Question 1

A building contractor is constructing 35 "track homes" on small adjoining parcels. The crew knows that the many subcontractors must complete their work in a proper order. What is your recommendation regarding the level of coordination required?

Accepted Answer

Sequential interdependence occurs when one group or individual needs to complete their work before the next group or individual can start. In this case, the subcontractors must work in a particular order. Regularly scheduled meetings and planning will help coordinate the work order and ensure that each subcontractor is in sync with the completion dates of the other subcontractors.

Question 2

Chemical plants, oil refineries, liquor producers, pharmaceuticals, and nuclear power plants are examples of _____ production.

Accepted Answer

Continuous-process production involves a continuous flow of raw materials and outputs, and is typically used in industries such as chemical plants, oil refineries, and nuclear power plants. This process allows for high efficiency and consistent quality control.

Question 3

The impact of technology on job design includes:

Accepted Answer

Technology often leads to the automation of routine tasks, which means that workers are expected to take on more complex tasks and require higher-level skills. This can result in the redesign of jobs to better utilize the skills of workers and create more challenging and fulfilling work. A and B are potential impacts of technology on job design, but they do not necessarily apply in all cases. D is not a consistent impact and may vary depending on various factors.

Question 4

Suppose that DiamlerChrysler is considering changing its production operations from an assembly line in which each employee adds one piece as a car chassis goes by to an operation in which several employees work as a team to build the total car, with the team deciding who does what tasks. If DiamlerChrysler implements the change, the interrelationships would change from:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose that DiamlerChrysler is considering changing its...

Question 5

Which of the following is not true regarding mass production and the digital factory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not true...

Question 6

Teaching in a high school and medical services in a health clinic are referred to as an organization's _____ technology.

Accepted Answer

Core technology refers to the primary function or service that an organization provides. In this case, the high school's primary function is teaching and the health clinic's primary function is medical services. Technical technology refers to the tools or equipment used to perform the core technology, craft technology refers to a manual skillset, and reciprocal technology refers to the communication and coordination between different parts of an organization.

Question 7

____ is the highest level of interdependence and exists when the output of operation A is the input to operation B, and the output of operation B is the input back again to operation A.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal interdependence is the highest level of interdependence in which there is a two-way exchange of inputs and outputs between two or more operations. It requires high levels of coordination and communication between the operations involved, making it the most complex form of interdependence. Pooled interdependence involves separate operations working together towards a shared goal, while sequential interdependence involves a serial order of operations, and routine interdependence involves repetitive and predictable tasks.

Question 8

Which of the following means that the job provides greater responsibility, recognition, and opportunities for growth and development?

Accepted Answer

Job enrichment refers to the process of designing a job in a way that provides greater responsibility, recognition, and opportunities for growth and development to employees. This is achieved by adding more challenging and meaningful tasks, giving employees more autonomy and decision-making power, and providing opportunities for learning and development. Job rotation and job design may also provide some opportunities for growth and development, but they do not inherently focus on increasing responsibility and recognition. Job simplification, on the other hand, reduces the complexity of a job and may not provide any opportunities for growth and development.

Question 9

____ is defined as designing the social and technical systems to fit the needs of one another.

Accepted Answer

Joint optimization is the process of designing both social and technical systems to optimize performance, productivity, and human well-being. This involves aligning the needs of both systems so that they complement each other and work together effectively. Job design (A) refers specifically to designing individual jobs to maximize performance and well-being. Coordination (C) and variety (D) are important components of joint optimization, but they do not encompass the full concept.

Question 10

_____ production is a manufacturing process characterized by long production runs of standardized parts. Output often goes into inventory from which orders are filled because customers do not have special needs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ production is a manufacturing process characterized...

Question 11

____ includes the assignment of goals and tasks to be accomplished by employees.

Accepted Answer

Job design refers to the process of organizing and structuring work such that it is effective, efficient, and satisfying for employees. This includes assigning specific goals and tasks to employees based on their skills and abilities. Job rotation involves moving employees between different roles, job coordination involves ensuring that different parts of a project are aligned, and job exchange involves employees swapping roles temporarily.

Question 12

Hermes International produces a Kelly handbag, named for the late actress Grace Kelly. Craftsmen stitch the majority of each $7,000 bag by hand and sign it when they finish. This is an example of _____ production.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the bags are stitched by hand and signed individually suggests that the production process is small-batch, which involves producing goods in limited quantities with a high level of customization and attention to detail.

Question 13

The purpose of the sociotechnical systems approach is to:

Accepted Answer

The sociotechnical systems approach is focused on combining human needs with technical efficiency in job design. It aims to create a work environment that takes into account both the technical and social aspects of work to optimize the performance of the organization and the wellbeing of the workers. Job enlargement, qualified management, and advanced information technology are not the primary focus of this approach.

Question 14

Baseball would be a close analogy for:

Accepted Answer

Baseball is an example of pooled interdependence where team members work independently and their individual contributions are combined to achieve the team's overall performance.

Question 15

Juan works for a college that offers correspondence courses. She works in the mailroom department stuffing envelopes with the replies of professors to students. She then seals the envelopes and puts them in an outgoing bin. She finds that on this job she has a lot of time for daydreaming. You would expect the organizational structure in her department should be:

Accepted Answer

The job described is routine and repetitive, which is characteristic of a mechanistic organizational structure that emphasizes efficiency and standardization.

Question 16

_____ technologies have high task variety, and the conversion process is not analyzable or well understood.

Accepted Answer

Nonroutine technologies have high task variety, and the conversion process is not analyzable or well understood. Therefore, A) Nonroutine is the best choice for this statement.

Question 17

In football, the interdependence may be termed:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In football, the interdependence may be termed:
...

Question 18

In the _____ component of the digital factory, computers are used to assist in the drafting, design, and engineering of new parts.

Accepted Answer

Computer-aided design (CAD) is the component of the digital factory where computers are used for the drafting, designing, and engineering of new parts. This technology allows engineers and designers to create and modify designs more efficiently, which can result in faster production times and greater accuracy in the manufacturing process.

Question 19

The impact of advanced technologies on job design has been:

Accepted Answer

Advanced technologies have allowed for job enrichment by providing new tools and techniques that allow workers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. This can also lead to an increase in job satisfaction and motivation as employees are able to take on more challenging tasks and responsibilities. However, it is important for employers to ensure that workers are adequately trained to use these technologies and that they are not simply used as a means of replacing human workers or lowering wages.

Question 20

The goal of the sociotechnical systems approach is to design the organization for:

Accepted Answer

The sociotechnical systems approach aims to optimize both the social and technical systems within an organization, with the ultimate goal of joint optimization. This means that the organization is designed to take into account both the needs of the employees and the technology being used to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Quiz 7: Manufacturing and Service Technologies