Deck 8: Organizing IT

Question 1

A major benefit of a vertical functional stovepipe is that it facilitates communication between
the different functional units.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A major benefit of the centralized IT structure is that it is responsive to individual business unit needs.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A major benefit of the horizontal process tunnel is priorities are base don the needs of products and processes reaching markets, rather than having priorities set by individual functions.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Scientific management has proven that there is one best way to manage an organization.

Question 5

Which one of the following is the organizational theory that emphasizes the culture that exists in an organization?

A) Institutional
B) Modern structural
C) Power and politics
D) Human relations

Question 6

Which one of the following is the organizational theory that emphasizes that the key elements of success in organizing are flexibility, responsiveness, individual and group empowerment, and customer service?

A) Systems
B) Modern structural
C) Classical
D) Human relations

Question 7

Horizontal process tunnels are generally found in decentralized organizations and describe those units of the firm that have been created to focus on a particular business area in an independent fashion.

Question 8

The use of a temporary team to address an emergency is often referred to as a SWOT analysis.

Question 9

Flexible, informal structures set up to deal with new complex technology best describes:

A) adhocracy.
B) skunk works.
C) long-linked technology.
D) sequential interdependence.

Question 10

The vertical functional stovepipe is generally found in a decentralized organization.

Question 11

The adhocracy organization type is predominantly composed of permanent project-oriented work groups.

Question 12

A major benefit of the federated IT structure is that it enables both economies of scale and responsiveness to individual business needs.

Question 13

The matrix organization type typically has workers in cross-functional teams with two bosses.

Question 14

A centralized IT organization presents the best structure for enhancing strategic alignment by clarifying the relationship between IT organizations and their corresponding line organizations.

Question 15

A basic organization that is hierarchical in nature is best described as:

A) professional bureaucracy.
B) simple structure.
C) divisional form.
D) adhocracy.

Question 16

Which one of the following is the organizational theory that emphasizes the motivation and involvement of the employee?

A) Classical
B) Modern structural
C) Power and politics
D) Human relations

Question 17

In a machine bureaucracy organizational structure, the IT department is typically a centralized function.

Question 18

A major drawback of the matrix organization type is that the employees report to only one boss.

Question 19

A major drawback of the federated organization structure is the redundancy that occurs due to the duplication of infrastructure.

Question 20

The adhocracy structure is characterized by a division of labor, hierarchical decision-making, a high degree of formal procedures and regulations, and impersonal relationships.

Question 21

_________________refers to a small, flexible, informal, and independent group set up to deal with new complex technology.

Question 22

Which of the following organization types is most likely to engage in outsourcing?

A) Horizontal process tunnel
B) Matrix
C) Adhocracy
D) Federated

Question 23

Which of the following is considered to give the most latitude to subordinates?

A) Flattened organization
B) Hierarchical organization
C) Virtual organization
D) Network organization

Question 24

Which one of the following is the organizational infrastructure type that is most likely to be used by a family business or single proprietary business?

A) Simple structure
B) Machine bureaucracy
C) Professional bureaucracy
D) Divisional form

Question 25

Each of the following is considered a drawback of a centralized IT organization except:

A) standards are more difficult to maintain.
B) unresponsive to individual business unit needs.
C) lack of functional experts.
D) IT staff are technical specialists and business generalists.

Question 26

Which one of the following is the organizational infrastructure type that is most likely to be used by a doctors, lawyers, or accountants?

A) Simple structure
B) Machine bureaucracy
C) Professional bureaucracy
D) Divisional form

Question 27

The organizational infrastructure type that is most likely to be found in a family business or a single proprietary business describes a _________________

Question 28

Each of the following is considered a benefit of horizontal process tunnels except:

A) communication is increased dramatically because multiple groups work as a team.
B) sharing of information and knowledge across functions is widely available.
C) there is great opportunity for staff to be knowledgeable about multiple aspects of the product and process.
D) priorities are set by individual functions rather than by the needs of products and processes reaching markets.

Question 29

An_________________ is defined as an organizational infrastructure that has banded together for a special purpose, and upon completion of this purpose, the group can be disbanded, or placed in reserve, until another special purpose or project is identified.

Question 30

Which one of the following organizational types is most likely to have an employee reporting to two bosses at the same time?

A) Horizontal process tunnel
B) Federated
C) Vertical functional stovepipe
D) Matrix

Question 31

The organizational infrastructure type used predominantly by doctors, lawyers, or
accountants is a _________________.

Question 32

The_________________ organization type typically has workers in cross-functional teams with two bosses.

Question 33

The _________________structure is characterized by a division of labor, hierarchical decision-making, a high degree of formal procedures and regulations, and impersonal relationships.

Question 34

Each of the following is considered a benefit of a centralized organizational structure except:

A) expertise is shared among all organizations within the firm.
B) there is increased communication between business units.
C) there are clear career paths and training programs.
D) there is back up because of the redundancy of skills within the work unit.

Question 35

The organizational infrastructure type that leverages mechanization of operations and manufacturing to increase the complexity of producing, assembling, and distributing best describes a_________________

Question 36

_________________is considered the father of the school of classical organization theory and is the author of Principles of Scientific Management.

Question 37

Which one of the following organizational types best describes the divisional form of infrastructure having business units such as IT, marketing, finance, and human resources?

A) Horizontal process tunnel
B) Federated
C) Vertical functional stovepipe
D) Matrix

Question 38

The_________________ organization type allows the most latitude to subordinates.

Question 39

Which of the following organizations best represents a virtual organization?

A) ADP
B) Calyx & Corolla
C) Federal Express
D) DoubleClick

Question 40

_________________refers to the culture that exists in an organization and that it is comprised of many intangibles such as values, beliefs, assumptions, perception, and patterns of behavior.

Question 41

Discuss the differences between a machine bureaucracy and the divisional form.

Question 42

The_________________ organizational structure uses as its model the U.S. government.

Question 43

Describe how the federal IT model captures the benefits of both the centralized IT model and the decentralized IT model.

Question 44

_________________best describe the actual, physical ordering of a company's units and people.

Question 45

A_________________ is generally found in a centralized organization and often
describes the divisional form of infrastructure that has been common in many large firms.

Question 46

Describe three ways that an organization's IT function can be structured. Give some benefits and drawbacks of each the three structures.

Question 47

Briefly discuss an example of how information technology has made it possible for virtual organizations to exist.

Question 48

The_________________ IT organization has individual business areas that own, fund, and determine the priorities of their own IT departments.

Question 49

The fundamental nature of the_________________ IT organization places the top IT executive as the ultimate gatekeeper of the entire IT organization.

Question 50

Define the adhocracy organizational infrastructure type and explain why it has become so popular in organizations.