Question 1

The nature of the task and the location of the workers affect the size of a manager's span of control.

Accepted Answer

A manager's span of control refers to the number of subordinates that they are responsible for. The nature of the task and the location of the workers can affect the size of this span of control. For example, if the task is complex and requires more hands-on management, the span of control may be smaller. Similarly, if the workers are spread out over a large geographic area, the manager may have a smaller span of control to ensure effective communication and supervision.

Question 2

The line organization is designed with direct, clear lines of authority and communication flowing from the top managers downward.

Accepted Answer

The line organization is a traditional form of organizational structure where direct, clear lines of authority and communication flow from the top managers downward.

Question 3

Cross-functional teams are made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but different functional areas within the organization.

Accepted Answer

Cross-functional teams are composed of individuals from different departments and functional areas, but they are generally at the same level of the organizational hierarchy.

Question 4

A company that uses departmentalization groups jobs under the authority of one manager for the purposes of planning, coordination, and control.

Accepted Answer

That is correct. Departmentalization is one of the common ways of organizing a company's structure in which jobs are grouped based on common tasks, functions, products or services, customers, or geography, and placed under the supervision of a departmental manager who is responsible for overseeing the work of subordinates, managing resources, achieving goals, and communicating with other departments. This approach helps to promote specialization, efficiency, accountability, and collaboration within and between departments.

Question 5

An example of a staff position would be the job of district sales manager with twenty people working for him or her.

Accepted Answer

A district sales manager with twenty people working for him or her is an example of a line position, as it involves direct responsibility for achieving the organization's goals. Staff positions, in contrast, provide support and advice to line positions.

Question 6

Since the McDonald's shift manager has eight subordinates reporting to him, his span of control is eight.

Accepted Answer

Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager directly oversees, so if a shift manager has eight subordinates reporting to him, his span of control is indeed eight.

Question 7

The informal channels of communication of an organization are often referred to as the grapevine, the rumor mill, or the intelligence network.

Accepted Answer

These terms are commonly used to describe the informal communication networks within an organization, where information is spread not through official channels, but through personal conversations and gossip.

Question 8

The informal organization can help the formal organization to achieve its goals.

Accepted Answer

The informal organization, through its networks of personal and social relationships, can facilitate communication, foster collaboration, and enhance morale, thereby supporting the formal organization in achieving its goals.

Question 9

One of the problems with setting up groups is the strong likelihood for the organization to experience decreased productivity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the problems with setting up...

Question 10

A manager in a centralized organization tends to allow subordinates to assume authority and to make most of the decisions.

Accepted Answer

In a centralized organization, decision-making authority is concentrated in the hands of upper-level management, and subordinates have limited autonomy.

Question 11

Process departmentalization is a grouping of jobs by activity, such as marketing, finance, and production.

Accepted Answer

Process departmentalization involves grouping activities based on work or process flow, such as cutting, assembling, and painting in a manufacturing plant, rather than by traditional functional departments like marketing or finance.

Question 12

Though the informal organization may be a force in an organization, it has no real power; so managers don't need to worry much about it.

Accepted Answer

While the formal organization holds the official power in an organization, the informal organization can still have significant influence on employee behavior and actions. Managers should be aware of and seek to understand the informal organization in order to effectively manage their teams.

Question 13

The matrix structure is a combination of a line and a staff organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The matrix structure is a combination of...

Question 14

When workers in a union elect their officers to represent them, it is an example of division of labor.

Accepted Answer

Division of labor refers to the allocation of different tasks to different people or groups, rather than the election of representatives or officers within a union.

Question 15

The time that an employee spends on a particular job determines his or her specialization of labor.

Accepted Answer

Specialization of labor refers to the degree to which individuals or workers focus on specific tasks or skills in the production process, rather than the amount of time they spend on a job.

Question 16

A company that is centralized has given a great deal of decision-making authority to lower-level managers.

Accepted Answer

In a centralized company, decision-making authority is concentrated at the top levels of management, and lower-level managers have less autonomy to make decisions.

Question 17

A tall organization structure has many managerial levels and a long chain of command.

Accepted Answer

A tall organization structure is characterized by having many levels of management and a long chain of command, which means that the hierarchy from the top to the bottom is extensive, with several layers of management.

Question 18

Organization charts show the formal and informal relationships among people, jobs, and departments.

Accepted Answer

Organization charts primarily show the formal relationships among people, jobs, and departments within an organization, not the informal relationships.

Question 19

Managerial hierarchy refers to the number of subordinates overseen by each supervisor.

Accepted Answer

Managerial hierarchy refers to the levels of management and supervision within an organization, indicating the structure of reporting relationships, not specifically the number of subordinates overseen by each supervisor.

Question 20

The standards used to determine actions acceptable to the group are called norms.

Accepted Answer

Norms are the informal rules that govern behavior in a group, outlining what is considered acceptable or unacceptable within that group's context.

Quiz 7: Designing Organizational Structures