Question 1

Consultants Exceptional (CE) has hired you to develop training materials for their consultants. Your first assignment is to develop a training program that helps their consultants to analyze and understand the organizational structure of the company that they are assisting. You believe that in order to adequately evaluate and understand a client company, consultants need to understand the basic organizational structure of the company. Consultants are then able to recommend actions and changes based on the company's structure. One of the questions you tell the trainees to ask is, "To what degree are tasks subdivided into separate jobs?" This question addresses the issue of ________.
A) formalization
B) work specialization
C) span of control
D) chain of command
E) matrix restructuring

Accepted Answer

The question "To what degree are tasks subdivided into separate jobs?" addresses the issue of work specialization, which refers to the degree to which a company subdivides tasks into separate jobs.

Question 2

A ________ allows management to make the most efficient use of its employees' skills and even successfully improve them through repetition.
A) low degree of centralization
B) high degree of formalization
C) wider span of control
D) low degree of departmentalization
E) high degree of work specialization

Accepted Answer

High degree of work specialization allows management to assign specific tasks according to the employees' strengths and abilities, leading to improved efficiency and skill development through repetition.

Question 3

A manufacturing manager organizes a plant into engineering, accounting, manufacturing, personnel, and supply specialists departments. This division of an organization into groups according to work functions is an example of ________.
A) social clustering
B) bureaucracy
C) specialization
D) centralization
E) departmentalization

Accepted Answer

The division of the organization into separate departments based on their respective functions is an example of departmentalization.

Question 4

The unity-of-command principle states that ________.
A) managers should limit their oversight to a maximum of 12 employees
B) managers should oversee 1-4 employees on average
C) an individual should be directly responsible to only one supervisor
D) managers should provide direction to their employees in a unified fashion
E) employees should report directly to two supervisors to maintain task balance

Accepted Answer

The unity-of-command principle states that an individual should be directly responsible to only one supervisor. This ensures clear accountability and prevents confusion or conflicting instructions from multiple supervisors.

Question 5

A ________ is consistent with recent efforts by companies to reduce costs, cut overhead, speed up decision making, increase flexibility, get closer to customers, and empower employees.
A) wider span of control
B) high degree of formalization
C) longer chain of command
D) lack of work specialization
E) high degree of centralization

Accepted Answer

A wider span of control allows for more efficient decision-making, faster communication, and increased flexibility, all of which align with the recent efforts by companies mentioned in the question. High formalization, a longer chain of command, and a lack of work specialization may hinder these efforts, while high centralization may limit employee empowerment.

Question 6

Aeronautics Inc., a parts supplier, has departments for government aircraft and contracts, large commercial aircraft clients, and small personal aircraft clients. This is an example of ________ departmentalization.
A) product
B) function
C) geography
D) customer
E) service

Accepted Answer

This departmentalization is based on the types of customers the company serves, making it customer departmentalization.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the six key elements of organizational structure?
A) chain of command
B) departmentalization
C) work specialization
D) span of control
E) location of authority

Accepted Answer

The six key elements of organizational structure are chain of command, departmentalization, work specialization, span of control, centralization/decentralization, and formalization. The location of authority is not considered a key element of organizational structure.

Question 8

Some of the departments in Procter & Gamble are Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.
A) function
B) process
C) geography
D) product
E) interest

Accepted Answer

Procter & Gamble has departmentalized by product, as each department (Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles) is dedicated to a specific product line.

Question 9

The basis by which jobs are grouped is called ________.
A) formalization
B) departmentalization
C) chain of command
D) span of control
E) centralization

Accepted Answer

Job grouping is known as departmentalization.

Question 10

AgriProducers provides services related to the testing of soil and crops. It also provides advice to its customers for improving the productivity of the soil and the quality of the crops. It has customers all over the United States. The crops and soil are different in the various large areas of the nation, such as the west coast and the midwest. Which type of departmentalization would be best for AgriProducers?
A) functional
B) process
C) product
D) geographic
E) temporal

Accepted Answer

Geographic departmentalization would be best for AgriProducers as it has customers all over the United States and the crops and soil are different in various large areas, such as the west coast and the Midwest. By grouping employees based on the geographic region they serve, AgriProducers can provide better services by having employees well-versed in the specific soil and crop conditions of the region. This approach can help to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the company's services.

Question 11

The right inherent in a managerial position to give orders and expect orders to be obeyed is termed ________.
A) chain of command
B) authority
C) span of control
D) unity of command
E) leadership

Accepted Answer

Authority refers to the right inherent in a managerial position to give orders and expect orders to be obeyed. Chain of command refers to the formal line of authority, whereas span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager can efficiently and effectively manage. Unity of command refers to the principle that each employee should report to only one supervisor. Leadership, while related, refers to the ability to influence and guide others towards a common goal.

Question 12

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority.
A) span of control
B) chain of command
C) cross-functionality
D) centralization
E) unity of command

Accepted Answer

The answer of The principle of ________ helps preserve the...

Question 13

________ is addressed by asking the question, "On what basis are jobs grouped together?"
A) Departmentalization
B) Work specialization
C) Centralization and decentralization
D) Formalization
E) Span of control

Accepted Answer

Departmentalization refers to how jobs are grouped together based on some common factor, such as function, product, customer, or geography.

Question 14

A task that is subdivided into many separate jobs is considered to have ________.
A) a high degree of departmentalization
B) a low degree of decentralization
C) a high degree of work specialization
D) a wider span of control
E) a high degree of formalization

Accepted Answer

Work specialization refers to the degree to which organizational tasks are broken down into separate jobs, and this process creates many separate jobs.

Question 15

Chain of command is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?
A) How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct?
B) To whom do individuals and groups report?
C) On what basis will jobs be grouped together?
D) To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs?
E) To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers?

Accepted Answer

Chain of command addresses the question of to whom individuals and groups report. It establishes the hierarchy of authority and clarifies who has decision-making power and who is accountable for the results of those decisions.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true regarding work specialization?
A) Work specialization indicates to what degree there will be rules and formalization regulations to direct employees and managers.
B) Work specialization decreases the time spent in changing tasks.
C) Work specialization increases the cost of finding and training workers to do specific and repetitive tasks.
D) Work specialization provides an unending source of increased productivity.
E) Work specialization hinders efficient use of employee skills.

Accepted Answer

Work specialization means breaking down work into smaller and specialized tasks to increase efficiency and productivity by reducing the time spent in changing tasks. Option A is not accurate as work specialization does not necessarily indicate rules and regulations. Option C is incorrect as work specialization reduces the cost of finding and training employees due to the narrow scope of skills required. Option D is not true as there is a limit to the benefits of specialization. Option E is incorrect as work specialization allows for an efficient use of employee skills in performing specialized tasks.

Question 17

Span of control is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?
A) On what basis will jobs be grouped together?
B) To whom do individuals and groups report?
C) To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers?
D) How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct?
E) To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs?

Accepted Answer

Span of control refers to the number of subordinates that a manager can effectively supervise. It determines how many individuals a manager can efficiently and effectively direct, which is addressed by option D. Option A refers to departmentalization, option B to reporting relationships, option C to centralization/decentralization, and option E to job specialization.

Question 18

Which one of the following is not one of the primary ways to group jobs?
A) skill
B) customer
C) function
D) product
E) service

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

The Acme Products case study notes that the senior management at Acme is concerned because the company takes so long to bring new products to the market. Which of the following approaches would your trainees identify as the most likely solution to resolve this problem?
A) reducing the use of cross-functional work teams
B) decentralization of the decision-making process
C) decreased work specialization
D) decreased formalization of policies and procedures
E) reduced diversity within the company's work force

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Acme Products case study notes that...

Question 20

Your trainees are given a case study concerning a local manufacturing firm called Acme Products. In assessing Acme's organizational structure, your trainees notice that all of the company's decisions are made by top management, with little or no input from lower-level personnel. The trainees most likely identify Acme as a(n) ________ organization.
A) highly decentralized
B) highly formalized
C) highly departmentalized
D) highly centralized
E) informally structured

Accepted Answer

The organizational structure described in the case study is highly centralized, as all decisions are made by top management with limited input from lower-level personnel. Highly centralized organizations have a narrow span of control and decision-making authority is concentrated at the top of the pyramid.

Quiz 15: Foundations of Organization Structure

A ________ allows management to make the most efficient use of its employees' skills and even successfully improve them through repetition.

A manufacturing manager organizes a plant into engineering, accounting, manufacturing, personnel, and supply specialists departments. This division of an organization into groups according to work functions is an example of ________.

The unity-of-command principle states that ________.

A ________ is consistent with recent efforts by companies to reduce costs, cut overhead, speed up decision making, increase flexibility, get closer to customers, and empower employees.

Aeronautics Inc., a parts supplier, has departments for government aircraft and contracts, large commercial aircraft clients, and small personal aircraft clients. This is an example of ________ departmentalization.

Which of the following is not one of the six key elements of organizational structure?

Some of the departments in Procter & Gamble are Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.

The basis by which jobs are grouped is called ________.

The right inherent in a managerial position to give orders and expect orders to be obeyed is termed ________.

The principle of ________ helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of authority.

________ is addressed by asking the question, "On what basis are jobs grouped together?"

A task that is subdivided into many separate jobs is considered to have ________.

Chain of command is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?

Which of the following statements is true regarding work specialization?

Span of control is a key element of an organization's structure. Which of the following key questions is addressed by this element?

Which one of the following is not one of the primary ways to group jobs?

The Acme Products case study notes that the senior management at Acme is concerned because the company takes so long to bring new products to the market. Which of the following approaches would your trainees identify as the most likely solution to resolve this problem?