Question 1

Rob is a middle manager who spends much of his time devising ways to implement the ideas of top management.Max Weber would have considered Rob a bureaucrat.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy emphasizes the importance of hierarchical authority, specialized roles, and adherence to rules and procedures. Middle managers like Rob play a critical role in implementing top management's directives and maintaining the smooth operation of the bureaucratic organization. Therefore, Weber would consider Rob a bureaucrat.

Question 2

Bryce is a manager at a car seat manufacturing company.He believes that it is very important and less confusing if each worker has only one boss.Bryce's view is consistent with Fayol's unity of command principle.

Accepted Answer

Fayol's unity of command principle states that each employee should have only one boss to avoid confusion and conflicting orders. Bryce's view aligns with this principle.

Question 3

The more standardized the work,the wider the span of control.

Accepted Answer

The more standardized the work, the more routine and predictable it becomes, which means that employees require less supervision and oversight, allowing for a wider span of control.

Question 4

An advantage of decentralized authority is that those individuals closest to the customers and more familiar with local conditions make decisions.

Accepted Answer

This is a key advantage of decentralized authority, as it allows for more flexibility and better decision-making at the local level.

Question 5

Ping believes all workers should receive the same wage rate regardless of their position within a company.Ping's views on wages illustrate Fayol's principle of equity.

Accepted Answer

Ping's views contradicts with Fayol's principle of equity, which states that employees should receive fair and equal treatment, but their wages should be based on their position, responsibilities, and contribution to the company.

Question 6

The optimum number of subordinates a manager should supervise is referred to as the span of control.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The span of control refers to the ideal number of employees that a manager can effectively supervise, communicate with, and manage the work of. This can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the work and the level of experience and skill of the manager. It is important for managers to have an appropriate span of control in order to ensure effective management and avoid being overwhelmed with too many subordinates.

Question 7

Kate holds a middle management position with a large corporation.She prefers to involve her subordinates in decision-making.She also favors allowing workers a fair amount of flexibility in how they do their jobs.Kitty's approach to management exemplifies the principles first popularized by Max Weber.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber is known for his theory of bureaucracy, which emphasizes a structured, hierarchical approach to management with strict rules and procedures, not the participative and flexible style described in the scenario.

Question 8

Soprano Industries follows a chain of command with authority moving from the top of the hierarchy down to lower-level managers.The company is organized by department with established rules and regulations that everyone is expected to follow.All of these characteristics suggest that Soprano is an example of a bureaucratic organization.

Accepted Answer

The features mentioned in the statement are characteristic of a bureaucratic organization.

Question 9

The degree to which an organization allows lower level managers to make decisions determines the degree of decentralization.

Accepted Answer

Decentralization refers to the extent to which decision-making authority is distributed throughout the organization. The more decentralized an organization is, the more decision-making power is given to lower-level managers and employees. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 10

Centralized authority provides for the delegation of authority to employees who are then better able to respond to customers' needs.

Accepted Answer

Centralized authority concentrates decision-making power at the top level, limiting the delegation of authority to lower-level employees and potentially slowing response to customers' needs.

Question 11

A weakened corporate image is one of the disadvantages of a decentralized business organization.

Accepted Answer

In a decentralized organization, decision-making and operations are spread out among different units or departments. While this can increase flexibility and responsiveness, it can also make it harder to maintain a consistent brand image and message, leading to a weakened corporate image.

Question 12

Most businesses adopt a bureaucratic organization in order to speed up their decision making process.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic organizations are known for their strict rules and procedures, which can actually slow down the decision-making process instead of speeding it up. Bureaucracy is typically used to enforce consistency and predictability in operations, but it may not be the most efficient approach for decision making.

Question 13

As a new employee in a bureaucratic organization,Nancy can expect a great deal of independence and authority.

Accepted Answer

As a new employee in a bureaucratic organization, Nancy can expect little to no independence and authority due to the hierarchical structure and strict policies and procedures.

Question 14

Span of control refers to the number of different markets a business can serve efficiently.

Accepted Answer

Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise. It does not relate to the number of markets a business can serve efficiently, which is determined by factors such as resources, capabilities, and competition.

Question 15

In firms with centralized authority,each business unit is treated as if it is a completely separate and independent organization.

Accepted Answer

In firms with centralized authority, decision making and control is concentrated at the top level of management, and business units are not treated as independent organizations. Instead, they are viewed as part of a larger company and are expected to follow the overall strategic direction set by top management.

Question 16

Sam supervised a group of people in a very large organization.The refrigerator in the lunchroom stopped functioning.Although he started the paperwork on the day it died,the refrigerator request went out for bid;two middle managers needed to approve it;and,the purchasing director had final approval.The refrigerator arrived six months later.Max Weber would have approved of the detail and documentation Sam's company accumulated to back-up the purchase.

Accepted Answer

The description of the process and documentation involved in the refrigerator purchase suggests that the company values bureaucratic procedures, which aligns with Max Weber's ideas about bureaucracy.

Question 17

At Dilly-Dally Sportswear Store a manager needs to be called to the front of the store and sign-off on every return that a cashier performs.The CEO continues this policy because he wants every manager to "look those customers right in the eye" and "stake their job on taking those items back." Clearly,Dilly-Daly empowers its employees to make decisions at their jobs.

Accepted Answer

The policy described does not empower employees, as it requires managerial approval for returns, limiting the decision-making ability of cashiers.

Question 18

In today's business environment,the trend is to decrease the span of control.

Accepted Answer

The trend in today's business environment is towards increasing the span of control, facilitated by advancements in technology and communication tools that allow managers to effectively oversee more employees.

Question 19

Antonio works in the accounting department of a large firm.This is an example of Fayol's division of labor concept.

Accepted Answer

Fayol's division of labor concept suggests that work should be divided and specialized among employees to increase efficiency and productivity. Antonio working specifically in the accounting department exemplifies this concept.

Question 20

As a result of rapidly changing markets and global differences in consumer tastes,more firms are considering centralized authority.

Accepted Answer

Due to rapidly changing markets and global differences in consumer tastes, more firms are considering decentralized authority to allow for faster decision-making and adaptations to local preferences.

Quiz 8: Structuring Organizations for Todays Challenges