Exam 7: Designing Organization Structure

In small-batch technology, _____ communication is high; in mass production technologies, _____ communication is high; in continuous process technologies, _____ communication is high.

An advantage of vertical functional structure is the ability to respond quickly to external changes.

Small-batch manufacturing is close to traditional skilled-craft work.

In the divisional approach, coordination across divisions is usually strong, whereas coordination within divisions is often poor.

__________ is the process managers use to transfer authority and responsibility to positions below them in the hierarchy.

At Fox End, people are grouped together in departments by common skills and work activities.There is, for example, a sales department and a production department.This is an example of vertical functional approach.

Traditional views of organizational design recommend a span of management of about 7 to 10 subordinates per manager.

Describe the use of geographic divisions.

The degree to which organizational tasks are subdivided into individual jobs is called __________.

For companies to operate effectively, the amount of centralization or decentralization should fit the firm's strategy.

Organ Rentals Corporation has been having numerous problems.Communication across departments is poor and decisions are backing up at the top of the organization.Organ Rentals most likely uses a __________ structure.

Characterize continuous process technology with respect to technical complexity of the production process (low, medium, or high), amount of centralization (low, medium, or high), and its overall structure (organic or mechanistic).

__________ production involves the production of goods in batches of one or a few products designed to customer specifications.

The functional, __________, and __________ are traditional approaches that rely on the chain of command to define departmental groupings and reporting relationships along the hierarchy.

Continuous process production is characterized by organic structure.

Describe the two-boss problem and explain who the "two bosses" are.

Rebecca works for a company that has clearly defined lines of authority.Each employee knows that he or she has authority and responsibility for a distinct set of tasks.Employees are also aware of the company's reporting structure as well as successive management levels all the way to the top.Rebecca's company follows which of the following principles?

What is (are) the difference(s) between cross-functional and permanent teams?

The functional structure is appropriate when the primary goal is innovation and flexibility.

Vertical hierarchies are no longer considered appropriate, and they often produce significant impairments in organizational functioning.