Question 1

A task force is also called a(n)________.
A)matrix structure
B)community of practice
C)ad hoc committee
D)strategic partnership

Accepted Answer

A task force is typically a temporary group or committee created to address a specific issue or problem, and is often referred to as an ad hoc committee. Matrix structure refers to a management approach where employees report to multiple supervisors, community of practice refers to a group of people who share a common interest or profession, and strategic partnership refers to a formal collaboration between two or more organizations to achieve common goals. None of these terms specifically refer to a task force.

Question 2

A task force is a permanent committee or team formed to tackle a long-term problem affecting several departments of an organization.

Accepted Answer

A task force is typically a temporary group formed to address a specific issue or problem, not a permanent committee.

Question 3

Which of the following will help in making communities of practice successful?
A)conducting face-to-face meetings,instead of online meetings
B)having clear accountability and managerial oversight
C)encouraging members to nurture competing goals
D)focusing on simple and routine issues,that can be easily tackled

Accepted Answer

Having clear accountability and managerial oversight helps in ensuring that the community of practice is on track and meeting its objectives. This also helps in avoiding conflicts and confusion among members. Conducting face-to-face meetings may not always be possible or necessary, as online meetings can be just as effective. Encouraging members to nurture competing goals and focusing on simple and routine issues may not necessarily lead to success in a community of practice.

Question 4

A cell phone maker has created a digital platform that allows it to directly interact with its customers.Customers are allowed to post their ideas regarding the features they want in the phones that the company plans to launch.What is this process of interaction between the company and its customers called?
A)open innovation
B)strategic partnership
C)joint venturing
D)customer relationship management

Accepted Answer

This process of interaction between the company and its customers is called open innovation, where the company is allowing external sources like customers to contribute to the development process of their products.

Question 5

The management decides to set up an online forum which will allow its software developers to post queries and share their ideas and best practices with their peers around the world.Such forms of collaboration are called ________.
A)strategic partnerships
B)communities of practice
C)task forces
D)cross-functional teams

Accepted Answer

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. In this case, software developers can use the online forum to share their ideas, best practices and queries with their peers around the world. This is a clear example of a community of practice.

Question 6

Which of the following is a drawback of open innovation?
A)It increases the level of risk associated with product development.
B)It diverts the organization's attention away from the marketplace.
C)It nurtures external relationships but not internal ones.
D)It requires extensive support.

Accepted Answer

Open innovation often requires extensive support in terms of resources, management, and coordination to effectively integrate external ideas and technologies into the organization.

Question 7

The top management have instructed Adam to put together a temporary team which will develop new training programs for the purpose of upgrading the existing skills of the firm's software engineers.Adam is being asked to put together a ________.
A)task force
B)community of practice
C)contingent workforce
D)cross-cultural team

Accepted Answer

A task force is a temporary team assembled to accomplish a specific goal or objective. In this case, Adam is tasked to put together a team to develop training programs, which is a specific goal. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

Question 8

Several neurologists were confounded by a patient's lack of response to traditional treatment.One of them went to a special Web site just for medical personnel to see if others had encountered this problem and whether there was a different method to try.The neurologist was a member of ________.
A)a project team
B)a task force
C)a community of practice
D)a virtual team

Accepted Answer

A community of practice is a group of professionals who share a common interest or expertise and regularly communicate to discuss best practices and share knowledge. In this scenario, the neurologist used a specialized Web site for medical personnel, which is an example of a community of practice. The other options (project team, task force, virtual team) suggest more formalized groups with specific goals or tasks, which doesn't fit the scenario described.

Question 9

Searching for new ideas beyond an organization's boundaries and allowing changes to easily transfer inward and outward is known as ________.
A)strategic partnering
B)knowledge management
C)customer relationship management
D)open innovation

Accepted Answer

Open innovation refers to the practice of seeking and utilizing external ideas and innovations to advance an organization's own capabilities and goals, while also making its own ideas and innovations available to others. It involves collaboration and knowledge-sharing with partners outside of the organization, and a willingness to adapt and modify existing practices and strategies based on external feedback and input.

Question 10

Which of the following is true regarding task forces?
A)They have a longer life span than cross-functional teams.
B)Team members are not required to perform any other tasks while serving on the task force.
C)The team takes on newer issues or problems as older ones get resolved.
D)They tackle specific short-term problems affecting several departments.

Accepted Answer

Task forces are temporary teams created to solve specific short-term problems or issues that affect multiple departments or areas of the organization. They disband once the issue has been resolved. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. The other options are incorrect because task forces are temporary in nature, and team members continue to perform their regular tasks while serving on the task force. Additionally, task forces take on one specific problem at a time, and they may work on the issue until it is fully resolved before moving on to another issue.

Question 11

Collaborative work increases communication and coordination among participants.

Accepted Answer

Collaborative work requires participants to work together towards a common goal, which promotes communication and coordination among them.

Question 12

The management is thinking of joining hands with its one time rival,CG-VAK Software,in order to gain access to new markets and technologies.By doing this,the organization is nurturing a ________.
A)joint stock company
B)task force
C)community of practice
D)strategic partnership

Accepted Answer

A strategic partnership is a formal alliance between two organizations that collaborate for a mutual benefit. In this case, the management's decision to join hands with CG-VAK Software indicates that they are seeking to gain access to new markets and technologies, which is a typical aim of a strategic partnership. A joint stock company and task force are not relevant in this context, and a community of practice involves a group of individuals who share a common interest or profession, rather than an alliance between organizations.

Question 13

ABC Corp.decides to enter the cell phone market.Before launching its new handset,it creates a digital platform which allows the general public to post their ideas and opinions about the features they want in the new phone.In this scenario,the company is ________.
A)forming a joint venture
B)creating a boundaryless organization
C)promoting open innovation
D)forming a strategic partnership

Accepted Answer

By allowing the general public to post their ideas and opinions about the features they want in the new phone, ABC Corp. is promoting open innovation. This means that the company is willing to take ideas from outside of its organization to create a better product.

Question 14

A cross-functional team has no artificial boundaries and thus,the team focuses on working together to achieve organizational goals.

Accepted Answer

A cross-functional team is designed to break down the silos and encourage collaboration across different departments or functions within an organization. This allows team members from different backgrounds and areas of expertise to work towards a common goal and achieve organizational success without being limited by artificial barriers.

Question 15

________ refer to groups of people who share a concern,a set of problems,or a passion about a topic,and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in that area by interacting on an ongoing basis.
A)Communities of practice
B)Project teams
C)Cross-functional communities
D)Task forces

Accepted Answer

Communities of practice are groups of people who come together to share knowledge, expertise, and experience in a particular area of interest or concern. They are not focused on completing a particular task or project, but instead on sharing ongoing learning and development. Other options such as project teams, cross-functional communities, and task forces are all focused on completing a specific task or project rather than ongoing learning and development.

Question 16

Which of the following is a characteristic of a strategic partnership?
A)It allows multiple parties to share the risks and expenses.
B)It is limited to five or fewer participants.
C)It provides access to new sources of financing.
D)It prevents rival firms from collaborating.

Accepted Answer

One of the key benefits of a strategic partnership is that it allows multiple parties to share the risks and expenses involved in a particular project or venture, making it a collaborative effort where the burden of expenses or risks is not borne by a single entity. Option B is incorrect, as there is no limit on the number of participants in a strategic partnership. Option C is also incorrect, as while a strategic partnership may provide access to new sources of financing, this is not a defining characteristic of such partnerships. Option D is incorrect, as a strategic partnership involves collaboration between parties, which may include rival firms.

Question 17

Which of the following is an advantage of open innovation?
A)It can be implemented even if the organization follows a rigid structure.
B)It requires minimal support from top management.
C)It gives customers a voice and allows them to be heard.
D)It requires few,if any,changes in the way knowledge is shared.

Accepted Answer

Open innovation allows for input and feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders, including customers, which can lead to a better understanding of customer needs and preferences.

Question 18

A strategic partnership ________.
A)promotes efficiencies because of its flexible and informal arrangements
B)leads to dysfunctional conflict,as opposed to synergy,among the parties involved
C)entails a lot of paperwork when creating and disbanding projects
D)does not allow either firm to retain its brand identity

Accepted Answer

A strategic partnership promotes efficiencies because it allows for flexible and informal arrangements between the parties involved, enabling them to work together towards a common goal. It does not necessarily entail a lot of paperwork, nor does it require the firms to give up their brand identity. While there may be certain challenges that need to be addressed, such as power imbalances and conflicting goals, a well-executed strategic partnership can lead to significant benefits for all parties involved.

Question 19

Consolidated Technology's largest customer has complained again about the quality of the parts it has received.Consolidated has asked for volunteers to participate on a problem-solving team to find the cause and propose a solution for this ongoing problem.Consolidated is forming a ________.
A)project team
B)team structure
C)standing committee
D)task force

Accepted Answer

A task force is a temporary team formed to tackle a specific problem, which fits the scenario described in the question. Project teams are typically long-term teams focused on completing a specific project whereas standing committees and team structures are more permanent in nature and not applicable in this scenario.

Question 20

Collaborative relationships between two or more organizations in which they combine their resources and capabilities for some business purpose are known as ________.
A)communities of practice
B)strategic partnerships
C)joint stock companies
D)organizational task forces

Accepted Answer

Strategic partnerships involve two or more organizations collaborating and combining their resources and capabilities for a business purpose. Communities of practice refer to groups of individuals within an organization who share a common interest or expertise, while joint stock companies involve the pooling of resources from multiple investors to create a separate legal entity. Organizational task forces are temporary groups formed to address specific issues or projects within an organization.

Quiz 11: Designing Organizational - Structure Adaptive Design

A task force is also called a(n) ________.

A task force is a permanent committee or team formed to tackle a long-term problem affecting several departments of an organization.

Which of the following will help in making communities of practice successful?

The management decides to set up an online forum which will allow its software developers to post queries and share their ideas and best practices with their peers around the world.Such forms of collaboration are called ________.

Which of the following is a drawback of open innovation?

The top management have instructed Adam to put together a temporary team which will develop new training programs for the purpose of upgrading the existing skills of the firm's software engineers.Adam is being asked to put together a ________.

Several neurologists were confounded by a patient's lack of response to traditional treatment.One of them went to a special Web site just for medical personnel to see if others had encountered this problem and whether there was a different method to try.The neurologist was a member of ________.

Searching for new ideas beyond an organization's boundaries and allowing changes to easily transfer inward and outward is known as ________.

Which of the following is true regarding task forces?

Collaborative work increases communication and coordination among participants.

The management is thinking of joining hands with its one time rival,CG-VAK Software,in order to gain access to new markets and technologies.By doing this,the organization is nurturing a ________.

ABC Corp.decides to enter the cell phone market.Before launching its new handset,it creates a digital platform which allows the general public to post their ideas and opinions about the features they want in the new phone.In this scenario,the company is ________.

A cross-functional team has no artificial boundaries and thus,the team focuses on working together to achieve organizational goals.

________ refer to groups of people who share a concern,a set of problems,or a passion about a topic,and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in that area by interacting on an ongoing basis.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a strategic partnership?

Which of the following is an advantage of open innovation?

A strategic partnership ________.

Consolidated Technology's largest customer has complained again about the quality of the parts it has received.Consolidated has asked for volunteers to participate on a problem-solving team to find the cause and propose a solution for this ongoing problem.Consolidated is forming a ________.

Collaborative relationships between two or more organizations in which they combine their resources and capabilities for some business purpose are known as ________.