Question 1

What is the principle of minimum chain of command?

Accepted Answer

According to the principle of minimum chain of command, an organization should choose the minimum number of hierarchical levels consistent with its goals and the environment in which it operates. In other words, an organization should be kept as flat as possible, and top managers should be evaluated for their ability to monitor and control its activities with the fewest managers possible.

Question 2

In a bureaucratic organization, individuals can be held accountable for what they do, and such accountability reduces the transaction costs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Role ________ occurs when two or more people have different views of what another person should do, and as a result, make opposing demands on the person.

Accepted Answer

A)  conflict 
B)  divergence 
C)  contravention 
D)  ambiguity 
A)  conflict 
B)  divergence 
C)  contravention 
D)  ambiguity A

Question 4

Which of the following observations made by Parkinson led to the development of the Parkinson's law?

Accepted Answer

A)  A division of labor increases efficiency. 
B)  As the number of levels in the hierarchy increases, the quality of the communication improves. 
C)  The use of flat organization structure improves the motivation of the employees. 
D)  Managers seek to increase the number of their subordinates. 
A)  A division of labor increases efficiency. 
B)  As the number of levels in the hierarchy increases, the quality of the communication improves. 
C)  The use of flat organization structure improves the motivation of the employees. 
D)  Managers seek to increase the number of their subordinates.

Question 5

It is more difficult to increase the span of control when ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  tasks are routine or similar 
B)  tasks are highly interrelated 
C)  the structure of the organization is highly decentralized 
D)  the organization operates in a stable environment 
A)  tasks are routine or similar 
B)  tasks are highly interrelated 
C)  the structure of the organization is highly decentralized 
D)  the organization operates in a stable environment

Question 6

Discuss the Parkinson's law problem.

Accepted Answer

Parkinson argued that growth in the numb

Question 7

List the six bureaucratic principles developed by Max Weber.

Accepted Answer

The six bureaucratic principles develope

Question 8

In the case of a bureaucracy, if managers fail to control the development of the organizational hierarchy properly then the organization is most likely to become ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  flexible 
B)  decentralized 
C)  unresponsive to the needs of customers 
D)  very flat 
A)  flexible 
B)  decentralized 
C)  unresponsive to the needs of customers 
D)  very flat

Question 9

Discuss the significance of direct supervision.

Accepted Answer

Direct supervision allows managers to sh

Question 10

Role conflict occurs when a person's tasks or authority are not clearly defined and the person becomes afraid to act on or take responsibility for anything.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

________ is the process of giving employees throughout the organization the authority to make important decisions and to be responsible for their outcomes.

Accepted Answer

A)  Empowerment 
B)  Value engineering 
C)  Operant conditioning 
D)  Reciprocal logrolling 
A)  Empowerment 
B)  Value engineering 
C)  Operant conditioning 
D)  Reciprocal logrolling

Question 12

Which of the following is most likely to be the effect of standardization?

Accepted Answer

A)  The actions of the employees become predictable. 
B)  Managers span of control decreases. 
C)  The number of levels in the hierarchy increases. 
D)  The need for division of labor decreases. 
A)  The actions of the employees become predictable. 
B)  Managers span of control decreases. 
C)  The number of levels in the hierarchy increases. 
D)  The need for division of labor decreases.

Question 13

Which of the following factors is most likely to increase vertical differentiation within an organization because it leads to the creation of many subunit hierarchies within the organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing level of formalization 
B)  increasing employee empowerment 
C)  increasing horizontal differentiation 
D)  increasing upward communication but decreasing downward communication 
A)  increasing level of formalization 
B)  increasing employee empowerment 
C)  increasing horizontal differentiation 
D)  increasing upward communication but decreasing downward communication

Question 14

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of a bureaucratic structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  stagnation 
B)  role conflict 
C)  lack of standard operating procedures 
D)  role ambiguity 
A)  stagnation 
B)  role conflict 
C)  lack of standard operating procedures 
D)  role ambiguity

Question 15

If the span of control of each manager increases as the number of employee's increases, then the number of managers or hierarchical levels does not increase in proportion to increases in the number of employees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following is one of Weber's bureaucratic principles?

Accepted Answer

A)  A tall organization should use a decentralized organizational structure and narrow span of control. 
B)  In order to decrease environmental complexity, an organization should centralize its operations. 
C)  Organizational roles are held on the basis of technical competence. 
D)  Employees should be allowed to participate in decision-making. 
A)  A tall organization should use a decentralized organizational structure and narrow span of control. 
B)  In order to decrease environmental complexity, an organization should centralize its operations. 
C)  Organizational roles are held on the basis of technical competence. 
D)  Employees should be allowed to participate in decision-making.

Question 17

Parkinson's law states that "Work expands so as to fill the time available."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Adding more managers to a company is most likely to result in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  increase in the degree of centralization 
B)  flattening of the organizational structure 
C)  higher bureaucratic costs 
D)  decrease in the number of hierarchical levels 
A)  increase in the degree of centralization 
B)  flattening of the organizational structure 
C)  higher bureaucratic costs 
D)  decrease in the number of hierarchical levels

Question 19

Rose supervises Iris, who in turn supervises Violet and Daisy. Violet has four subordinates and Daisy has six. Which of the following options represents the accurate spans of control for each of these supervisors?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rose 13, Iris 2, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
B)  Rose 13, Iris 12, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
C)  Rose 1, Iris 2, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
D)  Rose 3, Iris 12, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
A)  Rose 13, Iris 2, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
B)  Rose 13, Iris 12, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
C)  Rose 1, Iris 2, Violet 4, Daisy 6 
D)  Rose 3, Iris 12, Violet 4, Daisy 6

Question 20

What is the major difference between a tall organization and a flat organization?

Accepted Answer

A tall organization is an organization i

What is the principle of minimum chain of command?

In a bureaucratic organization, individuals can be held accountable for what they do, and such accountability reduces the transaction costs.

Role ________ occurs when two or more people have different views of what another person should do, and as a result, make opposing demands on the person.

Which of the following observations made by Parkinson led to the development of the Parkinson's law?

It is more difficult to increase the span of control when ________.

Discuss the Parkinson's law problem.

List the six bureaucratic principles developed by Max Weber.

In the case of a bureaucracy, if managers fail to control the development of the organizational hierarchy properly then the organization is most likely to become ________.

Discuss the significance of direct supervision.

Role conflict occurs when a person's tasks or authority are not clearly defined and the person becomes afraid to act on or take responsibility for anything.

________ is the process of giving employees throughout the organization the authority to make important decisions and to be responsible for their outcomes.

Which of the following is most likely to be the effect of standardization?

Which of the following factors is most likely to increase vertical differentiation within an organization because it leads to the creation of many subunit hierarchies within the organization?

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of a bureaucratic structure?

If the span of control of each manager increases as the number of employee's increases, then the number of managers or hierarchical levels does not increase in proportion to increases in the number of employees.

Which of the following is one of Weber's bureaucratic principles?

Parkinson's law states that "Work expands so as to fill the time available."

Adding more managers to a company is most likely to result in ________.

Rose supervises Iris, who in turn supervises Violet and Daisy. Violet has four subordinates and Daisy has six. Which of the following options represents the accurate spans of control for each of these supervisors?

What is the major difference between a tall organization and a flat organization?

Organizations and Organizational Effectiveness

Stakeholders, Managers, and Ethics

Organizing in a Changing Global Environment

Basic Challenges of Organizational Design

Designing Organizational Structure: Specialization and Coordination

Creating and Managing Organizational Culture

Organizational Design and Strategy in a Changing Global Environment

Organizational Design, Competences, and Technology

Types and Forms of Organizational Change

Organizational Transformations: Birth, Growth, Decline, and Death

Decision Making, Learning, Knowledge Management, and Information Technology

Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity

Managing Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters

Exam 5: Designing Organizational Structure: Authority and Control

What is the principle of minimum chain of command?

In a bureaucratic organization, individuals can be held accountable for what they do, and such accountability reduces the transaction costs.

Role ________ occurs when two or more people have different views of what another person should do, and as a result, make opposing demands on the person.

Which of the following observations made by Parkinson led to the development of the Parkinson's law?

It is more difficult to increase the span of control when ________.

Discuss the Parkinson's law problem.

List the six bureaucratic principles developed by Max Weber.

In the case of a bureaucracy, if managers fail to control the development of the organizational hierarchy properly then the organization is most likely to become ________.

Discuss the significance of direct supervision.

Role conflict occurs when a person's tasks or authority are not clearly defined and the person becomes afraid to act on or take responsibility for anything.

________ is the process of giving employees throughout the organization the authority to make important decisions and to be responsible for their outcomes.

Which of the following is most likely to be the effect of standardization?

Which of the following factors is most likely to increase vertical differentiation within an organization because it leads to the creation of many subunit hierarchies within the organization?

Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of a bureaucratic structure?

If the span of control of each manager increases as the number of employee's increases, then the number of managers or hierarchical levels does not increase in proportion to increases in the number of employees.

Which of the following is one of Weber's bureaucratic principles?

Parkinson's law states that "Work expands so as to fill the time available."

Adding more managers to a company is most likely to result in ________.

Rose supervises Iris, who in turn supervises Violet and Daisy. Violet has four subordinates and Daisy has six. Which of the following options represents the accurate spans of control for each of these supervisors?

What is the major difference between a tall organization and a flat organization?

Organizations and Organizational Effectiveness

Stakeholders, Managers, and Ethics

Organizing in a Changing Global Environment

Basic Challenges of Organizational Design

Designing Organizational Structure: Specialization and Coordination

Creating and Managing Organizational Culture

Organizational Design and Strategy in a Changing Global Environment

Organizational Design, Competences, and Technology

Types and Forms of Organizational Change

Organizational Transformations: Birth, Growth, Decline, and Death

Decision Making, Learning, Knowledge Management, and Information Technology

Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity

Managing Conflict, Power, and Politics

Filters