Question 1

A committee was organized at Xerox to study the company's hiring, promotion, and compensation policies. The group will review corporate procedures in these areas for the next six months and disband thereafter. This type of committee is referred to as a(n)
A) standing committee.
B) task force.
C) ad hoc committee.
D) integrative team.
E) liaison committee.

Accepted Answer

An ad hoc committee is formed for a specific purpose or task and is disbanded after the task is completed, which fits the description of the committee organized at Xerox. Standing committees, on the other hand, are permanent and ongoing, while task forces and integrative teams are also formed for specific purposes but may have a longer lifespan than an ad hoc committee. A liaison committee is a group that facilitates communication and coordination between different departments or organizations.

Question 2

Through informal talks with employees, managers realized employees thought their plant would close, resulting in massive layoffs. A few were already seeking other employment. The managers responded promptly and aggressively to this rumor, assuring employees of the health of the corporation and the reasonable security of their jobs. Your managerial know-how tells you that these managers are attempting to
A) ignore inaccurate information because they know the truth eventually will become known.
B) respond to inaccurate grapevine information to minimize the damage such misinformation might cause.
C) eliminate the grapevine.
D) use the grapevine as a managerial tool.
E) reduce the credibility of information from the grapevine.

Accepted Answer

The managers are responding to inaccurate grapevine information to minimize the damage such misinformation might cause. They are addressing the rumors and providing reassurance to the employees to prevent them from leaving and to maintain productivity.

Question 3

A relatively permanent committee charged with performing some recurring task is called a(n)
A) cluster structure.
B) ad hoc committee.
C) informal group.
D) task force.
E) standing committee.

Accepted Answer

A relatively permanent committee charged with performing some recurring task is called a standing committee.

Question 4

A(n) ____ has been appointed to investigate the pending merger of your company and the Tandy Corporation.
A) standing committee
B) task force
C) standing force
D) ad hoc committee
E) grievance committee

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ____ has been appointed to investigate...

Question 5

An informal communications network is known as a
A) memo.
B) company newspaper.
C) chain of command.
D) grapevine.
E) bulletin board.

Accepted Answer

An informal communications network is commonly known as a grapevine. It is an unofficial and informal communication channel that exists in an organization, and it works without any formal structure or management control.

Question 6

Carl Smith overheard that Joe Dunn was blowing the whistle on managers at XYZ Company and that a full story would appear in Sunday's paper. Carl quickly alerted the managers, who were able to stop the newspaper from printing the article. This is an example of managers'
A) ignoring the grapevine.
B) involving the grapevine as a useless communication network.
C) trying to eliminate the grapevine.
D) using the grapevine as a managerial tool.
E) reducing the credibility of information from the grapevine.

Accepted Answer

This scenario shows managers using the grapevine as a tool to obtain information and prevent negative consequences for the organization. Carl Smith was able to use the grapevine to alert managers of the impending story, allowing them to take action and prevent its publication. This demonstrates that the grapevine can be a useful tool for managers to gather information and respond to potential threats or opportunities.

Question 7

All large firms maintain complete and detailed organization charts because it is important to maintain a clear line of authority.

Accepted Answer

Not all large firms maintain complete and detailed organization charts as some may prioritize flexibility and adaptability over strict hierarchical structures, especially in rapidly changing industries.

Question 8

A committee created to investigate a major problem or pending decision is called a(n)
A) ad hoc committee.
B) standing committee.
C) task force.
D) work team.
E) venture committee.

Accepted Answer

A task force is a temporary group created to address a specific problem or decision, often involving investigation and recommendations.

Question 9

When you encounter an organization where employees are quite intense, focused, and determined to win, you have encountered an organization is a(n) ___ culture.
A) fragmented
B) networked
C) informal
D) mercenary
E) communal

Accepted Answer

The description of employees who are intense, focused, and determined to win corresponds with a mercenary culture, which is characterized by a highly competitive, individualistic, and results-oriented approach.

Question 10

The employees at the Ford production facility in Michigan work on an assembly line where each employee performs a specific task. This method of assembly-line production is a good example of job specialization.

Accepted Answer

Job specialization refers to breaking down a job into small, separate tasks that can be performed repeatedly by the same worker. This is exactly what happens in an assembly line where each worker has a specific task to perform repeatedly, and this leads to higher efficiency and productivity.

Question 11

Executives from several departments at Ford Motor Company were brought together more than a decade ago to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring Jaguar. This type of committee is known as a(n)
A) task force.
B) standing committee.
C) liaison committee.
D) ad hoc committee.
E) matrix team.

Accepted Answer

A task force is a temporary group of people formed to carry out a specific mission or project, or to solve a problem that requires a multi-disciplinary approach, such as the acquisition of Jaguar by Ford.

Question 12

A group of managers from various departments is in charge of evaluating the performance of the staff employees every year. This is a(n)
A) ad hoc committee.
B) permanent committee.
C) task force.
D) standing committee.
E) organizational review committee.

Accepted Answer

A standing committee is a permanent committee that stays in place for an extended period to handle recurring tasks. In this case, the group of managers responsible for evaluating employee performance every year is an example of a standing committee.

Question 13

Job specialization is the separation of all organizational activities into distinct tasks and the assignment of different tasks to different people.

Accepted Answer

Job specialization is the process of dividing complex jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks and assigning them to employees with specific skills or expertise. This results in each employee being responsible for a specific task and increasing overall efficiency and productivity.

Question 14

Each rectangle in an organization chart represents a relationship within the organization.

Accepted Answer

Each rectangle in an organization chart typically represents a position, department, or entity within the organization, not a relationship. Relationships are usually indicated by lines connecting these rectangles.

Question 15

Angered by the informal discussions among employees, a supervisor has posted rules against rumors, gossip, and discussions about the company's financial situation as well as other company matters. Your managerial know-how tells you that this supervisor is
A) trying to support employees' First Amendment rights.
B) trying to eliminate inaccurate information.
C) making a big mistake by trying to eliminate the grapevine.
D) recognizing the need for a grapevine.
E) attempting to use the grapevine as a managerial tool.

Accepted Answer

The supervisor's attempt to eliminate the grapevine is a mistake because it is impossible to completely stop employees from discussing company matters informally. These discussions are a natural part of human communication and can provide valuable information to management. Additionally, attempting to suppress the grapevine can create a culture of fear and mistrust among employees. A better approach would be to try to guide and influence the grapevine to ensure that accurate information is being shared.

Question 16

___ culture is represented by friendship, commitment, and high focus on performance.
A) Corporate
B) Mercenary
C) Networked
D) Fragmented
E) Communal

Accepted Answer

The description of friendship, commitment, and high focus on performance aligns with communal culture, which emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, and belongingness.

Question 17

A committee created for a specific short-term purpose is called a(n)
A) task force.
B) standing committee.
C) ad hoc committee.
D) informal group.
E) organic structure.

Accepted Answer

An ad hoc committee is created for a specific short-term purpose.

Question 18

Personal rather than formal relationships among employees are known as the
A) span of management.
B) chain of command.
C) informal organization.
D) bureaucratic structure.
E) grapevine.

Accepted Answer

Personal rather than formal relationships among employees are part of the informal organization. The informal organization is the network of personal and social relationships that arise spontaneously as people associate with one another. It is not formally planned but can have a significant impact on how work gets done and how employees feel about their jobs. The other options are not relevant to this concept.

Question 19

Committees and task forces represent ____ groups within an organization, whereas employee bowling teams and gatherings represent ____ groups.
A) staff; line
B) formal; informal
C) staff; staff
D) informal; formal
E) line; staff

Accepted Answer

Committees and task forces are examples of formal groups created by the organization to accomplish specific goals, while employee bowling teams and gatherings are examples of informal groups that form naturally among employees based on common interests or social interactions.

Question 20

An organization is a group of two or more people working together to achieve common goals.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of an organization.

Quiz 7: Creating a Flexible Organization

A committee was organized at Xerox to study the company's hiring, promotion, and compensation policies. The group will review corporate procedures in these areas for the next six months and disband thereafter. This type of committee is referred to as a(n)

A relatively permanent committee charged with performing some recurring task is called a(n)

A(n) ____ has been appointed to investigate the pending merger of your company and the Tandy Corporation.

An informal communications network is known as a

Carl Smith overheard that Joe Dunn was blowing the whistle on managers at XYZ Company and that a full story would appear in Sunday's paper. Carl quickly alerted the managers, who were able to stop the newspaper from printing the article. This is an example of managers'

All large firms maintain complete and detailed organization charts because it is important to maintain a clear line of authority.

A committee created to investigate a major problem or pending decision is called a(n)

When you encounter an organization where employees are quite intense, focused, and determined to win, you have encountered an organization is a(n) ___ culture.

The employees at the Ford production facility in Michigan work on an assembly line where each employee performs a specific task. This method of assembly-line production is a good example of job specialization.

Executives from several departments at Ford Motor Company were brought together more than a decade ago to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring Jaguar. This type of committee is known as a(n)

A group of managers from various departments is in charge of evaluating the performance of the staff employees every year. This is a(n)

Job specialization is the separation of all organizational activities into distinct tasks and the assignment of different tasks to different people.

Each rectangle in an organization chart represents a relationship within the organization.

Angered by the informal discussions among employees, a supervisor has posted rules against rumors, gossip, and discussions about the company's financial situation as well as other company matters. Your managerial know-how tells you that this supervisor is

___ culture is represented by friendship, commitment, and high focus on performance.

A committee created for a specific short-term purpose is called a(n)

Personal rather than formal relationships among employees are known as the

Committees and task forces represent groups within an organization, whereas employee bowling teams and gatherings represent groups.

An organization is a group of two or more people working together to achieve common goals.