Question 1

Formalization represents the establishment of standardization as a coordinating mechanism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A problem with the divisional organizational structure is that it does not allow the organization to grow within that structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a potentially negative long-term consequence of excessive delayering of middle management?

Accepted Answer

A)  It undermines managerial functions. 
B)  It restricts managerial career development. 
C)  It increases management workloads 
D)  It sends a signal that managers are no longer valued. 
E)  All of the above apply. 
A)  It undermines managerial functions. 
B)  It restricts managerial career development. 
C)  It increases management workloads 
D)  It sends a signal that managers are no longer valued. 
E)  All of the above apply.

Question 4

Large organizations can encourage coordination through informal communication by assigning liaison roles to employees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

A mechanistic organizational structure works better than an organic structure when:

Accepted Answer

A)  the organization operates in a hostile environment. 
B)  the organization adopts a differentiation strategy. 
C)  the organization requires a high degree of formalization. 
D)  the organization adopts a low-cost strategy. 
E)  the organization operates in a dynamic environment. 
A)  the organization operates in a hostile environment. 
B)  the organization adopts a differentiation strategy. 
C)  the organization requires a high degree of formalization. 
D)  the organization adopts a low-cost strategy. 
E)  the organization operates in a dynamic environment.

Question 6

Larger firms tend to be more centralized and make greater use of direct supervision than do smaller firms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Candoo Ltd.will soon flatten its hierarchy by removing two of the five layers of management.If the number of employees in the organization remains constant,which of the following must also occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  It must adopt a matrix form of departmentalization. 
B)  It must widen the span of control. 
C)  It must rely more on direct supervision than standardization to coordinate the resulting structure. 
D)  It must centralize decision making. 
E)  All of these must occur. 
A)  It must adopt a matrix form of departmentalization. 
B)  It must widen the span of control. 
C)  It must rely more on direct supervision than standardization to coordinate the resulting structure. 
D)  It must centralize decision making. 
E)  All of these must occur.

Question 8

Division of labour leads to increased job specialization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Contingencies,such as size,technology,and environment do not necessarily determine an organization's structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A simple structure is one of the best structures in which to accommodate organizational growth and diversification.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The best organizational structure depends on the variety and analyzability of the tasks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following is a coordinating mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Standardization 
B)  Formal hierarchy 
C)  Informal communication 
D)  All of these are coordinating mechanisms. 
E)  None of these is a coordinating mechanism. 
A)  Standardization 
B)  Formal hierarchy 
C)  Informal communication 
D)  All of these are coordinating mechanisms. 
E)  None of these is a coordinating mechanism.

Question 13

Functional structures foster professional identity and permit greater specialization than most other forms of departmentalization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The number of layers in an organization's hierarchy depends on the number of people employed and the average span of control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Integrator roles do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  They increase formalization and centralization. 
B)  They support informal communication as a coordinating mechanism. 
C)  They reduce the need for virtual corporations. 
D)  They increase the amount of formal hierarchy. 
E)  They do none of these things. 
A)  They increase formalization and centralization. 
B)  They support informal communication as a coordinating mechanism. 
C)  They reduce the need for virtual corporations. 
D)  They increase the amount of formal hierarchy. 
E)  They do none of these things.

Question 16

One of the defining characteristics of a functional organizational structure is that it:

Accepted Answer

A)  has a narrow span of control and high degree of formalization and centralization. 
B)  is the only structure that organizes employees around specific knowledge or other resources. 
C)  overlays two organizational structures in order to leverage the benefits of both types of structure. 
D)  uses self-directed work teams rather than individuals as the basic building block of organizations. 
E)  is an alliance of several organizations for the purpose of creating a product or serving a client. 
A)  has a narrow span of control and high degree of formalization and centralization. 
B)  is the only structure that organizes employees around specific knowledge or other resources. 
C)  overlays two organizational structures in order to leverage the benefits of both types of structure. 
D)  uses self-directed work teams rather than individuals as the basic building block of organizations. 
E)  is an alliance of several organizations for the purpose of creating a product or serving a client.

Question 17

Employees at a large call centre perform repetitive tasks (low variety)by documenting mailing addresses from customers who call the centre.The work process is the same for all inquiries to all call centre staff members (low analyzability).The best organizational structure for this work unit:

Accepted Answer

A)  is an organic structure. 
B)  would have low formalization. 
C)  would coordinate mainly through informal communication. 
D)  is a mechanistic structure. 
E)  would have none of these characteristics. 
A)  is an organic structure. 
B)  would have low formalization. 
C)  would coordinate mainly through informal communication. 
D)  is a mechanistic structure. 
E)  would have none of these characteristics.

Question 18

Some matrix structures typically overlay a divisional structure with a functional structure to gain the benefits of both.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Organizations tend to centralize as their external environment becomes more complex.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Span of control can be increased by introducing informal communication and other coordinating mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Formalization represents the establishment of standardization as a coordinating mechanism.

A problem with the divisional organizational structure is that it does not allow the organization to grow within that structure.

Which of the following is NOT a potentially negative long-term consequence of excessive delayering of middle management?

Large organizations can encourage coordination through informal communication by assigning liaison roles to employees.

A mechanistic organizational structure works better than an organic structure when:

Larger firms tend to be more centralized and make greater use of direct supervision than do smaller firms.

Candoo Ltd.will soon flatten its hierarchy by removing two of the five layers of management.If the number of employees in the organization remains constant,which of the following must also occur?

Division of labour leads to increased job specialization.

Contingencies,such as size,technology,and environment do not necessarily determine an organization's structure.

A simple structure is one of the best structures in which to accommodate organizational growth and diversification.

The best organizational structure depends on the variety and analyzability of the tasks.

Which of the following is a coordinating mechanism?

Functional structures foster professional identity and permit greater specialization than most other forms of departmentalization.

The number of layers in an organization's hierarchy depends on the number of people employed and the average span of control.

Integrator roles do which of the following?

One of the defining characteristics of a functional organizational structure is that it:

Employees at a large call centre perform repetitive tasks (low variety)by documenting mailing addresses from customers who call the centre.The work process is the same for all inquiries to all call centre staff members (low analyzability).The best organizational structure for this work unit:

Some matrix structures typically overlay a divisional structure with a functional structure to gain the benefits of both.

Organizations tend to centralize as their external environment becomes more complex.

Span of control can be increased by introducing informal communication and other coordinating mechanisms.

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

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Exam 13: Designing Organizational Structures

Formalization represents the establishment of standardization as a coordinating mechanism.

A problem with the divisional organizational structure is that it does not allow the organization to grow within that structure.

Which of the following is NOT a potentially negative long-term consequence of excessive delayering of middle management?

Large organizations can encourage coordination through informal communication by assigning liaison roles to employees.

A mechanistic organizational structure works better than an organic structure when:

Larger firms tend to be more centralized and make greater use of direct supervision than do smaller firms.

Candoo Ltd.will soon flatten its hierarchy by removing two of the five layers of management.If the number of employees in the organization remains constant,which of the following must also occur?

Division of labour leads to increased job specialization.

Contingencies,such as size,technology,and environment do not necessarily determine an organization's structure.

A simple structure is one of the best structures in which to accommodate organizational growth and diversification.

The best organizational structure depends on the variety and analyzability of the tasks.

Which of the following is a coordinating mechanism?

Functional structures foster professional identity and permit greater specialization than most other forms of departmentalization.

The number of layers in an organization's hierarchy depends on the number of people employed and the average span of control.

Integrator roles do which of the following?

One of the defining characteristics of a functional organizational structure is that it:

Employees at a large call centre perform repetitive tasks (low variety)by documenting mailing addresses from customers who call the centre.The work process is the same for all inquiries to all call centre staff members (low analyzability).The best organizational structure for this work unit:

Some matrix structures typically overlay a divisional structure with a functional structure to gain the benefits of both.

Organizations tend to centralize as their external environment becomes more complex.

Span of control can be increased by introducing informal communication and other coordinating mechanisms.

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