Question 1

Ignacio is an expert in motivation.Speaking at a luncheon for business executives,he says that a key strategy to motivate employees is empowering them.This will result in more ________ decision making.

Accepted Answer

Empowering employees means giving them more autonomy and decision-making power. Decentralized decision making allows for more autonomy and can result in more efficient and effective decision making.

Question 2

Paul runs a cutting machine with routine processes at a tool-and-die factory.Which of the following guides his job?

Accepted Answer

Standard operating procedures are the set of step-by-step instructions that guide workers on how to perform their routine tasks. In Paul's case, the SOPs for operating the cutting machine will guide his job. Cooperative decision making, managing up, and span of control are not related to Paul's job as an operator of a cutting machine with routine processes.

Question 3

A chain of large warehouse stores has separate teams devoted to clothing,groceries,appliances,and electronics.This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The separate teams organized based on different product categories (clothing, groceries, appliances, electronics) represent product departmentalization. This allows for more specialization and efficiency in each department.

Question 4

Patricia,a recent college graduate,is a junior architect at a downtown firm.After several months,she has become frustrated because even the simplest design change on a project must pass through four levels of management for approval.This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

This scenario suggests that the company has a hierarchical structure with an excessive number of management levels, making the decision-making process unnecessarily slow and inefficient. Option A, C, and D do not fit the scenario since they relate to other types of organizational structures and decision-making processes.

Question 5

Who has the greatest span of leadership?

Accepted Answer

The governor of New York has the greatest span of leadership as they have responsibility for the entire state of over 20 million people, whereas U.S. Senators and Representatives have a narrower focus within their specific districts or states, and state assembly members have even smaller constituencies.

Question 6

Kimanee has been working as a designer for a line of hip-hop clothes.He expected the company would have a loose,youthful vibe,but was surprised to find a very hierarchical structure that seems to stifle creativity.Kimanee suggests that the company form small design teams to spur innovation.His idea would make the company more ________.

Accepted Answer

Kimanee's suggestion of small design teams would make the company more organic, which is characterized by a flatter and more decentralized structure that encourages creativity and innovation. A mechanistic structure, on the other hand, is highly hierarchical and bureaucratic, which stifles creativity. Vertical and ethical are not relevant to the context.

Question 7

Marta was recently named president of a natural cosmetics company.Despite having a cheerful demeanor,most of her friends would say she is a control freak - and Marta would agree.Which of the following would Marta prefer?

Accepted Answer

Marta being a control freak would prefer centralized decision making as it allows her to have more control and authority over the decision-making process. In a centralized organization, the top executives make all the major decisions, which is more suitable for Marta's style. Flat organizations and organic organizations would both have more decentralized decision making, which might not work well for Marta.

Question 8

The Walt Disney Corporation owns about a 40% stake in the History Channel,an 80% stake in ESPN,and a 100% interest in the Disney Channel.Which statement is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

The Walt Disney Corporation's ownership stakes indicate an equity alliance with the History Channel (due to partial ownership) and full ownership of the Disney Channel, making it a wholly owned affiliate.

Question 9

Nikki has just been hired as director of financial operations for a footwear company.Her employee orientation packet includes a copy of the company's ethical guidelines,which she must read and sign before starting work.This document address Nikki's ________ on the job.

Accepted Answer

The ethical guidelines provided to Nikki require her to read and sign them, indicating her accountability for adhering to ethical standards in her financial operations role. Authority refers to the power to make decisions, responsibility refers to the duties and tasks assigned to an individual, and leadership refers to the ability to guide and influence others. While these concepts may also be important for Nikki's job, they are not directly addressed by the ethical guidelines provided in her orientation packet.

Question 10

You are director of transportation for a large Midwestern city,overseeing a staff of 1,200 unionized public-sector employees.What type of organization do you work for?

Accepted Answer

The director of transportation is overseeing a public-sector organization, indicating that it is a governmental organization. The fact that the employees are unionized further supports this. Therefore, the correct answer is C: governmental organization.

Question 11

Wanda is part of the customer service team for a company.Every week the team meets with senior management to report on feedback received from customers and recommend changes that address customer concerns.Based on this situation,which adjective best describes Wanda's company?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the customer service team meets with senior management weekly to address customer concerns and recommend changes shows that the company is adaptive and responsive to customer feedback.

Question 12

Hideo,an organization design consultant,was hired by a large software company to help improve operational efficiency.Hideo tells the president that he may be able to eliminate one complete level in the company hierarchy.This is likely to ________.

Accepted Answer

Eliminating a level in the company hierarchy typically means that managers will have more direct reports, thus increasing the span of leadership. This allows for a broader control and direct communication with a larger number of subordinates.

Question 13

From an open systems theory perspective,________.

Accepted Answer

Open systems theory suggests that organizations interact with and adapt to their environments, while also influencing and shaping their environments in return. This dynamic relationship means that both the organization and environment are constantly changing and affecting one another.

Question 14

Gina has successfully led three companies during her career,and is a big fan of flat organizational structures that empower employee teams.Gina believes this approach is effective because people ________ typically make the best decisions.

Accepted Answer

Gina believes that employee teams who are closest to the work are the ones who typically make the best decisions. Flat organizational structures empower these teams to make decisions without having to go through layers of management, leading to faster and more efficient decision-making. Choosing option A or B, who have the most authority or experience, respectively, does not necessarily guarantee that they will make the best decisions. Option C, those who are farthest from the work, are likely to be less knowledgeable about the situation and context, making their decisions less effective.

Question 15

Environmental uncertainty is NOT typically caused by ________.

Accepted Answer

Low levels of competition would typically result in a more stable and predictable environment for a business, rather than heightened uncertainty. Therefore, it cannot be a cause of environmental uncertainty. The other options (political instability, social changes, and technological changes) can all significantly contribute to environmental uncertainty.

Question 16

You are president of a company with 38 brick-and-mortar flower shops.The board has decided the company should expand into e-commerce.You tell your vice-presidents about the shift in strategy.They will in turn pass the word down through the ________ to lower level managers,supervisors,and employees.

Accepted Answer

The term "chain of command" refers to the hierarchy of authority and communication within an organization. In this scenario, the decision to expand into e-commerce is being communicated from the president to the vice-presidents, who will then communicate it down the chain of command to lower-level managers, supervisors, and employees. The other options (B, C, and D) do not accurately describe this process.

Question 17

Ben and Kelly are working on an organization design for their new company.While Ben prefers a traditional hierarchy,Kelly envisions "flat" teams within a "tall" organization.What does Kelly prefer?

Accepted Answer

Kelly's preference for "flat" teams within a "tall" organization suggests a combination of different organizational structures, which is characteristic of a hybrid structure. This approach blends elements of various structures to suit specific needs.

Question 18

A document that outlines the major tasks and responsibilities of a cashier is a ________.

Accepted Answer

A job description is a document that outlines the major tasks and responsibilities of a particular job role, such as a cashier. This document typically includes information such as the job title, key duties, required qualifications, and other relevant information. A role analysis typically involves a more comprehensive analysis of the skills and competencies required for a particular job, while a job brief and task description may provide more specific information about individual tasks or short-term assignments. Therefore, A) job description is the best choice for this question.

Question 19

Betty is attending a one-day retreat with her company's management team.The group is exploring questions such as "How do our values affect our actions?" and "Do we have a clear,shared sense of purpose?" What would be a good name for this retreat?

Accepted Answer

"Organizational Culture Examined" best captures the focus of the retreat, which is exploring the company's values and sense of purpose. The other options either don't accurately reflect the retreat's purpose or are too abstract/ambiguous.

Question 20

Tito loves his job because he is part of a fairly autonomous and independent work team.In fact,there are many such teams in the organization.Which of the following best describes the structure of Tito's company?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Tito's company has many autonomous and independent work teams suggests a decentralized and flat organizational structure, similar to that of a starfish. In this type of structure, each team operates independently with minimal need for oversight from upper management.

Quiz 9: Organizing for a Complex World: Structure and Design