Principles of Management: Ch. 7 Quiz

Which of the following is a difference between a mechanistic and an organic organization? A. In a mechanistic organization the source of guidance is rules, whereas in an organic organization the source of guidance is personal judgment. B. In a mechanistic organization decision making is decentralized, whereas in an organic organization it is centralized. C. In a mechanistic organization communication is mainly through advice and information, whereas in an organic organization it is mainly through orders and instructions. D. In a mechanistic organization the primary emphasis is on flexibility, whereas in an organic organization the emphasis is on efficiency. E. In a mechanistic organization job responsibilities are broad and evolving, whereas in an organic organization job responsibilities are narrowly defined.

A. In a mechanistic organization the source of guidance is rules, whereas in an organic organization the source of guidance is personal judgment.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a matrix organization? A. Too much democracy can lead to not enough action. B. Decision making is centralized. C. Higher management levels are overloaded with operational decisions. D. Functions are not centralized at headquarters. E. Dual career ladders are restricted.

A. Too much democracy can lead to not enough action.

In the context of organizational integration, _______ is the presence of rules and regulations governing how people in the organization interact. A. formalization B. centralization C. unit-of-command D. mutual adjustment E. delegation

A. formalization

Samuel is an entrepreneur who specializes in processing techniques for high-end photography enthusiasts. In his organization, there are few rules and formal procedures, and the staff tends to make their own decisions. Samuel's operation is best described as a A. small batch organization. B. continuous process organization. C. lean manufacturing organization. D. mass customization organization. E. large batch organization.

A. small batch organization.

In the context of the horizontal structure of a firm, research, legal, accounting, and human resources departments are examples of _____ departments. A. staff B. primary C. line D. division E. matrix

A. staff

A(n) _____ organization depends heavily on an informal structure of employee networks. A. hierarchical B. authoritative C. mechanistic D. bureaucratic E. organic

E. organic

In a(n)_____, individual organizations share administrative authority, form social links, and accept joint ownership. A. strategic alliance B. organized divestiture C. corporate divestment D. social audit E. cartel arrangement

A. strategic alliance

Which of the following is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization? A. informal organizational structure B. obedience to authority as an expression of commitment C. broad and evolving job responsibilities D. high degree of employee interdependence E. decentralized decision making

B. obedience to authority as an expression of commitment

The ______ is the number of subordinates who report directly to an executive or supervisor. A. degree of standardization B. span of control C. degree of specialization D. division of labor E. locus of control

B. span of control

When organizations coordinate activities by establishing routines that remain in place over time, it can be said that work has been _____. A. personalized B. standardized C. centralized D. specialized E. customized

B. standardized

In the context of the vertical structure of a firm, which of the following is true of delegation? A. It helps the managers to take evasive action to ensure they are not held accountable for mistakes. B. After delegation, managers remain accountable only for their own work. C. It entails getting work done through others. D. Subordinates do not have to report upward on the status of their performance after a task has been delegated to them. E. After delegation, the responsibilities of subordinates reduce.

C. It entails getting work done through others.

In the context of organizational integration, _____ allows interdependent units to modify and adapt their actions as long as they meet the deadlines and targets required for working with others. A. formalization B. bureaucratization C. centralization D. coordination by plan E. coordination by standardization

D. coordination by plan

In the context of the fundamentals of organizing, which of the following depicts the positions in a firm and the way they are arranged? A. supply chain B. plant layout C. organization pyramid D. organization chart E. value chain

D. organization chart

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the product approach to departmentalization? A. Managers become specialists, not generalists. B. The top management will have complete control over decisions made in the divisions. C. Employees may lose focus on overall product quality. D. Functions are centralized at headquarters. E. The duplication of effort is expensive.

E. The duplication of effort is expensive.

In the organizational approach of _____, the emphasis is on quality, speed, and flexibility more than on cost, efficiency, and hierarchy. A. flexible factories B. large batch technologies C. time-based competition D. mass production E. lean manufacturing

E. lean manufacturing