Question 1

While the inter-organizational process revolves around a central company in modular organizations,a virtual organization is part of a network in which many companies share skills,costs,capabilities,markets,and customers with one another.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the difference between inter-organizational processes in modular organizations and virtual organizations.

Question 2

In spite of the jobs' disadvantages,companies continue to create and use specialized jobs because they are economical.

Accepted Answer

Companies find specialized jobs economical because they can hire individuals with specific skills and expertise for a particular task, which can increase productivity and efficiency. However, specialized jobs also have some drawbacks such as job dissatisfaction, lack of flexibility, and limited opportunities for career growth. Despite this, companies continue to use specialized jobs as they believe that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

Question 3

The term task description refers to the number,kind,and variety of tasks that individual workers perform in doing their jobs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The term task description refers to the...

Question 4

The span of control is the vertical line of authority that clarifies who reports to whom throughout the organization.

Accepted Answer

The span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager can effectively manage, not the vertical line of authority.

Question 5

One advantage of virtual organization is that it allows member companies to share costs.

Accepted Answer

Since virtual organization involves companies coming together to share resources and expertise, it can help reduce costs as each organization does not have to bear the entire burden of the respective project/initiative.

Question 6

A manager in human resources with a team of human resources advisors has both line and staff authority.

Accepted Answer

A manager in human resources with a team of human resources advisors has both line (as the main decision-maker and authority over the team) and staff (advisory role to other departments) authority.

Question 7

A manager in human resources with a team of human resources advisors operates within a line function.

Accepted Answer

A manager in human resources typically operates within a staff function, providing support, advice, and services to line functions rather than directly contributing to the production of goods or services.

Question 8

A virtual organization is an organization that outsources noncore business activities to outside companies,suppliers,specialists,or consultants.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A virtual organization is an organization that...

Question 9

Effective delegation transfers accountability to a staff member.

Accepted Answer

Effective delegation not only transfers responsibility for a task or project but also transfers accountability for the outcome. The staff member is held accountable for completing the task satisfactorily.

Question 10

competence,impact,and self-determination produce empowered employees who take active rather than passive roles in their work.

Accepted Answer

Research and studies have shown that employees who feel competent in their skills and abilities, have a sense of impact or importance in their work, and have the ability to make choices and decisions (self-determination) are more likely to be empowered and take active roles in their work. This leads to greater job satisfaction, motivation, and performance.

Question 11

An organic organization is an organization characterized by broadly defined jobs and responsibility,loosely defined,frequently changing roles,decentralized authority,and horizontal communication based on task knowledge.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of an organic organization.

Question 12

Specialized jobs are generally inefficient.

Accepted Answer

Specialized jobs require specific training and expertise, which can lead to higher efficiency and productivity in that particular area.

Question 13

The chain of command has a core principle that is violated by matrix organizations.

Accepted Answer

The chain of command principle states that each employee should have only one superior to report to. However, in matrix organizations, employees may report to multiple superiors, which violates this principle.

Question 14

Organizations have high centralization of authority when a customer service representative must contact their manager to solve a problem.

Accepted Answer

High centralization of authority means that decision-making power is concentrated at the top of the organization. In this scenario, the fact that a customer service representative needs to contact their manager to solve a problem suggests that the manager has a significant amount of authority and control over the situation. This is consistent with a highly centralized organizational structure.

Question 15

Specialized jobs are characterized by simple,easy-to-learn steps,low variety,and much repetition.

Accepted Answer

Specialized jobs are designed to be highly focused with a narrow scope, involving simple, easy-to-learn tasks that are repeated frequently, leading to low variety in the job activities.

Question 16

Effective delegation first transfers authority to a staff member.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Effective delegation first transfers authority to a...

Question 17

Job enlargement and job enrichment mean essentially the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Job enlargement refers to increasing the number of tasks or responsibilities assigned to an employee, while job enrichment entails increasing the job's depth or complexity by giving the employee more autonomy, decision-making power, and challenging tasks. While they are related concepts, they are not identical.

Question 18

People higher in the chain of command directly exercise their right to give commands,take action,and make decisions concerning activities occurring anywhere below them in the chain.?

Accepted Answer

The answer of People higher in the chain of command...

Question 19

In reciprocal interdependence,work must be performed in succession because one group or job's outputs become the inputs for the next group or job.

Accepted Answer

In reciprocal interdependence, work is performed in a back-and-forth manner rather than in a strict sequence, as tasks and outputs are exchanged among groups or jobs for mutual adjustment and completion.

Question 20

All organizations can clearly be categorized as either completely mechanistic or completely organic.

Accepted Answer

Organizations can have varying degrees of mechanistic and organic characteristics. Most organizations exist on a spectrum between the two and can exhibit qualities of both. It is rare for an organization to be completely mechanistic or completely organic.

Quiz 8: Designing Adaptive Organizations