Deck 10: Managing Organizational Structure and Culture

Question 1

An organizational structure composed of all the departments that an organization requires to produce its goods or services is known as a functional structure.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: A functional structure is an organizational structure composed of all the departments that an organization requires to produce its goods or services.

Question 2

The goal behind changing to a divisional structure is to create smaller, more manageable units within the organization.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: The goal behind the change to a divisional structure is to create smaller, more manageable units within the organization.

Question 3

_____ is the process by which managers create a specific type of organizational structure and culture.

A)Forward vertical integration
B)Tactical planning
C)Contingency planning
D)Economies of scale
E)Organizational design

Answer 3

E
Explanation: Organizational design is the process by which managers create a specific type of organizational structure and culture.

Question 4

The characteristics of an organization's human resources are an important factor in determining the type of organizational structure.

Question 5

The matrix structure of an organization is usually very rigid.

Question 6

The degree to which a job gives an employee the freedom to schedule different tasks and decide how to carry them out is known as task significance.

Question 7

As the hierarchy of an organization becomes taller, the organization may become less flexible.

Question 8

Managers who make design choices that increase job enlargement are likely to increase the degree to which people behave mechanically.

Question 9

_____ refers to the formal system of task and job reporting relationships that determines how employees use resources to achieve organizational goals.

A)Organizational socialization
B)Organizational culture
C)Organizational structure
D)Organizational norms
E)Organizational values

Question 10

Organizational culture is shaped by the personal and professional characteristics of people within the organization.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of about low-cost strategy?

A)It fares best in an organization with an informal structure.
B)It fares best in an organization with more liberal norms.
C)It fares best in an organization that gives its employees a lot of autonomy.
D)It is aimed at increasing the value of goods as perceived by customers.
E)It gives managers greater control over the organizational activities.

Question 12

Organizational design remains consistent across all organizations.

Question 13

By decentralizing authority, employees are encouraged to be creative and innovative.

Question 14

In a flat, decentralized structure, people can be creative and courageous and take risks.

Question 15

Decentralizing authority allows an organization and its employees to behave in a flexible way even as the organization grows and becomes taller.

Question 16

Managers are most likely to adopt a global geographic structure when they pursue a multidomestic strategy.

Question 17

_____ refers to the shared set of beliefs, values, and norms that influence how people and groups work together to achieve organizational goals.

A)Organizational structure
B)Organizational culture
C)Organizational hierarchy
D)Organizational effectiveness
E)Organizational intelligence

Question 18

Which of the following organizing choices are managers most likely to make to obtain scarce resources under a rapidly changing external environment?

A)establish restrictive norms that guide and govern employees' activities
B)centralize authority
C)use a mechanistic form of organizing
D)establish values that emphasize obedience
E)create an entrepreneurial culture

Question 19

Typically, direct contact and liaison roles provide sufficient coordination when more than two functions or divisions share many common problems.

Question 20

Different strategies need different organizational structures and cultures.

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of how managers can increase the degree of responsibility workers have over their jobs?

A)encouraging workers to stick to the established method of doing the job
B)allowing workers to monitor and measure their own performance
C)encouraging workers to hone their current skills rather than develop new skills
D)giving workers detailed instructions about how to do their work
E)encouraging workers to turn to their superiors when faced with unexpected situations

Question 22

_______ is the process by which managers decide how to divide tasks into specific jobs.

A)Job design
B)Job procurement
C)Span of control
D)Task analyzability
E)Integrating mechanization

Question 23

The result of the job design process is a(n)

A)decrease in efficiency and effectiveness.
B)division of labor among employees.
C)decrease in employee productivity.
D)increase in the number of tasks that each employee has to perform.
E)decrease in job specialization.

Question 24

The more complicated the technology that an organization uses,

A)the lesser is the need for a progressive culture.
B)the greater is the need for a flexible structure.
C)the greater is the need for a formal structure.
D)the easier it is to regulate the technology.
E)fewer unexpected events arise.

Question 25

Which of the following is true about routine technology?

A)It is characterized by high task variety and low task analyzability.
B)Problems encountered while using it require significant nonprogrammed decision making.
C)Regulating and controlling an organization that uses it is difficult.
D)It is best suited for a company that uses an organic structure.
E)Problems encountered while using it do not vary much.

Question 26

Which of the following is more likely to be true for an organization that has a highly skilled workforce?

A)The structure of the organization inclines more toward being mechanistic in nature.
B)Authority is concentrated at the top of the organizational hierarchy.
C)Employees are guided and governed by strict rules, SOPs, and norms.
D)Employees are closed monitored by their supervisors.
E)The organizational culture is based on values that foster employee autonomy.

Question 27

_______ is increasing the number of different tasks in a given job by changing the division of labor.

A)Job simplification
B)Job enlargement
C)Job enrichment
D)Span of control
E)Job autonomy

Question 28

Task significance refers to the

A)degree to which a worker feels his or her job is meaningful because of its effect on people inside the organization or on people outside the organization.
B)extent to which a job requires that a worker perform all the tasks necessary to complete the job, from the beginning to the end of the production process.
C)degree to which a job gives an employee the freedom and discretion needed to schedule different tasks and decide how to carry them out.
D)extent to which a job requires that an employee use a wide range of different skills, abilities, or knowledge.
E)extent to which actually doing a job provides a worker with clear and direct information about how well he or she has performed the job.

Question 29

The degree to which programmed solutions are available to people or functions to solve the problems they encounter is known as

A)task identity.
B)task specialization.
C)task autonomy.
D)task variety.
E)task analyzability.

Question 30

Which of the following is a result of too much job simplification?

A)increased motivation among employees
B)reduced job monotony
C)reduced efficiency
D)increased level of performance
E)greater number of tasks for each employee

Question 31

The greater the level of uncertainty in an organization's environment,

A)the more complex its strategy and technology.
B)the less qualified and skilled its workforce.
C)the less likely employees are to be given autonomy.
D)the more likely managers are to design a mechanistic structure.
E)the more likely the organizational culture is rigid and inflexible.

Question 32

Which of the following is true about an organization with a stable external environment and readily available resources?

A)Less coordination and communication are needed among people and functions to obtain resources.
B)Managers face greater problems in trying to gain access to resources.
C)Managers typically make organizing choices that result in more flexible structures.
D)Authority is likely to be decentralized.
E)Lower-level employees are encouraged to make important operating decisions.

Question 33

A _____ strategy that is aimed at driving down expenditures in all functions usually fares best in a more _____ structure with more conservative norms.

A)differentiation; flexible
B)differentiation; stable
C)low-cost; formal
D)low-cost; informal
E)low-cost; organic

Question 34

_____ is the extent to which a job requires that a worker perform all the necessary activities to complete a job.

A)Skill variety
B)Task identity
C)Task significance
D)Span of control
E)Autonomy

Question 35

Aidan is a software developer for TechControl, Inc.His manager encouraged him to enroll in a course to develop some new skills.After Aidan completed the course, he worked with a coworker and improved on of the company's new software applications.This is an example of

A)job enlargement.
B)job simplification.
C)job enrichment.
D)span of control.
E)task analyzability.

Question 36

The reasoning behind the concept of job enrichment is that

A)increasing workers' responsibility increases their involvement in their jobs.
B)increasing the range of tasks performed by a worker reduces boredom and fatigue.
C)increasing the number of tasks performed by a worker reduces the need for additional human resources.
D)reducing the number of tasks that each worker performs simplifies their jobs.
E)reducing workers' responsibility reduces the work-related stress accompanying their jobs.

Question 37

Which of the following organizing choices are managers most likely to make if the external environment is stable and resources are readily available?

A)decentralize authority
B)create a more organic organizational structure
C)cultivate an entrepreneurial culture in the organization
D)establish values and norms that emphasize change and innovation
E)use detailed rules, SOPs, and restrictive norms to govern employees' activities

Question 38

________ is the extent to which a job requires the worker to use a wide range of knowledge and abilities.

A)Task identity
B)Task significance
C)Autonomy
D)Skill variety
E)Span of control

Question 39

Task variety refers to

A)the degree to which programmed solutions are available to people or functions to solve the problems they encounter.
B)the number of new or unexpected problems that a person or function encounters in performing jobs.
C)the degree to which a worker finds his job captivating or interesting.
D)the number of different goods or services that a particular company markets.
E)the degree to which a particular task needs a highly skilled workforce.

Question 40

Kevin noticed that Derek, an automotive technician at his repair shop, was getting bored of repeatedly performing the lone task of changing oil, so Kevin assigned him the additional duty of fixing tires.This is an example of

A)job simplification.
B)job enrichment.
C)job enlargement.
D)span of control.
E)task analyzability.

Question 41

A _____refers to an organizational structure composed of all the departments that an organization requires to produce its goods or services.

A)product structure
B)matrix structure
C)product team structure
D)functional structure
E)customer structure

Question 42

RST Consulting has offices in different locations around the country.Each division is self-contained and caters to the needs of the specific region in which it is located.This is an example of a ______ structure.

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

Question 43

What is the goal behind creating a divisional structure in an organization?

A)to create smaller, more manageable units within the organization
B)to merge all the departments that the organization requires to produce its goods or services
C)to permanently assign employees to cross-functional teams
D)to group people and resources by function and product simultaneously
E)to do away with dual reporting relationships and two-boss employees

Question 44

Josh works for a company where he is given the freedom to decide how best to carry out the tasks assigned to him.It can be said that Josh's job has

A)low skill variety.
B)high task identity.
C)low task significance.
D)high feedback.
E)high autonomy.

Question 45

When managers organize divisions based solely on the type of customer they focus on, they adopt a

A)product structure.
B)geographic structure.
C)market structure.
D)functional structure.
E)product team structure.

Question 46

An organization's hierarchy of authority refers to an organization's

A)chain of command.
B)synergy.
C)esprit de corps.
D)autonomy.
E)culture.

Question 47

At the Highway Department, Dev is assigned to a team to develop a new Route 70 river bridge.Dev reports to both the Engineering Manager and the Route 70 Project Manager.The Highway Department is utilizing a ________ structure.

A)matrix
B)functional
C)customer
D)product
E)market

Question 48

Which of the following is true about a matrix structure?

A)Managers organize divisions based solely on the type of good or service they provide.
B)Managers organize divisions based solely on the area of the country or world they operate in.
C)Managers organize divisions based solely on the type of customer they focus on.
D)Managers group people who perform similar jobs.
E)Managers group people by function and product simultaneously.

Question 49

A cross-functional team refers to a(n)

A)group of employees who specialize in all the tasks required to produce the end product.
B)organizational structure in which each kind of customer is served by a self-contained division.
C)group of managers brought together from different departments to perform organizational tasks.
D)organizational structure in which each region of a country or area of the world is served by a self-contained division.
E)organizational structure in which each product line or business is handled by a self-contained division.

Question 50

What is the advantage of a product structure?

A)It allows managers to gain expertise in many industries.
B)It allows functional managers to fine-tune their skills in a particular product area
C)It allows managers to group people by function and product simultaneously.
D)It distances divisional managers from the customers, thus increasing the organizational stability.
E)It permanently assigns employees to a cross-functional team that is empowered to bring a new product to market.

Question 51

In which of the following types of organizational structures are employees referred to as two-boss employees?

A)product structure
B)matrix structure
C)geographic structure
D)functional structure
E)divisional structure

Question 52

Which of the following structures is the most flexible?

A)functional structure
B)product structure
C)market structure
D)geographic structure
E)matrix structure

Question 53

Jose likes working at the A1A Body Shop because his manager respects him and trusts his ability to make good decisions.When assigned a job, Jose decides how to complete the body repair tasks.Jose has

A)autonomy.
B)task identity.
C)task significance.
D)skill variety.
E)span of control.

Question 54

A _____ structure refers to an organizational structure that simultaneously groups people and resources by function and by product.

A)matrix
B)market
C)product
D)functional
E)divisional

Question 55

According to Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model, which of the following employees are more likely to be satisfied and to perform at a high level?

A)those who work under close supervision
B)those who work in rigid organizational structures
C)those who work in organizations where authority is centralized
D)those who work in total seclusion
E)those who are responsible for their work outcomes

Question 56

Which of the following is true about a functional structure in an organization?

A)It allows managers to monitor a changing competitive environment.
B)As the organization grows, it becomes more effective.
C)It makes monitoring and evaluating the performance of workers difficult.
D)It results in workers performing at a low level.
E)It eliminates the need for cooperation within a function.

Question 57

__________ of the organization is the relative authority that each manager in the organization has, from the CEO down to the lowest-level employees.

A)Market structure
B)Autonomy
C)Synergy
D)Equity
E)Chain of command

Question 58

Andy, the CEO of Alpha Inc., structured his organization according to the goods it manufactured.Which of the following structures is the organization using?

A)geographic structure
B)market structure
C)product structure
D)functional structure
E)customer structure

Question 59

How is flexibility ensured in the matrix structure?

A)by empowering product teams
B)by making managers solely responsible for making important product development decisions
C)by organizing divisions based solely on to the type of good they provide
D)by organizing divisions based solely on the type of customer they focus on
E)by organizing divisions based solely on area of the country or world they operate in

Question 60

Alex started working as a server at a local restaurant two weeks ago._____ from her supervisor gives her direct and clear information about how well she is performing the job.

A)Task identity
B)Feedback
C)Autonomy
D)Task significance
E)Skill variety

Question 61

Keisha works for a marketing firm, directly managing five employees and operations while reporting to a higher ranking manager.Keisha's position in the firm is a(n) ________ manager.

A)top
B)assistant
C)zone
D)line
E)staff

Question 62

Danielle works for a large company in the petroleum industry.It is a centralized organization with many levels of authority.Which of the following is a characteristic of the company's organizational culture?

A)It gives people more personal autonomy.
B) It ignores traditions.
C)It lays emphasis on obeying authority.
D)It decentralizes authority.
E)Its desired goals are change and innovation.

Question 63

Which of the following cultures develops an emphasis on entrepreneurship and respect for the employee and allows the use of organizational structures that empower employees to make decisions and motivate them to succeed?

A)aggressive cultures
B)passive cultures
C)adaptive cultures
D)normative cultures
E)inert cultures

Question 64

Louis works for a large utility company, and he is responsible for managing the company's payroll.Louis's position in the company is referred to as a(n) _________ manager.

A)top
B)zone
C)assistant
D)line
E)staff

Question 65

The culture at Fired-Up Electronics focuses on empowering its employees and makes use of cross-functional teams.What type of culture exists at Fired-Up Electronics?

A)aggressive culture
B)passive culture
C)adaptive culture
D)normative culture
E)inert culture

Question 66

Jamal is a real estate agent for L&S Realtors.It is a flat, decentralized structure.Which of the following is a characteristic of the organizational culture L&S Realtors?

A)It gives people little personal autonomy.
B)It has norms that focus on being cautious.
C)It requires obeying authority.
D)It encourages people to be innovative.
E)It is relatively rigid.

Question 67

_____ refer(s) to the moral values, beliefs, and rules that establish the appropriate way for an organization and its members to deal with each other and with people outside the organization.

A)Organizational design
B)Organizational intelligence
C) Organizational effectiveness
D)Organizational structure
E)Organizational ethics

Question 68

The CEO of BigBen Suppliers, Inc.organized the divisions in his organization according to the customers they serve.The BigBen organization is using the _____ structure.

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

Question 69

The principle of _____ states that top managers should always construct a hierarchy with the fewest levels of authority necessary to efficiently and effectively use organizational resources.

A)minimum chain of command
B)unity of command
C)unity of direction
D)centralization
E)dual command

Question 70

Cultures whose values and norms help an organization to build momentum and to grow and change as needed to achieve its goals and be effective are referred to as

A)aggressive cultures.
B)entrepreneurial cultures.
C)inert cultures.
D)normative cultures.
E)adaptive cultures.

Question 71

________ cultures are those whose values and norms fail to motivate or inspire employees and lead to stagnation and, often, failure over time.

A)Aggressive
B)Flexible
C)Inert
D)Normative
E)Adaptive

Question 72

Organizations can keep their hierarchy flat by

A)decreasing the span of control.
B)increasing the number of levels of management.
C)decentralizing authority.
D)using dual command.
E)decreasing autonomy.

Question 73

A committee of managers from different functions or divisions, or a ________, meet to solve a specific, mutual problem.

A)self-managed team
B)virtual team
C)fundamental team
D)task force
E)product team structure

Question 74

Organizational _______ is the shared set of beliefs, expectations, values, and norms that influence how members of an organization relate to one another and cooperate to achieve organizational goals.

A)hierarchy
B)structure
C)design
D)culture
E)intelligence

Question 75

_____ refers to the number of subordinates who report directly to a manager.

A)Esprit de corps
B)Synergy
C)Economies of scale
D)Span of control
E)Autonomy

Question 76

In which of the following cultures are employees content to be told what to do and have little incentive or motivation to perform beyond minimum work requirements?

A)inert culture
B)entrepreneurial culture
C)adaptive culture
D)normative culture
E)active culture

Question 77

Gabriela is a manager at a restaurant that just started offering drive-through pickup for its customers.While many people enjoy eating meals at the restaurant, the drive-through business has been growing quickly.Gabriela is deciding how to divide specific tasks among her employees to become more efficient.Gabriela is changing the

A)division of labor.
B)job simplification.
C)job design.
D)job enlargement.
E)job enrichment.

Question 78

The CEO at Winton Manufacturing, Inc.has asked the top managers to redesign their organizational architecture to reduce the number of managers.This is an example of

A)centralization.
B)the principle of minimum chain of command.
C)unity of direction.
D)unity of command.
E)dual command.

Question 79

Managers increase coordination among functions and divisions by

A)establishing liaison roles.
B)creating more managerial levels.
C)developing a taller organizational structure.
D)reducing the span of control.
E)implementing a mechanistic organizational structure.

Question 80

Giving lower-level managers and nonmanagerial employees the right to make important decisions about how to use organizational resources is referred to as

A)span of control.
B)centralizing authority.
C)minimum chain of command.
D)decentralizing authority.
E)maximum chain of command.