Question 1

Organizational structures are tools for change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Decentralization is more likely to occur when:

Accepted Answer

A)  an organization becomes so complex that senior executives cannot process all the decisions that significantly influence the business. 
B)  corporate leaders want more consistent decisions across all work units. 
C)  corporate leaders want to increase consistency and reduce costs across the organization. 
D)  all of these occur. 
E)  none of these occur. 
A)  an organization becomes so complex that senior executives cannot process all the decisions that significantly influence the business. 
B)  corporate leaders want more consistent decisions across all work units. 
C)  corporate leaders want to increase consistency and reduce costs across the organization. 
D)  all of these occur. 
E)  none of these occur.

Question 3

A divisionalized structure works best where the organization:

Accepted Answer

A)  has few employees. 
B)  operates in one market with one product and one client group. 
C)  wants to assign the most power to executives responsible for technical expertise in the organization. 
D)  is expanding into several distinct product and/or client groups. 
E)  wants to maintain a strong centralized control over business activities. 
A)  has few employees. 
B)  operates in one market with one product and one client group. 
C)  wants to assign the most power to executives responsible for technical expertise in the organization. 
D)  is expanding into several distinct product and/or client groups. 
E)  wants to maintain a strong centralized control over business activities.

Question 4

Standardizing work through job descriptions and procedures:

Accepted Answer

A)  is a form of coordination. 
B)  is more common when the work is complex and ambiguous. 
C)  tends to reduce quality and consistency. 
D)  is unnecessary in large organizations. 
E)  is more common in organic rather than mechanistic structures. 
A)  is a form of coordination. 
B)  is more common when the work is complex and ambiguous. 
C)  tends to reduce quality and consistency. 
D)  is unnecessary in large organizations. 
E)  is more common in organic rather than mechanistic structures.

Question 5

Mechanistic structures operate best in stable environments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Several global organizations have tried implementing a matrix structure to balance the power of its functional and divisional groups.However,many of these firms experienced problems and eventually switched to a hybrid form of divisionalized structure.Identify some of the problems that these companies may have experienced with a matrix structure.

Accepted Answer

Matrix structures have a number of limit

Question 7

Job descriptions,goal setting,and training are applications of coordination through standardization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which organizational design element is most closely related to standardization as a coordinating mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Departmentalization 
B)  Span of control 
C)  Formalization 
D)  Centralization 
E)  Division of labour 
A)  Departmentalization 
B)  Span of control 
C)  Formalization 
D)  Centralization 
E)  Division of labour

Question 9

Executives at CelCorp,a major telecommunications company,are concerned that its organizational structure is ineffective.The company currently has a functional structure in which employees are grouped by specialization: manufacturing,marketing,research,administration,etc.CelCorp has manufacturing plants in six countries throughout the globe,marketing operations in several dozen countries,and research and development centers in three countries.The company makes three distinct products with approximately equal revenue: mobile telephones,satellite communication systems and Internet routers.Recommend a new organizational structure for CelCorp and justify your decision.

Accepted Answer

CelCorp's current situation clearly call

Question 10

One of the main benefits of formal hierarchy as a coordinating mechanism is that it increases flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

For many years,Quokka Consumer Ltd.has had a geographic divisionalized organizational structure.Now,the company is rethinking the appropriateness of this structure compared to other divisionalized structures.Describe the two other divisionalized structures that Quokka can consider adopting and give two explanations why Quokka might want to move away from the geographic structure.

Accepted Answer

To answer this question,students first n

Question 12

An organic structure has:

Accepted Answer

A)  a narrow span of control and low formalization. 
B)  centralized decision making and a wide span of control. 
C)  decentralized decision making and low formalization. 
D)  a high degree of formalization and a wide span of control. 
E)  functional departmentalization and a high degree of formalization. 
A)  a narrow span of control and low formalization. 
B)  centralized decision making and a wide span of control. 
C)  decentralized decision making and low formalization. 
D)  a high degree of formalization and a wide span of control. 
E)  functional departmentalization and a high degree of formalization.

Question 13

One problem with departmentalization is that it discourages coordination through informal communication.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

What type of departmentalization should a large multinational organization adopt?

Accepted Answer

This question basically requires student

Question 15

Which of these statements about decentralization is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Organizations decentralize as they grow larger. 
B)  Different degrees of decentralization can occur simultaneously in different parts of the organization. 
C)  Organizations operating in diverse environments are more effective when they centralize decision making. 
D)  Large organizations should worry about having too much decentralization. 
E)  Large organizations that remain centralized tend to become less responsive to the external environment. 
A)  Organizations decentralize as they grow larger. 
B)  Different degrees of decentralization can occur simultaneously in different parts of the organization. 
C)  Organizations operating in diverse environments are more effective when they centralize decision making. 
D)  Large organizations should worry about having too much decentralization. 
E)  Large organizations that remain centralized tend to become less responsive to the external environment.

Question 16

Which form of departmentalization tends to require the most coordination and has a high potential for conflict?

Accepted Answer

A)  Divisional structure 
B)  Functional structure 
C)  Simple structure 
D)  Matrix structure 
E)  Network structure 
A)  Divisional structure 
B)  Functional structure 
C)  Simple structure 
D)  Matrix structure 
E)  Network structure

Question 17

In which of the four external environments would a network structure be most effective?

Accepted Answer

The four types of external environments

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT typically a problem with a functional structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  It tends to increase dysfunctional conflict across work units. 
B)  It requires higher levels of interdependence than simple or divisionalized forms, thereby increasing potentially dysfunctional conflict. 
C)  It is more difficult to directly supervise employees within each department. 
D)  Employees are less likely to develop a broader understanding of the business. 
E)  It puts more emphasis on subunit goals than on organizational goals. 
A)  It tends to increase dysfunctional conflict across work units. 
B)  It requires higher levels of interdependence than simple or divisionalized forms, thereby increasing potentially dysfunctional conflict. 
C)  It is more difficult to directly supervise employees within each department. 
D)  Employees are less likely to develop a broader understanding of the business. 
E)  It puts more emphasis on subunit goals than on organizational goals.

Question 19

The primary source of environmental diversity or uncertainty mainly determines the best form of divisional structure an organization should adopt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

A network structure:

Accepted Answer

A)  operates within a larger organization with a divisionalized structure. 
B)  offers the flexibility to realign its structure with changing environmental requirements. 
C)  is a variation of a divisionalized structure. 
D)  exists within most small and large organizations. 
E)  is none of these. 
A)  operates within a larger organization with a divisionalized structure. 
B)  offers the flexibility to realign its structure with changing environmental requirements. 
C)  is a variation of a divisionalized structure. 
D)  exists within most small and large organizations. 
E)  is none of these.

Organizational structures are tools for change.

Decentralization is more likely to occur when:

A divisionalized structure works best where the organization:

Standardizing work through job descriptions and procedures:

Mechanistic structures operate best in stable environments.

Job descriptions,goal setting,and training are applications of coordination through standardization.

Which organizational design element is most closely related to standardization as a coordinating mechanism?

One of the main benefits of formal hierarchy as a coordinating mechanism is that it increases flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs.

An organic structure has:

One problem with departmentalization is that it discourages coordination through informal communication.

What type of departmentalization should a large multinational organization adopt?

Which of these statements about decentralization is FALSE?

Which form of departmentalization tends to require the most coordination and has a high potential for conflict?

In which of the four external environments would a network structure be most effective?

Which of the following is NOT typically a problem with a functional structure?

The primary source of environmental diversity or uncertainty mainly determines the best form of divisional structure an organization should adopt.

A network structure:

Introduction to the Field of Organizational Behaviour

Individual Behaviour, Personality, and Values

Perceiving Ourselves and Others in Organizations

Workplace Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress

Foundations of Employee Motivation

Applied Performance Practices

Decision Making and Creativity

Team Dynamics

Communicating in Teams and Organizations

Power and Influence in the Workplace

Understanding and Managing Workplace Conflict

Leadership in Organizational Settings

Organizational Culture

Organizational Change Additional Cases

Filters

Exam 13: Designing Organizational Structures

Organizational structures are tools for change.

Decentralization is more likely to occur when:

A divisionalized structure works best where the organization:

Standardizing work through job descriptions and procedures:

Mechanistic structures operate best in stable environments.

Job descriptions,goal setting,and training are applications of coordination through standardization.

Which organizational design element is most closely related to standardization as a coordinating mechanism?

One of the main benefits of formal hierarchy as a coordinating mechanism is that it increases flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs.

An organic structure has:

One problem with departmentalization is that it discourages coordination through informal communication.

What type of departmentalization should a large multinational organization adopt?

Which of these statements about decentralization is FALSE?

Which form of departmentalization tends to require the most coordination and has a high potential for conflict?

In which of the four external environments would a network structure be most effective?

Which of the following is NOT typically a problem with a functional structure?

The primary source of environmental diversity or uncertainty mainly determines the best form of divisional structure an organization should adopt.

A network structure:

Introduction to the Field of Organizational Behaviour

Individual Behaviour, Personality, and Values

Perceiving Ourselves and Others in Organizations

Workplace Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress

Foundations of Employee Motivation

Applied Performance Practices

Decision Making and Creativity

Team Dynamics

Communicating in Teams and Organizations

Power and Influence in the Workplace

Understanding and Managing Workplace Conflict

Leadership in Organizational Settings

Organizational Culture

Organizational Change Additional Cases

Filters