Question 1

Employees in staff positions
A) are part of the direct chain of command.
B) are given total responsibility for the achievement of organizational goals.
C) have more authority than people in line positions.
D) have the same organizational purpose as employees in line positions.
E) None of these choices

Accepted Answer

The answer of Employees in staff positions
A) are part of...

Question 2

At BMW the marketing department helps develop sales forecast for the operations managers, who give availability information to dealerships. When dealerships have a specific order, they send it to operations. What level of interdependence does this example represent?
A) Pooled
B) Mixed
C) Functional
D) Reciprocal
E) Sequential

Accepted Answer

The example represents reciprocal interdependence, as the marketing department, operations managers, and dealerships all rely on each other to complete the sales process. The marketing department provides sales forecasts to operations managers, who in turn provide availability information to dealerships. Dealerships then send specific orders back to operations, creating a reciprocal relationship between all parties involved.

Question 3

With respect to their use as coordinating devices, what is the difference between a task force and an integrating department?
A) Task forces are more temporary.
B) Task forces are used with more complex forms of interdependence.
C) Task forces require the use of more people.
D) Task forces are more permanent.
E) Task forces require fewer people.

Accepted Answer

Task forces are temporary teams that are formed to address specific problems or projects. On the other hand, integrating departments are permanent teams that are designed to coordinate interdependent tasks and functions on an ongoing basis.

Question 4

To write a press release, the communications department at Ford depends on information provided by other departments. The final draft is reviewed by the directors before announcement. What level of interdependence does this represent?
A) Pooled
B) Reciprocal
C) Sequential
D) Hierarchical
E) Functional

Accepted Answer

The answer of To write a press release, the communications...

Question 5

To see a doctor, a person makes an appointment, signs in, fills out paper work, talks to the technician, talks to the doctor, and, if needed, arranges a follow-up visit. What level of interdependence does this example represent?
A) Pooled
B) Mixed
C) Functional
D) Hierarchical
E) Sequential

Accepted Answer

The example represents sequential interdependence, as each step in the process must be completed in order for the next step to occur.

Question 6

The vice president of marketing has ____ to the CEO of a business unit. The vice president of marketing will have to rely on her reputation for excellence to convince the CEO to accept her recommendation.
A) functional authority
B) staff authority
C) compulsory advice
D) line authority
E) advice authority

Accepted Answer

The answer of The vice president of marketing has ____...

Question 7

Jerry is Chief Ethics Officer. He is involved with risk management, stakeholder relationships, whistle-blowing, ethics training, investigations, and preparation of financial statements. Jerry has a(n) ____ position.
A) line
B) integrating
C) hierarchical
D) staff
E) managerial

Accepted Answer

Jerry's position as the Chief Ethics Officer involves supporting and advising the other departments or functions of the organization, rather than directly overseeing the production or delivery of the organization's goods or services. Therefore, his position is best described as staff.

Question 8

Which of the following coordination techniques is appropriate when interdependence is of the complex reciprocal variety?
A) Integrating department
B) Task force
C) Managerial hierarchy
D) Centralization
E) Rules and procedures

Accepted Answer

Task force approach is more appropriate when interdependence is of the complex reciprocal variety. This approach allows for the creation of a temporary team of experts from different departments, who work together to solve a specific problem or complete a project. The temporary nature of the task force allows for flexibility and adaptability to changing interdependence requirements. Integrating department is suitable when interdependence is of the pooled variety, managerial hierarchy works for interdependence of the sequential variety, and centralization works for interdependence of the restricted variety. Rules and procedures are useful for all types of interdependence.

Question 9

When departments or units operate with little interaction, and the profits and losses are simply added together, the units operate with ____ interdependence.
A) pooled
B) mixed
C) functional
D) hierarchical
E) sequential

Accepted Answer

Pooled interdependence refers to a situation in which units operate with little interaction and profits and losses are simply added together. In this type of interdependence, each unit operates independently and no unit is dependent on another. Therefore, the correct choice is A) pooled.

Question 10

____ requires line managers to at least listen to comments and suggestions from staff agencies even if they do not take the advice.
A) Functional authority
B) Staff authority
C) Compulsory advice
D) Line authority
E) Advice authority

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____ requires line managers to at least...

Question 11

Integrating departments
A) are never used for coordination.
B) are more permanent than task forces.
C) have only permanent members.
D) never contain temporary members.
E) are used when pooled or simple sequential interdependence exists.

Accepted Answer

Integrating departments are more permanent than task forces, but they can still be formed for a specific period of time to coordinate efforts between departments. Unlike task forces, integrating departments have permanent members who work together to manage the ongoing interdependence between departments.

Question 12

To decrease their administrative intensity, many organizations are
A) eliminating staff positions.
B) hiring managers who are less intense.
C) decreasing the number of middle managers.
D) increasing job rotation programs.
E) modifying job designs so as to alleviate worker stress.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To decrease their administrative intensity, many organizations...

Question 13

Demetra is head underwriter for Beta Insurance. She supervises the underwriting department and the administrative section that receives applications from the sales force and gathers other information needed. What coordination technique does this represent?
A) Integrating department
B) Task force
C) Managerial hierarchy
D) Centralization
E) Rules and procedures

Accepted Answer

This represents managerial hierarchy, in which Demetra is in charge of supervising the underwriting department and administrative section. This indicates a clear chain of command and reporting structure.

Question 14

Paul supervises a crew engaged in laying a pipeline from Dallas to Ponca City, Oklahoma. The crew is able to lay about a mile of pipe each day. Supplies of pipe are delivered by truck to various points along the pipeline route. When shipments of pipe are delayed, it results in a work stoppage for Paul's crew. What level of interdependence does this represent?
A) Pooled
B) Reciprocal
C) Functional
D) Hierarchical
E) Sequential

Accepted Answer

This scenario represents sequential interdependence because the work process is linear, with each step depending on the completion of the previous one. In this case, the delivery of supplies directly affects the crew's ability to lay the pipeline, indicating a sequence of operations where one step follows another in a specific order.

Question 15

Nora is chief legal counsel for Midco Waste. She has ____.
A) functional authority
B) staff authority
C) compulsory advice
D) line authority
E) advice authority

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nora is chief legal counsel for Midco...

Question 16

Which of the following methods of coordination is MOST appropriate for pooled or simple sequential interdependence?
A) Task forces or integrating departments
B) Managerial hierarchy or liaison roles
C) Task forces or liaison roles
D) Formalized rules or liaison roles
E) Managerial hierarchy or rules and procedures

Accepted Answer

Pooled or simple sequential interdependence involves a low level of interaction and coordination between different units or teams. Therefore, the most appropriate methods of coordination would be through a clear managerial hierarchy or formalized rules and procedures to ensure that the different units or teams are aligned with the overall goals and objectives of the organization. Managerial hierarchy helps to clarify reporting lines and decision-making authority, while rules and procedures provide a standardized approach to work processes and minimize the need for communication and interaction between units.

Question 17

Derda, Inc. manufactures equipment used for professional woodworking. It has one department devoted to producing embossing machines, which are used to create wood moldings and panels. It has another department that produces sanding machines. The departments interact very little on a day-to-day basis, and their only responsibility to each other is to see that they both contribute to Derda's success. There is, however, an engineer assigned to the embosser department who stays in contact with people in the sander department to make sure that each is being treated equitably. As the engineer has no formal role, he is likely playing the coordinating role of
A) integrator.
B) disseminator.
C) monitor.
D) liaison.
E) taskmaster.

Accepted Answer

The engineer assigned to the embosser department is playing the coordinating role of a liaison as he is staying in contact with people in the sander department to make sure that each is being treated equitably. A liaison role involves linking and coordinating activities between different parts of an organization or different organizations.

Question 18

In schools math, English, science and social studies departments operate separately. Student test scores in each area are gathered to evaluate the effectiveness of the school. What level of interdependence does this represent?
A) Pooled
B) Reciprocal
C) Sequential
D) Hierarchical
E) Functional

Accepted Answer

Pooled interdependence is characterized by different departments or units working independently but contributing to the overall performance of the organization, similar to the scenario described.

Question 19

Functional authority is
A) formal authority given to staff.
B) an effective way to use staff positions.
C) related to the expertise of staff.
D) used to help maintain the chain of command.
E) All of these choices

Accepted Answer

The answer of Functional authority is
A) formal authority given to...

Question 20

The activities of a hotel depend on information sharing between reservations, front-desk, housekeeping, and dining. What level of interdependence is this?
A) Pooled
B) Reciprocal
C) Functional
D) Hierarchical
E) Sequential

Accepted Answer

The activities of a hotel involve reciprocal interdependence because each department depends on the others to do their job in order to provide a seamless experience for guests. For example, housekeeping needs to know which rooms are occupied and which are vacant from the front desk, and the dining staff needs to know which guests are allergic to certain foods from reservations.

Quiz 10: Basic Elements of Organizing

Employees in staff positions

At BMW the marketing department helps develop sales forecast for the operations managers, who give availability information to dealerships. When dealerships have a specific order, they send it to operations. What level of interdependence does this example represent?

With respect to their use as coordinating devices, what is the difference between a task force and an integrating department?

To write a press release, the communications department at Ford depends on information provided by other departments. The final draft is reviewed by the directors before announcement. What level of interdependence does this represent?

To see a doctor, a person makes an appointment, signs in, fills out paper work, talks to the technician, talks to the doctor, and, if needed, arranges a follow-up visit. What level of interdependence does this example represent?

The vice president of marketing has ____ to the CEO of a business unit. The vice president of marketing will have to rely on her reputation for excellence to convince the CEO to accept her recommendation.

Jerry is Chief Ethics Officer. He is involved with risk management, stakeholder relationships, whistle-blowing, ethics training, investigations, and preparation of financial statements. Jerry has a(n) ____ position.

Which of the following coordination techniques is appropriate when interdependence is of the complex reciprocal variety?

When departments or units operate with little interaction, and the profits and losses are simply added together, the units operate with ____ interdependence.

____ requires line managers to at least listen to comments and suggestions from staff agencies even if they do not take the advice.

Integrating departments

To decrease their administrative intensity, many organizations are

Demetra is head underwriter for Beta Insurance. She supervises the underwriting department and the administrative section that receives applications from the sales force and gathers other information needed. What coordination technique does this represent?

Nora is chief legal counsel for Midco Waste. She has ____.

Which of the following methods of coordination is MOST appropriate for pooled or simple sequential interdependence?

In schools math, English, science and social studies departments operate separately. Student test scores in each area are gathered to evaluate the effectiveness of the school. What level of interdependence does this represent?

Functional authority is

The activities of a hotel depend on information sharing between reservations, front-desk, housekeeping, and dining. What level of interdependence is this?