Question 1

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'

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 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

An informal communications network within an organization is known as a _____.

Accepted Answer

The grapevine refers to the informal network of communication that exists within an organization. It is characterized by rumors, gossip, and other informal means of exchanging information between employees. It often exists in parallel with the formal communication channels established by the company (such as memos or the chain of command) but can sometimes carry information that is not transmitted through these channels.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A standing committee is a permanent committee that is responsible for ongoing tasks such as annual performance evaluations. The other choices, ad hoc committee, task force, and organizational review committee, are temporary committees established for specific projects or purposes.

Question 5

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 6

An automatic window motor manufacturer is negotiating a complicated contract with Daimler Chrysler.The motor manufacturer appoints Richard to coordinate the activities for this process.Richard's role is a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

Richard's role as appointed by the automatic window motor manufacturer is to coordinate the activities for the process with Daimler Chrysler, which suggests that Richard's role is that of a liaison. A mediator is an impartial third party who assists in negotiations for a resolution, an arbitrator delivers a final decision in a conflict, an intrapreneur is an employee in a company who takes entrepreneurial initiatives, and a task enforcer is typically responsible for ensuring that tasks are completed within a specific timeframe.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The managers are responding to inaccurate grapevine information to minimize the damage such misinformation might cause. By assuring employees of the health of the corporation and the reasonable security of their jobs, the managers are trying to prevent employees from leaving for other employment and causing a potential loss of manpower.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The supervisor is making a big mistake by trying to eliminate the grapevine. The grapevine is an informal communication network and is a natural and inevitable phenomenon that exists in any organization. Trying to eliminate it can cause more harm than good as it can lead to resentment among employees and may not be successful in stopping the spread of rumors and gossip. A better approach would be to manage and regulate the grapevine rather than trying to eliminate it entirely.

Question 9

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 involves dividing organizational activities into separate tasks and assigning them to specific individuals, leading to greater efficiency and productivity.

Question 10

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 11

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

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 12

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

Accepted Answer

A task force is typically assembled to investigate a major problem or pending decision. An ad hoc committee is also a possibility, but task forces are more commonly used for this purpose. Standing committees are ongoing committees in a particular area of responsibility, work teams are groups assembled for a specific project, and venture committees are not a commonly recognized term in the context of committee types.

Question 13

Personal rather than formal relationships among employees are associated with _____.

Accepted Answer

Personal rather than formal relationships among employees are associated with informal organization. The informal organization is the network of personal and social relationships that arise spontaneously as people associate with one another. It is typically based on personal relationships and is independent of the formal organization's structure.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

An ad hoc committee is created for a specific short-term purpose or project, such as conducting an investigation or developing a new policy. A task force may also be used to describe a temporary committee created to deal with a specific issue or problem, but ad hoc committee is the most specific term for this type of short-term committee. A standing committee is a more permanent committee established to handle ongoing responsibilities or functions within an organization or government body. An informal group is a group of individuals who come together unofficially, without any formal structure or organization. An organic structure refers to an organizational design that is fluid and flexible, with few formal rules or procedures.

Question 15

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) _____.

Accepted Answer

The committee described in the given scenario is an ad hoc committee, which is formed for a specific purpose and has a limited lifespan.

Question 16

There are six steps involved in the task of organizing a firm's structure.

Accepted Answer

There are generally four main steps involved in organizing a firm's structure: defining roles, grouping roles into departments, establishing a hierarchy, and coordinating activities.

Question 17

An arrangement that provides increasing authority at higher levels of management is known as

Accepted Answer

A managerial hierarchy is the arrangement that provides increasing authority at higher levels of management, with lower-level employees reporting to higher-level managers who make decisions and have more responsibility.

Question 18

Arthur Fry, an employee at 3M, combined an innovative idea and the 3M facilities at his disposal to develop Post-It Notes.Fry is an example of an _____.

Accepted Answer

An intrapreneur is an employee within a company who uses innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills to develop new products or processes, and Arthur Fry is an example of an intrapreneur as he developed Post-It Notes while working at 3M. While he may also be considered an innovator and inventor, the fact that he was working within an established company and using its resources to develop a new product fits the definition of an intrapreneur.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Executives from several departments at Ford Motor...

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A relatively permanent committee charged with performing some recurring task is called a standing committee. The other options do not fit the description given in the question.

Quiz 7: Creating a Flexible Organization