Question 1

__________ are responsible for directly achieving organizational goals.

Accepted Answer

Line personnel are responsible for directly achieving organizational goals through their work in producing goods or services, while organizational specialists (A), chain of command managers (C), and staff personnel (D) may support or advise line personnel but are not directly responsible for achieving organizational goals.

Question 2

During the past six years,the marketing department manager at Creative Concepts International made a strong push to hire mover/shaker professionals that had superior performance records prior to joining this company.It didn't take long for these enthusiastic marketers to recognize the many talents within their department.They marveled at how much they were like each other and how they seemed to agree with each other's work styles and ideas.After a while,it became difficult for others in the organization to present to this group.If the idea did not originate within the marketing department,marketers did not give it much credence.Management counselors would describe this phenomenon as _____.

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the passage is groupthink, which occurs when a cohesive group prioritizes agreement and conformity over critical thinking and diverse perspectives. This is evidenced by the fact that the marketing department only gave credence to ideas that originated within their own group and had similar work styles and ideas.

Question 3

Cross-functional self-managed teams work best when _______________.

Accepted Answer

Cross-functional self-managed teams are most effective when leadership is shared among team members. This allows for a collaborative approach to decision-making and problem-solving, and empowers team members to take ownership of their work. The presence of line and staff managers is not necessary for the success of the team, nor is the academic level of members or the functional diversity of the team limited to only two units.

Question 4

A ____________ organization is characterized by direct two-way lines of responsibility,authority,and communication running from the top to the bottom of the organization,with all people reporting to only one supervisor.

Accepted Answer

A line organization has a simple, traditional structure where each employee has a clear reporting hierarchy with only one supervisor, making it easy to maintain accountability and communication.

Question 5

International Inns and Conference Centers [IICC],a national chain of professional event centers utilizes a centralized authority structure.Which of the following provides the most likely explanation for why management at IICC would favor centralized authority?

Accepted Answer

Centralized authority allows for consistency and control over operations, which would be important for a national chain like IICC that wants to maintain a uniform image and high quality service. This would also allow for efficient management of resources and decision-making processes. Empowering first-line employees and improving customer service response time could be achieved through other means, and the use of a cross-functional organization may not necessarily require a centralized authority structure.

Question 6

Matrix organizational structures were first developed in:

Accepted Answer

Matrix organizational structures were first developed in the aerospace industry in the 1960s to manage complex and large projects such as the development of military aircraft.

Question 7

Line-and-staff organizations work well in organizations with:

Accepted Answer

Line-and-staff organizations work well in organizations with a relatively unchanging environment. This is because such organizations require stable structures and defined roles and responsibilities in order to function efficiently. In contrast, high-growth industries, stiff competition, and short product life cycles can require more flexibility and agility, which may not always be possible in line-and-staff organizations.

Question 8

Vaughn Studios organizes its operations by activity,such as production,marketing,accounting,and finance.Vaughn utilizes _____________ departmentalization in order to maximize their efficiency.

Accepted Answer

Vaughn Studios is organizing its operations by activity which falls under functional departmentalization. This type of departmentalization groups employees based on their skills and expertise, allowing for specialized and efficient work to be done within each department.

Question 9

Employees who perform functions that advise and assist line personnel are known as:

Accepted Answer

Staff personnel are employees who provide advice and support to line personnel. They are not involved in the direct production of goods or services, but rather support the overall function of the organization through their specialized knowledge and expertise. Examples of staff personnel include human resources, accounting, and IT professionals.

Question 10

Management at Hottie Potatee,a nationwide potato bar chain,believes that its customers value a predictable and consistent level of service and quality.When customers stop at one of its potato bar chain restaurants anywhere in the United States,they should know what to expect in terms of menu,price and quality.In order to maintain this consistency,Hottie Potatee adopted a(n)______ structure.

Accepted Answer

Centralized authority is the best choice for Hottie Potatee because it allows for consistent decision-making and control over all aspects of the business. This is important for maintaining the same level of service and quality at all locations throughout the country. With centralized authority, decisions can be made and implemented quickly and efficiently, ensuring that customer expectations are met no matter where they visit a Hottie Potatee restaurant.

Question 11

JayLo Corporation has experienced rapid growth during its five years of existence.While still relatively small,JayLo is now big enough that Jennifer,the firm's CEO,has decided to organize the firm into functional departments.Jennifer can likely expect which of the following to occur?

Accepted Answer

The answer of JayLo Corporation has experienced rapid growth during...

Question 12

As a response to a rapidly changing marketplace,Idea Electronics found it necessary to reorganize,including a significant downsize of its middle management.This action will likely result in __________.

Accepted Answer

By downsizing middle management, Idea Electronics is likely flattening its organizational structure and empowering employees, which will allow them to get closer to the customer. This will better position the company to respond to the rapidly changing marketplace. Acquiring additional firms, increasing the size of traditional departments, or centralizing decision making would not necessarily address the need for a more agile and customer-focused organization.

Question 13

Which of the following was created as a solution to the temporary nature of the matrix structure?

Accepted Answer

Cross-functional self-managed teams were created as a solution to the temporary nature of the matrix structure. These teams are made up of individuals from different functional areas who work together to complete a specific project or task, and they are disbanded once the project is complete. They allow for more flexibility and collaboration than traditional hierarchical structures.

Question 14

As the head of the engineering department for her company,Jody works with her team on complex and challenging projects.The level of detail in this work requires Jody to spend a significant amount of time with each team member,providing advice and support.Due to the complexity and time involvement of each project,Jody has a(n)________ span of control.

Accepted Answer

A narrow span of control is characterized by a supervisor overseeing a limited number of direct reports, which allows for closer attention to detail and more personalized support. Given the complexity and time involvement of Jody's projects, it makes sense that her span of control would be narrow so she can provide adequate guidance and support to each team member.

Question 15

Which of the following describes a group of employees from different departments working together on a long-term basis?

Accepted Answer

Cross-functional self-managed teams are groups of employees from different departments who work together on a long-term basis to solve complex problems, create new products or services, or improve organizational processes.

Question 16

Staff positions in an organization:

Accepted Answer

Staff positions exist to support and assist the line positions, which are directly involved in the production or delivery of the organization's products or services. Staff positions provide expertise, advice, and support in areas such as finance, human resources, and technology. They are not superior to line positions and may be paid more or less depending on the level of responsibility and expertise required. Staff positions are not solely for retired former CEOs.

Question 17

Which of the organization models follows all of Fayol's traditional management rules?

Accepted Answer

In line organizations, there is a clear hierarchical structure, with each level having its own clearly defined roles and responsibilities. This follows Fayol's traditional management principles of unity of command, hierarchy, and division of labor. Additionally, line organizations have centralized decision-making, another principle that Fayol believed was important for effective management. Therefore, line organizations are the best choice in this scenario as they follow all of Fayol's traditional management rules.

Question 18

Which of the following is an advantage of a line organization in a large business?

Accepted Answer

In a line organization, responsibility and authority are clearly defined, making it easier to delegate tasks and hold individuals accountable for their work. This can be especially advantageous in a large business where there are many departments and tasks to manage. A, C, and D are not advantages of a line organization.

Question 19

In a _____________ organization,specialists from different parts of the organization are brought together on a temporary basis to work on specific projects.

Accepted Answer

In a matrix organization, specialists from different parts of the organization are brought together on a temporary basis to work on specific projects. This allows for a flexible structure where employees can work across multiple projects and departments, and can make the most efficient use of resources. A line organization has a clear chain of command from top management down to lower-level employees, and operates in a hierarchical manner. In a line-and-staff organization, staff specialists are added to the line organization to provide support and expertise. A centralized organization has decision-making authority concentrated at the top of the organization.

Question 20

Springfield National Bank organizes its loan operations based on the market served,such as consumer,small business,and nonprofit organizations.Departmentalization based on ________ allows Springfield to better serve borrowers with different needs.

Accepted Answer

Departmentalization based on customer group allows Springfield National Bank to better serve borrowers with different needs, such as consumers, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Quiz 8: Adapting Organizations to Todays Markets