Question 1

When each employee performs only a small part of a total task, identifying the employees individual contribution to the task becomes easy.

Accepted Answer

When each employee performs only a small part of a total task, it often makes it more difficult to identify an individual's contribution because their work is deeply integrated into the larger process, making individual contributions less distinct.

Question 2

A flat organization has fewer managers and hierarchical levels than a tall organization.

Accepted Answer

A flat organization is characterized by fewer levels of management and less formal communication channels, resulting in a wider span of control for managers and more autonomy for employees. In contrast, a tall organization has several layers of management, with each layer having a narrow span of control over the layer below it.

Question 3

Managers of a flat organization possess relatively less authority and responsibility than those of a tall organization.

Accepted Answer

In a flat organization, managers typically have more authority and responsibility due to fewer hierarchical levels, leading to broader spans of control.

Question 4

As the number of levels in the hierarchy increases, the relative difference in the authority possessed by managers at each level decreases.

Accepted Answer

This is because as the levels increase, the scope of responsibilities and decision-making also narrows down, resulting in less variance in the authority held by managers at each level.

Question 5

As the number of levels in its managerial hierarchy increases, it becomes difficult for the organization to control its members.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As the number of levels in its...

Question 6

If tasks are routine and similar so that all subordinates perform the same task, then the span of control should be small.

Accepted Answer

When tasks are routine and similar, it allows for a larger span of control because less direct supervision is required, and subordinates can perform their tasks more autonomously.

Question 7

The greater the number of hierarchical levels in an organization, the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Accepted Answer

The greater the number of hierarchical levels in an organization, the higher the bureaucratic costs. Each level adds administrative expenses and slows decision-making processes. This is known as organizational hierarchy or vertical complexity.

Question 8

An organization in which the hierarchy has many levels relative to the size of the organization is known as an organic organization.

Accepted Answer

An organization in which the hierarchy has many levels relative to the size of the organization is known as a mechanistic organization. Organic organizations have fewer hierarchical levels and more decentralized decision-making.

Question 9

Horizontal differentiation leads to the emergence of specialized subunits-functions or divisions.

Accepted Answer

Horizontal differentiation refers to the creation of specialized subunits or divisions within an organization, which allows for greater efficiency and expertise in specific functions.

Question 10

Research suggests that the increase in the size of the managerial component in an organization is less than proportional to the increase in size of the organization as it grows.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as "economies of scale" and is supported by research. As organizations grow, the increase in efficiency and specialization allows for a smaller proportion of managers compared to the overall size of the organization.

Question 11

The greater the number of managers the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Accepted Answer

The opposite is true - the greater the number of managers, the higher the bureaucratic costs as there are more layers of management and increased communication and coordination is required.

Question 12

A tall organization has fewer managers to direct and control employees activities than a flat organization with the same number of employees.

Accepted Answer

A tall organization has more levels of hierarchy and thus more managers to direct and control employees' activities, compared to a flat organization which has fewer levels of hierarchy and thus fewer managers.

Question 13

A manager's span of control includes subordinates he or she supervises directly and subordinates that he or she supervises indirectly (by supervising their direct boss).

Accepted Answer

A manager's span of control typically refers only to the number of subordinates they directly supervise, not those supervised indirectly through other managers.

Question 14

When subordinates tasks are complex and dissimilar, a manager's span of control needs to be wide.

Accepted Answer

When subordinates tasks are complex and dissimilar, a manager's span of control needs to be narrow to ensure closer supervision and effective coordination.

Question 15

An organization with a tall structure will also experience fewer communication, motivation, and cost problems than a flat organization.

Accepted Answer

A tall organization structure can lead to communication and motivation problems due to the many layers of management, as well as potentially higher costs due to the need for more management positions. A flat organization structure, on the other hand, can facilitate communication and motivation, as well as potentially lower costs due to fewer management positions.

Question 16

Parkinson's law states that "Work expands so as to fill the time available."

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's law is a well-known adage and it means that the amount of time taken to complete a task will expand to fill the available time for it.

Question 17

If the span of control of each manager increases as the number of employee's increases, then the number of managers or hierarchical levels does not increase in proportion to increases in the number of employees.

Accepted Answer

As the span of control of each manager increases, they are able to manage more employees effectively, reducing the need for additional managers or hierarchical levels.

Question 18

According to the principle of minimum chain of command, an organization should choose the minimum number of hierarchical levels consistent with its goals and the environment in which it operates.

Accepted Answer

The principle of minimum chain of command states that an organization should aim for the minimum number of hierarchical levels required to achieve its goals and operate efficiently within its environment. This helps to reduce bureaucracy, minimize delays in decision-making, and increase responsiveness to changes in the external environment. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 19

The shape of an organization, depicted by its organizational chart, determines how effectively the organization's decision-making and communication systems work.

Accepted Answer

The organizational chart reflects the structure and hierarchy of the organization, which can impact decision-making and communication channels within the organization. A well-designed organizational chart can lead to more efficient and effective communication and decision-making, while a poorly designed chart can hinder these processes.

Question 20

Most organizations have a pyramid-like structure with fewer and fewer managers at each level up in the hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

This is a common structure for organizations, known as a hierarchical or traditional organizational structure.

Quiz 5: Designing Organizational Structure: Authority and Control