles,and photo albums and scrapbooks.These departments are responsible for producing their own products.This scenario is an example of _____.

A) ​matrix departmentalization 
B) ​functional departmentalization 
C) ​product departmentalization 
D) ​customer departmentalization

Question 7

Working relationships between modular organizations and outside companies tend to be more stable and longer lasting. 

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true of functional departmentalization? 

A) ​It allows work to be done by highly qualified specialists. 
B) ​It focuses an organization on customer needs rather than on products. 
C) ​It helps companies respond to the demands of different markets. 
D) ​It allows companies to manage in an efficient manner large, complex tasks.

Question 9

The chain of command clarifies which task has to be performed by whom.

Question 10

_____ is a method of subdividing work and workers into separate organizational units that take responsibility for completing particular tasks.

A) ​Reengineering 
B) ​Departmentalization 
C) ​Decentralization 
D) ​Class reconstruction

Question 11

The primary advantage of matrix departmentalization is that a high level of coordination is not required.

Question 12

The third transfer that occurs with delegation is that a manager gives a subordinate full authority over the budget,resources,and personnel needed to do a jo
B.

Question 13

_____ is a management principle that workers should report to just one boss.

A) ​Unity of command 
B) ​Line authority 
C) ​Staff function 
D) ​Task identity

Question 14

Which of the following is an advantage of product departmentalization? 

A) ​It allows managers and workers to specialize in one area of expertise. 
B) ​It helps companies respond to the demands of different markets. 
C) ​It reduces costs by reducing duplication. 
D) ​It focuses an organization on customer needs.

Question 15

Empowerment can lead to changes in organizational processes because meaning,competence,impact,and self-determination produce empowered employees who take active rather than passive roles in their work.

Question 16

Danielle is a receptionist at Stanlam Corp.In addition to her daily tasks,Courtney,Danielle's boss,asks her to prepare financial statements for a few small companies Stanlam owns.This is an example of job rotation.

Question 17

Which of the following is an advantage of unity of command? 

A) ​It prevents the confusion that might arise when an employee receives conflicting commands from two different bosses. 
B) ​It develops employee capabilities throughout a company and leads to faster decision making and more satisfied customers and employees. 
C) ​It gives workers the authority and control to make meaningful decisions about their work. 
D) ​It overcomes the deficiencies in specialized work by increasing the number of tasks.

Question 18

Empowering workers means permanently passing decision-making authority and responsibility from managers to workers.

Question 19

A virtual organization is an organization that outsources noncore business activities to outside companies,suppliers,specialists,or consultants.

Question 20

Staff functions are activities that directly contribute to creating and selling a company's products,whereas line functions are activities that support staff functions.

Question 21

Which of the following is a disadvantage of modular organizations? 

A) ​They cost significantly more to run than traditional organizations. 
B) ​They are characterized by a loss of control that occurs when key business activities are outsourced to other companies. 
C) ​They do not let companies share costs, and because members cannot combine their efforts to meet customers' needs, they are slow. 
D) ​They are unstable and have temporary relationships in a network alliance.

Question 22

The _____ is an approach to job redesign that seeks to formulate jobs in ways that motivate workers and lead to positive work outcomes.

A) ​job descriptive index 
B) ​job characteristics model 
C) job rotation index 
D) job enlargement model​

Question 23

In the context of organizational environments,which of the following is true of mechanistic organizations? 

A) ​They are characterized by specialized jobs and responsibilities. 
B) ​They are characterized by broadly defined jobs and responsibilities. 
C) ​They are characterized by loosely defined and frequently changing roles. 
D) ​They are characterized by horizontal communication based on task knowledge.

Question 24

Which of the following best defines delegation of authority? 

A) ​It is the assignment of direct responsibility to a subordinate to complete tasks for which a manager is normally responsible. 
B) ​It is the right to give commands, take action, and make decisions to achieve organizational objectives. 
C) ​It is the right to advise but not command others who are not subordinates in the chain of command. 
D) ​It is the activity that takes place within an organization to transform inputs into outputs that customers value.

Question 25

Tom is an editor for the sports column at Mailing Daily.Chloe,Tom's manager,asks him to handle the essay column along with the sports column.Which of the following job redesign techniques is used by Chloe? 

A) ​Job enrichment 
B) ​Job enlargement 
C) ​Job specialization 
D) ​Job rotation

Question 26

The second transfer that occurs with delegation is: 

A) ​that a manager gives a subordinate full authority over the budget, resources, and personnel needed to do a jo B. 
B) ​that a manager transfers full responsibility for an assignment to a subordinate. 
C) ​the transfer of accountability. 
D) ​that a manager delegates his or her managerial authority to subordinates in exchange for results.

Question 27

Jason is an employee at Manisch Burger and Meals.He is assigned the task of serving soft drinks to customers ordering meals with potato fries,a burger,and a roll.Which of the following best illustrates Jason's job design? 

A) ​Job enrichment 
B) ​Job enlargement 
C) ​Job specialization 
D) ​Job rotation

Question 28

Which of the following is a difference between a line function and a staff function? 

A) ​A line function does not contribute directly to creating a company's products, whereas a staff function contributes directly to creating a company's products. 
B) ​A line function includes accounting, human resources, or legal services, whereas a staff function includes activities that take place within the manufacturing and marketing departments. 
C) ​A line function can only be exercised by employees at the lower levels of the chain of command, whereas a staff function empowers employees on every level. 
D) ​A line function contributes directly to selling a company's products, whereas a staff function does not contribute directly to selling a company's products but instead supports line activities.

Question 29

Which of the following is an advantage of decentralization? 

A) ​It prevents the confusion that might arise when an employee receives conflicting commands from two different bosses. 
B) ​It helps companies respond to the demands of different markets, especially when the company sells in different countries.  
C) ​It develops employee capabilities throughout a company and leads to faster decision making and more satisfied customers and employees.  
D) ​It attempts to overcome the deficiencies in specialized work by giving workers the authority and control to make meaningful decisions about their work.

Question 30

_____ is solving problems by consistently applying the same rules,procedures,and processes.

A) ​Standardization 
B) ​Decentralization 
C) ​Specialization 
D) ​Departmentalization

Question 31

Staff function: 

A) ​is the right to command immediate subordinates in the chain of command. 
B) ​is the right to advise but not command others who are not subordinates in the chain of command. 
C) ​is an activity that contributes directly to creating or selling a company's products. 
D) ​is an activity that does not contribute directly to creating or selling a company's products but instead supports line activities.

Question 32

Which of the following is an advantage of virtual organizations? 

A) They can cost significantly less to run than traditional organizations.​ 
B) ​They pay for outsourced labor, expertise, or manufacturing capabilities only when needed.  
C) ​They develop employee capabilities throughout a company.  
D) ​They let companies share costs and are fast and flexible.

Question 33

In the context of the job characteristics model,_____ is motivation that comes from the job itself rather than from outside rewards such as a raise or praise from the boss.

A) ​competence motivation 
B) ​affiliation motivation 
C) ​internal motivation 
D) ​extrinsic motivation

Question 34

Stephanie is a receptionist at Violetcoast Corp.Over a period of six months,Stephanie has done a variety of jobs,such as data entry and preparing financial statements,along with her daily work.This scenario is an example of _____.

A) ​job enrichment 
B) ​job enlargement 
C) ​job specialization 
D) ​job rotation

Question 35

_____ is the location of most authority at the upper levels of an organization.

A) ​Line authority 
B) ​Staff authority 
C) ​Centralization of authority  
D) ​Delegation of authority

Question 36

Which of the following best defines an interorganizational process? 

A) ​It is the collection of activities that take place among organizations to transform inputs into outputs that customers value. 
B) ​It is the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments, authority, and jobs within a company. 
C) ​It is the process of periodically moving workers from one specialized job to another to give them more variety and the opportunity to use different skills. 
D) ​It is the process of solving problems by consistently applying the same rules, procedures, and processes.

Question 37

In the context of task interdependence,in _____,each job or department contributes to the whole independently. 

A) ​sequential interdependence 
B) ​pooled interdependence 
C) ​reciprocal interdependence 
D) ​comprehensive interdependence

Question 38

In the context of task interdependence,in _____,different jobs or groups work together in a back-and-forth manner to complete an intraorganizational process.

A) ​sequential interdependence 
B) ​pooled interdependence 
C) ​reciprocal interdependence 
D) ​comprehensive interdependence

Question 39

In the context of the job characteristics model,which of the following best defines autonomy? 

A) ​It is the degree to which a job gives workers the discretion, freedom, and independence to decide how and when to accomplish the work. 
B) ​It is the process of increasing the number of different tasks that a worker performs within one particular jo B. 
C) ​It is the degree to which a job is perceived to have a substantial impact on others inside or outside an organization. 
D) ​It is the amount of information a job provides to workers about their work performance.

Question 40

Which of the following is true of job specialization? 

A) ​It occurs when a job composed of a small part of a larger task or process. 
B) ​It is an approach to job redesign that seeks to formulate jobs in ways that motivate workers and lead to positive work outcomes. 
C) ​It involves giving workers the authority and control to make meaningful decisions about their work. 
D) ​It is the process of solving problems by consistently applying the same rules, procedures, and processes.

Question 41

_________ is a hybrid structure in which two or more forms of departmentalization are used together.

Question 42

_________ is the vertical line of authority that clarifies who reports to whom throughout an organization.
A.Unity of command
B.The chain of command
C.Delegation of authority
D.Centralization of authority

Question 43

_________ are characterized by precisely defined,unchanging roles and a rigid chain of command based on centralized authority and vertical communication.This type of organization works best in stable,unchanging business environments.
A.Mechanistic organizations
B.Organic organizations
C.Modular organizations
D.Virtual organizations

Question 44

In the context of organizational structure,_________ is the right to give commands,take action,and make decisions to achieve organizational objectives.

Question 45

Because employees simply switch from one specialized job to another,_________ allows companies to retain the economic benefits of specialized work.
A.job enrichment
B.job enlargement
C.job specialization
D.job rotation

Question 46

In the context of the job characteristics model,_________ is the number of different activities performed in a jo
B.

Question 47

_________ are characterized by broadly defined jobs and responsibilities; loosely defined,frequently changing roles; and decentralized authority and horizontal communication based on task knowledge.
A.Mechanistic organizations
B.Organic organizations
C.Modular organizations
D.Virtual organizations

Question 48

In the context of the job characteristics model,_________ is the degree to which a job,from beginning to end,requires of a whole and identifiable piece of work.

Question 49

_________ is the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments,authority,and jobs within a company.

Question 50

A _________ is a form of matrix departmentalization in which managers in different parts of the matrix negotiate conflicts and resources directly.
A.simple matrix
B.complex matrix
C.network matrix
D.parallel matrix