Question 1

Departmentalization is a method of organizing work and workers into separate units responsible for particular business functions or areas of expertise.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

In a decentralized organization, decision-making power is distributed among workers, often giving more authority to those closest to the problems they are trying to solve. This allows for quicker and more efficient problem-solving, as decisions can be made and implemented without needing approval from higher-ups.

Question 3

Job enlargement and job enrichment mean essentially the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement involves increasing the number of tasks and activities involved in a job, while job enrichment involves increasing the level of responsibility, autonomy, and decision-making authority given to an employee. They are similar concepts but involve different aspects of job design.

Question 4

The term task description refers to the number, kind, and variety of tasks that individual workers perform in doing their jobs.

Accepted Answer

A task description typically outlines the specific duties and responsibilities associated with a particular job, rather than focusing on the number, kind, and variety of tasks.

Question 5

Specialized jobs are generally inefficient.

Accepted Answer

Specialized jobs allow individuals to focus on specific tasks, which can lead to increased efficiency and productivity.

Question 6

Cross-department coordination tends to be very easy in organizations with functional departmentalization.

Accepted Answer

Cross-department coordination tends to be more difficult in organizations with functional departmentalization because each department focuses on its own specific task or function and may not have a clear understanding of what the other departments are doing. This can lead to communication breakdowns and lack of cooperation between departments.

Question 7

The coordination of departmental activities tends to be more difficult with the geographic approach to departmentalization than with the other approaches.

Accepted Answer

This is because departments are separated by physical distance and may not always be able to communicate effectively. This can lead to delays or miscommunication in the coordination of activities.

Question 8

In matrix departmentalization, as in other forms of departmentalization, most employees report to a single boss.

Accepted Answer

In matrix departmentalization, employees report to both a functional manager and a project or product manager. They have dual reporting relationships.

Question 9

Product departmentalization organizes work and workers into separate units responsible for particular kinds of customers.

Accepted Answer

Product departmentalization organizes work and workers into separate units responsible for particular products or product lines, not customers.

Question 10

Functional departmentalization organizes work and workers into separate units responsible for particular business functions or areas of expertise.

Accepted Answer

Functional departmentalization is a common form of organizational structure where employees are grouped based on their specific areas of expertise or business functions, such as sales, marketing, finance, HR, etc.

Question 11

The two disadvantages associated with product departmentalization are costly duplication and difficulties with cross-departmental coordination.

Accepted Answer

Product departmentalization involves creating separate departments based on different product lines. This can result in duplication of resources and efforts, as each department may require its own specialized personnel, equipment, and facilities. Additionally, coordinating between departments may be challenging, as there may be differences in objectives, communication styles, and work processes.

Question 12

The most common matrix combines customer and functional forms of departmentalization.

Accepted Answer

The most common matrix combines product and functional forms of departmentalization, not customer and functional forms.

Question 13

In spite of their disadvantages, companies continue to create and use specialized jobs because they are very economical.

Accepted Answer

Specialized jobs allow companies to divide tasks efficiently and assign specific roles to employees, which can increase productivity and streamline processes. This can ultimately save the company time and money, making specialized jobs an economical option.

Question 14

An organic organization is characterized by broadly defined jobs and responsibility; loosely defined, frequently changing roles; and decentralized authority and horizontal communication based on task knowledge.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the characteristics of an organic organization, which is opposite to a more traditional or mechanistic organization that has more rigid job roles, clearly defined hierarchies, and centralized decision-making.

Question 15

One of the reasons that matrix organizations are difficult to manage is that the organizational structure violates the principle of delegation of authority.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the reasons that matrix organizations...

Question 16

Specialized jobs are characterized by simple, easy-to-learn steps; low variety; and high repetition.

Accepted Answer

Specialized jobs are designed to be highly focused on a specific set of tasks, making the steps simple and easy to learn. This specialization leads to low variety in the tasks performed and high repetition of those tasks, as workers repeatedly perform the same functions.

Question 17

Under product departmentalization, it is easier for top managers to assess work-unit performance.

Accepted Answer

Under product departmentalization, work-units are organized around specific products, which makes it easier for top managers to assess their performance based on the success or profitability of those products.

Question 18

While organizational structure emphasizes the activities through which work is done in the organization, organizational process emphasizes jobs and their authority relationships.

Accepted Answer

While organizational structure does emphasize the activities through which work is done, organizational process focuses on the specific procedures and steps involved in completing tasks, rather than jobs and their authority relationships.

Question 19

Organizational structure is the description of the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments, authority, and jobs within a company.

Accepted Answer

Organizational structure is indeed the description of the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments, authority, and jobs within a company.

Question 20

Matrix departmentalization is a hybrid structure in which two or more forms of departmentalization, such as the product and functional forms are used together.

Accepted Answer

Matrix departmentalization involves combining two or more forms of departmentalization, such as product and functional structures.

Quiz 9: Designing Adaptive Organizations