Exam 7: Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations

In the bureaucratic structure of a medium-sized university, approximately where would one find the instructor for this course, provided that he or she is not the chair of the sociology department?

Discuss the history of voluntary associations and what motivates people to join this type of organization.

Bob works at an automobile factory that organizes its workers into small groups that meet regularly to discuss ways to increase production and efficiency. Individual workers are often singled out and recognized for their contributions to the organization. These are examples of attempts to ________.

In the global economic shakeout, companies that survive, whether thriving or hanging by their fingernails, will be ________.

What did Rosabeth Moss Kanter discover about the relationship between a corporation's level of bureaucratic structure and its profit-making potential? Why?

In her study of 47 corporations, what was the relationship that Rosabeth Moss Kanter discovered between the flexibility of a corporation and corporate profit?

What is meant by "humanizing the work setting"?

A division of labor, written rules, and impersonality are some of the key features common to bureaucracies.

In corporate culture, what is a "cook-off"?

Patti Sue is having difficulty adjusting to George, the new office supervisor. George is quite a "bean counter" and has shown a great deal of insensitivity toward everyone in the office. In view of this, what is the most likely course of action Patti Sue and the other office workers will take?

What characteristics would individuals who make up an organization's inner circle likely possess?

The domination of organizations by a small, self-perpetuating elite is called ________.

What is "McDonaldization"? Describe some of its positive as well as negative consequences for social life.

The "iron law" of oligarchy is a term coined by sociologist Robert Michels to describe the tendency of formal organizations to be dominated by a small, self-perpetuating elite.

What is the widespread acceptance of using rules, efficiency, and practical results to determine human affairs and the building of social organizations around this concept?

One of the first theorists to argue that the adoption of capitalism is responsible for the decline of traditional orientations to social life was ________.

Which sociologist is given credit for coining the concept of the "McDonaldization of Society"?

When members of an organization are promoted for their accomplishments until they reach their level of incompetence, this is referred to as the Peter principle.

Investigators who use specialized software to recover every note employees have written and every website they have visited are known as ________.

One of the latest fads to build corporate teamwork and solidarity is the "cook-off." Which statement best summarizes this activity?