Question 1

Phillips (2003) proposed a ten-pillar ideal learning organisation model. The components include leadership, communication, innovation and:

Accepted Answer

Phillips' ten-pillar model of an ideal learning organization indeed encompasses leadership, communication, innovation, learning and development, change management, and intellectual capital among its components, making all the given options correct.

Question 2

Unit and small-batch production, large-batch and mass production and continuous-process production were the three different types of ____________ identified by Woodward during her famous study of British manufacturing firms.

Accepted Answer

Woodward's study identified three different types of technology in British manufacturing firms: unit and small-batch production, large-batch and mass production, and continuous-process production.

Question 3

A form of organising where many functions are contracted out to other independent firms, coordinated by information technology and operate as if they were a single operation is known as:

Accepted Answer

Networked structure describes an organizational form where various functions are outsourced to other firms, and coordination among these firms is achieved through information technology, making the operation appear seamless as if it were a single entity. This structure leverages the strengths of different organizations, focusing on core competencies and efficiency.

Question 4

What is regarded to be perhaps the most important finding made by Woodward in her study of British manufacturing firms is that the more successful the organisation, the more likely it was to have:

Accepted Answer

Woodward's study found that successful organizations tended to have a structural design that closely matched the average for their specific type of technology, indicating that alignment with technological requirements was key to success.

Question 5

A second view of technology as one of the major influences on organisation design considers the degree to which different parts of the organisation must exchange information and materials in order to perform their required tasks. This view of technology is called technological:

Accepted Answer

This view is called technological interdependence, which refers to the extent to which different parts of an organization need to exchange information and materials to complete their tasks.

Question 6

The three major types of technological interdependence are pooled, sequential and:

Accepted Answer

The three major types of technological interdependence identified in organizational studies are pooled, sequential, and reciprocal. Pooled interdependence involves each part of the organization contributing separately to the whole, sequential interdependence involves a linear relationship where one part's output becomes another part's input, and reciprocal interdependence involves a more complex relationship where outputs and inputs are exchanged back and forth among parts.

Question 7

Woodward found that the correlation between the size of an organisation and its degree of complexity of organisation structure was:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Woodward found that the correlation between the...

Question 8

In studying the relationships between organisational size and organisation structure, few, if any, significant correlations are regularly found. Trends, though, have been identified. One of those trends is that as organisations grow:

Accepted Answer

As organizations grow, they tend to add more levels of hierarchy to manage the increased complexity and scale of operations. This results in more levels of managers being added to oversee various functions and departments within the organization.

Question 9

Burns and Stalker, in their study of British industrial firms, found that as an organisation's environment changed from stable to unstable with rapid change and uncertainty, the organisation changed from:

Accepted Answer

Burns and Stalker's research indicated that organizations in more stable environments tend to have mechanistic structures characterized by clear hierarchies, rigid procedures, and well-defined roles. In contrast, those in unstable, rapidly changing environments tend to adopt more organic structures, which are flexible, have less formal procedures, and encourage more communication and collaboration among employees. This allows them to respond more quickly to changes in the environment.

Question 10

According to the text, Lawrence and Lorsch's concept of differentiation is best summarised as:

Accepted Answer

Lawrence and Lorsch's concept of differentiation refers to the extent to which different units or departments within an organization are dissimilar or specialized, often as a response to different external environmental factors or influences.

Question 11

Lawrence and Lorsch found that the most effective firms in their study attempted to balance differentiation with efforts towards integration or:

Accepted Answer

Lawrence and Lorsch's study highlighted the importance of collaboration among departments that needed to coordinate their efforts as a means to balance differentiation with integration within organizations. This approach helps in achieving organizational goals efficiently by ensuring that different departments work together effectively.

Question 12

A reservation would best be described as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A reservation would best be described as:
...

Question 13

While specialisation of jobs increases, the scope and responsibility of individual managers expands as well. To assist managers in their role, organisations combine jobs into ________________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While specialisation of jobs increases, the scope...

Question 14

Grouping into customer similarity where there is a division for every customer type is an example of
_________________ structure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Grouping into customer similarity where there is...

Question 15

When organisations combine functional and divisional forms, they use the _____________ structure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When organisations combine functional and divisional forms,...

Question 16

Organisation design is the process of developing organisation structure. What are the four basic elements of structure?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Organisation design is the process of developing...

Question 17

Why are organisation charts useful in assisting understanding of the chain of command?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are organisation charts useful in assisting...

Question 18

What are the four common departmentalisation patterns? From your own experience with organisations, give an example of how each type works.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the four common departmentalisation patterns?...

Question 19

The four most common types of departmentalisation are functional, divisional, hybrid and matrix. Identify an organisation that you know well. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the type of departmentalisation used in your selected organisation? Give specific information where possible.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The four most common types of departmentalisation...

Question 20

In what ways are the five factors that contribute to the vertical coordination in organisations different?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways are the five factors...

Quiz 9: Strategic Organisation Structure and Design