Chapter 9 quiz

Which of the following is a similarity between functional departmentalization and product departmentalization?

Both allow managers and workers to specialize in one area of expertise.

_____ is the location of most authority at the upper levels of an organization.

Centralization of authority

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following is a difference between centralization and decentralization?

Centralization should occur where standardization is important, whereas decentralization should occur where standardization is unimportant.

A virtual organization is an organization that outsources noncore business activities to outside companies, suppliers, specialists, or consultants.

False

Staff functions are activities that directly contribute to creating and selling a company's products, whereas line functions are activities that support staff functions.

False

The chain of command is a vertical line of responsibility that clarifies which task has to be performed by whom.

False

The third transfer that occurs with delegation of authority is that the manager gives the subordinate full authority over the budget, resources, and personnel needed to do a job.

False

In the context of matrix departmentalization, which of the following is a difference between a simple matrix and a complex matrix?

In a simple matrix, managers in different parts of the matrix negotiate conflicts directly, whereas in a complex matrix, managers in different parts of the matrix report to matrix managers who help resolve conflicts.

In the context of reengineering, which of the following is a difference between sequential interdependence and reciprocal interdependence?

In sequential interdependence, work is performed in succession because one group's or job's outputs become the inputs for the next group or job, whereas in reciprocal interdependence, different jobs or groups work together in a back-and-forth manner to complete a process.

Which of the following is an advantage of matrix departmentalization?

It allows companies to manage large, complex tasks in an efficient manner.

Which of the following is an advantage of product departmentalization?

It allows managers and workers to specialize in one area of expertise.

Which of the following statements is true of functional departmentalization?

It allows work to be done by highly qualified specialists.

Which of the following is an advantage of geographic departmentalization?

It can reduce costs by locating unique organizational resources closer to customers.

Which of the following best defines delegation of authority?

It is the assignment of direct responsibility to a subordinate to complete tasks for which the manager is normally responsible.

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following best defines staff authority?

It is the right to advise but not command others who are not subordinates in the chain of command.

In the context of job design, which of the following is true of job specialization?

It occurs when a job is composed of a small part of a larger task or process.

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following is an advantage of unity of command?

It prevents the confusion that might arise when an employee receives conflicting commands from two different bosses.

In the context of the chain of command in an organization, which of the following is a difference between line authority and staff authority?

Line authority is the right to command immediate subordinates, whereas staff authority is the right to advise but not command people who are not subordinates.

_____ is a hybrid organizational structure in which two or more forms of departmentalization are used together.

Matrix departmentalization

_____ is the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments, authority, and jobs within a company.

Organizational structure

In the context of interorganizational processes, which of the following is a disadvantage of modular organizations?

They are characterized by a loss of control that occurs when key business activities are outsourced to other companies.

In the context of interorganizational processes, which of the following is true of virtual organizations?

They use a broker to create and assemble the knowledge, skills, and resources from different companies for customers.

Empowering workers means permanently passing decision-making authority and responsibility from managers to workers.

True

Empowerment can lead to changes in organizational processes because meaning, competence, impact, and self-determination produce empowered employees who take active rather than passive roles in their work.

True

The working relationships between modular organizations and outside companies tend to be more stable and longer lasting than the relationships found among the virtual companies in a network alliance.

True

_____ is a management principle which means that workers should report to just one boss.

Unity of command

In the context of job design, identify a difference between job rotation and job enlargement.

Unlike job rotation, job enlargement increases the number of different tasks that a worker performs within one particular job.

Which of the following is a difference between product departmentalization and matrix departmentalization?

Unlike organizations with product departmentalization, organizations with matrix departmentalization use two or more forms of departmentalization together.

In the context of organizational structure, _____ is defined as the right to give commands, take action, and make decisions to achieve organizational objectives.

authority

In the context of the job characteristics model, _____ is motivation that comes from the job itself rather than from outside rewards such as a raise or praise from the boss.

internal motivation

In the context of job design, _____ allows companies to retain the economic benefits of specialized work because employees simply switch from one specialized job to another.

job rotation

One transfer that occurs with delegation of authority is:

that the manager gives the subordinate full authority over the budget, resources, and personnel needed to do the assigned job.

In the context of interorganizational processes, which of the following is a difference between modular organizations and virtual organizations?

In modular organizations, outside organizations to which noncore business activities are outsourced are tightly linked to one central company, whereas virtual organizations work with some companies in a network alliance, but not with all.

In the context of organizational structures, which of the following forms of departmentalization lowers costs by reducing duplication?

Functional departmentalization

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following is an advantage of decentralization?

It develops employee capabilities throughout a company and leads to faster decision making and more satisfied customers and employees.

Which of the following best defines an interorganizational process?

It is a collection of activities that take place among companies to transform inputs into outputs that customers value.

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following statements best defines a staff function?

It is an activity that does not contribute directly to creating or selling a company's products but instead supports line activities.

A _____ is a form of matrix departmentalization in which managers in different parts of the matrix negotiate conflicts and resources directly.

simple matrix

In the context of the job characteristics model, _____ is the number of different activities performed in a job.

skill variety

In the context of organizational authority, _____ is solving problems by consistently applying the same rules, procedures, and processes.

standardization

In the context of organizational authority, which of the following is a difference between a line function and a staff function?

A line function contributes directly to selling a company's products, whereas a staff function does not contribute directly to selling a company's products but instead supports line activities.

_____ is a method of subdividing work and workers into separate organizational units that take responsibility for completing particular tasks.

Departmentalization

In a decentralized organization, workers closest to problems are authorized to make the decisions necessary to solve the problems on their own.

False

The primary advantage of matrix departmentalization is that it does not require high level of coordination to manage ongoing projects.

False

In the context of the job characteristics model, which of the following is a difference between task identity and task significance?

Task identity is the degree to which a job, from beginning to end, requires completion of a whole and recognizable piece of work, whereas task significance is the degree to which a job is perceived to have a substantial impact on others inside or outside an organization.

In the context of intraorganizational processes, which of the following statements is true of empowered employees?

They have the autonomy to choose how best to do their work.

An organization's _____ is defined as the vertical line of authority that clarifies who reports to whom throughout the organization.

chain of command

The _____ is an approach to job redesign that seeks to formulate jobs in ways that motivate workers and lead to positive work outcomes.

job characteristics model

The primary disadvantage of customer departmentalization is:

that it leads to duplication of resources.