Question 1

An organization chart shows:
A)formal lines of authority and responsibility.
B)the number of people working in an organization.
C)the list of tasks allotted to each person.
D)informal forms of communication among employees of an organization.

Accepted Answer

An organization chart is a diagram that shows the structure of an organization and the relationships and relative ranks of its parts and positions/jobs, highlighting formal lines of authority and responsibility.

Question 2

_____ help individuals understand their roles in an organization, especially in times of crisis.
A)Vertical linkages
B)Horizontal linkages
C)Spatial linkages
D)Departmental linkages

Accepted Answer

Vertical linkages help clarify organizational roles and facilitate communication between different levels of an organization, which is crucial for understanding roles, especially in times of crisis.

Question 3

Which of the following is a form of differentiation?
A)Matrix differentiation
B)Spatial differentiation
C)Circular differentiation
D)Lateral differentiation

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

_____ can be considered the design process of linking tasks together to form an organizational structure that supports goal accomplishment.
A)Standardization
B)Formalization
C)Differentiation
D)Integration

Accepted Answer

Integration is the process of linking tasks and activities to ensure they work together effectively to achieve organizational goals.

Question 5

_____ is the degree of differentiation between organizational subunits and is based on employees' specialized knowledge, education, or training.
A)Horizontal differentiation
B)Spatial differentiation
C)Vertical differentiation
D)Lateral differentiation

Accepted Answer

Horizontal differentiation refers to the degree of differentiation between organizational subunits, which is often based on the specialized knowledge, education, or training of employees within those subunits. This concept emphasizes the division of labor and the specialization within an organization, leading to departments or units that focus on specific functions or tasks.

Question 6

The strongest method of horizontal integration is through:
A)liaison roles.
B)integrators.
C)task forces.
D)teams.

Accepted Answer

Teams are the strongest method of horizontal integration because they involve members from different departments or functional areas working closely together on a regular basis, fostering strong collaboration and integration across the organization.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of a flexible organizational structure?
A)It increases a manager's span of control.
B)It enhances formalization in organizations.
C)It helps to stimulate creativity.
D)It emphasizes close supervision and tighter controls.

Accepted Answer

A flexible organizational structure encourages adaptability and innovation, which can stimulate creativity by allowing employees more freedom and autonomy.

Question 8

In the context of Mintzberg's organizational structures, which of the following statements is true of the simple structure?
A)It emphasizes strong centralization of decision making in the upper echelon.
B)It has a big technical and support staff.
C)It has extensive middle-level management.
D)It involves maximum vertical differentiation of authority.

Accepted Answer

The simple structure in Mintzberg's organizational structures emphasizes strong centralization of decision making, typically in the hands of the top manager or a small management team, allowing for quick decisions and direct supervision.

Question 9

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ is the number of activities within the organization and the amount of differentiation needed within the organization.
A)complexity
B)formalization
C)specialization
D)hierarchy of authority

Accepted Answer

Complexity in organizational structure refers to the degree of diversification in activities and the level of differentiation required to manage those activities. It encompasses the breadth and depth of the organization's operations and the extent to which tasks are divided and specialized.

Question 10

_____ can be described as the design process of breaking organizational goals into tasks.
A)Centralization
B)Specialization
C)Differentiation
D)Integration

Accepted Answer

Differentiation refers to the process of dividing an organization into different units or departments, each responsible for specific tasks, to achieve organizational goals.

Question 11

In the context of horizontal differentiation, _____ refers to the particular grouping of activities performed by an individual.
A)centralization
B)standardization
C)specialization
D)formalization

Accepted Answer

Specialization refers to the division of labor where each individual or group focuses on a specific subset of tasks, leading to a particular grouping of activities performed by an individual. This is a key concept in horizontal differentiation, where tasks are divided among different people or teams based on expertise or function.

Question 12

In the context of Mintzberg's organizational structures, the simple structure achieves coordination through _____.
A)maximum vertical differentiation of authority
B)extensive empowerment of middle-level managers
C)direct supervision by the upper echelon
D)maximum formalization

Accepted Answer

In Mintzberg's framework, the simple structure achieves coordination primarily through direct supervision, where decision-making is centralized in the hands of a single person or a small top management team.

Question 13

Which of the following is true of tall organizational structures?
A)They have wider spans of control than flat organizational structures.
B)They are characterized by closer supervision and tighter controls than flat organizational structures.
C)They have simpler communication chains than flat organizational structures.
D)They have reduced promotion opportunities than flat organizational structures.

Accepted Answer

Tall organizational structures are characterized by more levels of hierarchy, which leads to closer supervision and tighter controls due to the shorter span of control at each level, as opposed to flat organizational structures which have wider spans of control and less direct supervision.

Question 14

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ refers to the extent to which work activities are described and performed routinely in the same way.
A)centralization
B)standardization
C)specialization
D)formalization

Accepted Answer

Standardization refers to the extent to which work activities are described and performed routinely in the same way, ensuring consistency and uniformity in processes and outcomes.

Question 15

An organization that is high in formalization, centralization, specialization, standardization, and complexity and has a tall hierarchy of authority is said to be highly _____.
A)flexible
B)autocratic
C)organic
D)bureaucratic

Accepted Answer

This description matches the characteristics of a bureaucratic organization, which is known for its formalized rules, centralized authority, specialization of labor, standardization of procedures, and a clear, often tall, hierarchy.

Question 16

The geographic dispersion of an organization's offices, plants, and personnel is referred to as:
A)vertical differentiation.
B)horizontal differentiation.
C)lateral differentiation.
D)spatial differentiation.

Accepted Answer

Spatial differentiation refers to the geographic distribution of an organization's facilities and personnel across different locations. This term specifically addresses the aspect of how an organization's operations are spread out geographically, rather than how they are structured or organized internally.

Question 17

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, the extent to which decision-making authority has been delegated to lower levels of an organization is called _____.
A)centralization
B)formalization
C)specialization
D)standardization

Accepted Answer

Centralization refers to the degree to which decision-making authority is concentrated at higher levels in an organization. When decision-making is delegated to lower levels, it is considered decentralized, but the term centralization is used to describe the overall concept of where decision-making authority lies.

Question 18

_____ ensures that all essential organizational tasks are assigned to one or more jobs and that the tasks receive the attention they need.
A)Integration
B)Coordination
C)Differentiation
D)Standardization

Accepted Answer

Differentiation ensures that all essential organizational tasks are assigned to one or more jobs, allowing for specialization and ensuring tasks receive the necessary attention.

Question 19

Which of the following is true of vertical differentiation in organizations?
A)It is greater in flat, wider organizations than in tall, narrow organizations.
B)It decreases with decrease in the span of control.
C)It is the degree of differentiation between organizational subunits and is based on employees' specialized knowledge.
D)It is the difference in authority and responsibility in the organizational hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

Vertical differentiation in organizations refers to the difference in authority and responsibility levels within the organizational hierarchy, distinguishing higher-level positions from lower-level ones in terms of power and decision-making capabilities.

Question 20

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ is the degree to which jobs are narrowly defined and depend on unique expertise.
A)specialization
B)standardization
C)centralization
D)formalization

Accepted Answer

Specialization refers to the extent to which tasks in an organization are divided into separate jobs with each step completed by a different person. This leads to jobs being narrowly defined and often requiring unique expertise, as each position focuses on a specific aspect of the organization's operations.

Quiz 15: Organizational Design and Structure

An organization chart shows:

_____ help individuals understand their roles in an organization, especially in times of crisis.

Which of the following is a form of differentiation?

_____ can be considered the design process of linking tasks together to form an organizational structure that supports goal accomplishment.

_____ is the degree of differentiation between organizational subunits and is based on employees' specialized knowledge, education, or training.

The strongest method of horizontal integration is through:

Which of the following is true of a flexible organizational structure?

In the context of Mintzberg's organizational structures, which of the following statements is true of the simple structure?

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ is the number of activities within the organization and the amount of differentiation needed within the organization.

_____ can be described as the design process of breaking organizational goals into tasks.

In the context of horizontal differentiation, _____ refers to the particular grouping of activities performed by an individual.

In the context of Mintzberg's organizational structures, the simple structure achieves coordination through _____.

Which of the following is true of tall organizational structures?

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ refers to the extent to which work activities are described and performed routinely in the same way.

An organization that is high in formalization, centralization, specialization, standardization, and complexity and has a tall hierarchy of authority is said to be highly _____.

The geographic dispersion of an organization's offices, plants, and personnel is referred to as:

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, the extent to which decision-making authority has been delegated to lower levels of an organization is called _____.

_____ ensures that all essential organizational tasks are assigned to one or more jobs and that the tasks receive the attention they need.

Which of the following is true of vertical differentiation in organizations?

In the context of structural dimensions in organizations, _____ is the degree to which jobs are narrowly defined and depend on unique expertise.