Question 1

Horizontal differentiation leads to the emergence of specialized subunits-functions or divisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following is most likely to increase the bureaucratic costs?

Accepted Answer

A)  changing the organization structure from functional to divisional 
B)  decreasing the number of managers 
C)  increasing the number of hierarchical levels 
D)  decreasing the level of standardization 
A)  changing the organization structure from functional to divisional 
B)  decreasing the number of managers 
C)  increasing the number of hierarchical levels 
D)  decreasing the level of standardization

Question 3

Research evidence suggests that an organization with 3,000 employees is most likely to have ________ levels in its hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

A)  five 
B)  six 
C)  seven 
D)  nine 
A)  five 
B)  six 
C)  seven 
D)  nine

Question 4

Decentralization does not eliminate the need for many hierarchical levels in a large and complex organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true according to Weber's principles of bureaucratic structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  Classroom training should be given to all the employees to improve their theoretical knowledge. 
B)  In a stable environment, an organization should use a centralized organizational structure with narrow spans of control. 
C)  A role's task responsibility and decision-making authority should be clearly specified. 
D)  A 360 degrees appraisal should be conducted for all the employees at least twice a year. 
A)  Classroom training should be given to all the employees to improve their theoretical knowledge. 
B)  In a stable environment, an organization should use a centralized organizational structure with narrow spans of control. 
C)  A role's task responsibility and decision-making authority should be clearly specified. 
D)  A 360 degrees appraisal should be conducted for all the employees at least twice a year.

Question 6

Joe, an accountant, works for Jack and Judy. Jack told Joe to use the straight-line method for calculating depreciation, and Judy told Joe to use the double-declining-balance method to compute depreciation. Joe is experiencing a role ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

When each employee performs only a small part of a total task, identifying the employees individual contribution to the task becomes easy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following is one of the important trends that is accelerating as the result of advances in IT?

Accepted Answer

A)  conducting classroom training for newly hired employees 
B)  using self-managed teams 
C)  using a highly centralized organizational structure 
D)  using a tall organizational hierarchy with several levels 
A)  conducting classroom training for newly hired employees 
B)  using self-managed teams 
C)  using a highly centralized organizational structure 
D)  using a tall organizational hierarchy with several levels

Question 9

Standardization makes it easier to increase span of control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following is the most direct effect of decentralization?

Accepted Answer

A)  the time required to make decisions increases 
B)  the flexibility of the organization decreases 
C)  the specific environment of the organization gets stabilized 
D)  the monitoring burden on top managers is reduced 
A)  the time required to make decisions increases 
B)  the flexibility of the organization decreases 
C)  the specific environment of the organization gets stabilized 
D)  the monitoring burden on top managers is reduced

Question 11

The greater the number of hierarchical levels in an organization, the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The shape of an organization, depicted by its organizational chart, determines how effectively the organization's decision-making and communication systems work.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The greater the number of managers the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Most organizations have a pyramid-like structure with fewer and fewer managers at each level up in the hierarchy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding a tall organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  A tall organization has few levels in its hierarchy relative to its size. 
B)  Generally organizations with less than 1000 employees have tall structures. 
C)  A tall organization has more managers to direct and control employees' activities than does a flat organization with the same number of employees. 
D)  The taller an organization, the more decentralized are its operations. 
A)  A tall organization has few levels in its hierarchy relative to its size. 
B)  Generally organizations with less than 1000 employees have tall structures. 
C)  A tall organization has more managers to direct and control employees' activities than does a flat organization with the same number of employees. 
D)  The taller an organization, the more decentralized are its operations.

Question 16

According to the principle of ________, an organization should choose the minimum number of hierarchical levels consistent with its goals and the environment in which it operates.

Accepted Answer

A)  economies of scope 
B)  minimum chain of command 
C)  unity of direction 
D)  horizontal differentiation 
A)  economies of scope 
B)  minimum chain of command 
C)  unity of direction 
D)  horizontal differentiation

Question 17

The primary advantage of a bureaucracy is that it lays out the ground rules for designing an organizational hierarchy that efficiently controls interactions between organizational levels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

When there are limits on the usefulness of direct, personal supervision by managers, organizations have to find other ways to control their activities. In such a situations, which of the following, typically, is the first step taken by the organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  decreasing the level of standardization 
B)  increasing the level of horizontal differentiation 
C)  increasing the division of labor 
D)  increasing the span of control 
A)  decreasing the level of standardization 
B)  increasing the level of horizontal differentiation 
C)  increasing the division of labor 
D)  increasing the span of control

Question 19

Which of the following types of organizations is most likely to be characterized by clearly defined roles, decision-making authority, rules, and standard operating procedures?

Accepted Answer

A)  an organic organization 
B)  a bureaucratic organization 
C)  a flat organization 
D)  a vertically differentiated organization 
A)  an organic organization 
B)  a bureaucratic organization 
C)  a flat organization 
D)  a vertically differentiated organization

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Horizontal differentiation leads to the emergence of specialized subunits-functions or divisions.

Which of the following is most likely to increase the bureaucratic costs?

Research evidence suggests that an organization with 3,000 employees is most likely to have ________ levels in its hierarchy.

Decentralization does not eliminate the need for many hierarchical levels in a large and complex organization.

Which of the following statements is true according to Weber's principles of bureaucratic structure?

Joe, an accountant, works for Jack and Judy. Jack told Joe to use the straight-line method for calculating depreciation, and Judy told Joe to use the double-declining-balance method to compute depreciation. Joe is experiencing a role ________.

When each employee performs only a small part of a total task, identifying the employees individual contribution to the task becomes easy.

Which of the following is one of the important trends that is accelerating as the result of advances in IT?

Standardization makes it easier to increase span of control.

Which of the following is the most direct effect of decentralization?

The greater the number of hierarchical levels in an organization, the lower the bureaucratic costs.

The shape of an organization, depicted by its organizational chart, determines how effectively the organization's decision-making and communication systems work.

The greater the number of managers the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Most organizations have a pyramid-like structure with fewer and fewer managers at each level up in the hierarchy.

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding a tall organization?

According to the principle of ________, an organization should choose the minimum number of hierarchical levels consistent with its goals and the environment in which it operates.

The primary advantage of a bureaucracy is that it lays out the ground rules for designing an organizational hierarchy that efficiently controls interactions between organizational levels.

When there are limits on the usefulness of direct, personal supervision by managers, organizations have to find other ways to control their activities. In such a situations, which of the following, typically, is the first step taken by the organizations?

Which of the following types of organizations is most likely to be characterized by clearly defined roles, decision-making authority, rules, and standard operating procedures?

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

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

Horizontal differentiation leads to the emergence of specialized subunits-functions or divisions.

Which of the following is most likely to increase the bureaucratic costs?

Research evidence suggests that an organization with 3,000 employees is most likely to have ________ levels in its hierarchy.

Decentralization does not eliminate the need for many hierarchical levels in a large and complex organization.

Which of the following statements is true according to Weber's principles of bureaucratic structure?

Joe, an accountant, works for Jack and Judy. Jack told Joe to use the straight-line method for calculating depreciation, and Judy told Joe to use the double-declining-balance method to compute depreciation. Joe is experiencing a role ________.

When each employee performs only a small part of a total task, identifying the employees individual contribution to the task becomes easy.

Which of the following is one of the important trends that is accelerating as the result of advances in IT?

Standardization makes it easier to increase span of control.

Which of the following is the most direct effect of decentralization?

The greater the number of hierarchical levels in an organization, the lower the bureaucratic costs.

The shape of an organization, depicted by its organizational chart, determines how effectively the organization's decision-making and communication systems work.

The greater the number of managers the lower the bureaucratic costs.

Most organizations have a pyramid-like structure with fewer and fewer managers at each level up in the hierarchy.

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding a tall organization?

According to the principle of ________, an organization should choose the minimum number of hierarchical levels consistent with its goals and the environment in which it operates.

The primary advantage of a bureaucracy is that it lays out the ground rules for designing an organizational hierarchy that efficiently controls interactions between organizational levels.

When there are limits on the usefulness of direct, personal supervision by managers, organizations have to find other ways to control their activities. In such a situations, which of the following, typically, is the first step taken by the organizations?

Which of the following types of organizations is most likely to be characterized by clearly defined roles, decision-making authority, rules, and standard operating procedures?

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

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