Chapter 3: Organization: Structure and Culture

Bill is working on a project involving the upgrading of a management information system. The project is being managed by the information systems department with coordination with other departments occurring through normal channels. He is working in a _________ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

A

In which of the following is the balance of authority strongly in favor of the functional managers? A. Weak B. Balanced matrix C. Strong matrix D. Strong E. Both C and D are correct

A

Kim is reviewing a proposed project. The scope of the project is narrow with a lot of in-depth expertise required and it will take a short period of time to complete. The best choice for organizing the project is ________ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

A

Organizational culture is best explained as organizational A. Personality B. Hierarchy C. Reporting relationships D. Background E. Management style

A

The Macintosh development team at Apple is a good example of what kind of project structure? A. Project B. Balanced Matrix C. Project Matrix D. Functional Matrix E. Functional

A

The project manager has the responsibility to answer which of the following questions? A. What task has to be done? B. Who will do the task? C. How will the task be done? D. How well has the functional input been integrated? E. Why will the task be done?

A

The project structure that is ranked as least effective is _______ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

A

The structure that manages projects within the existing organizational structure is __________ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

A

Which of the following cultural characteristics relates to the degree to which employees identify with the organization as a whole rather than with their type of job or field of professional expertise? A. Member identity B. Team emphasis C. Managerial focus D. Unit integration E. Control

A

Which of the following is NOT true regarding organizing projects within a matrix arrangement? A. Its flexibility supports a strong project focus that helps alleviate stress among project team members B. It is designed to optimally utilize resources by having individuals work on multiple projects as well as being capable of performing normal functional duties C. There are usually two chains of command D. Provides a dual focus between functional/technical expertise and project requirements that is missing in either the project team or the functional approach E. It is a hybrid form of organization that combines characteristics of both dedicated project teams and functional organization

A

Which of the following is an advantage of a functional project management organization? A. Maximum flexibility in the use of staff B. Good integration across functional units C. Shorter project duration D. Strong motivation of project team members E. All of these are advantages

A

Which of the following is not one of the typical forms of a project management office? A. Command center B. Control tower C. Resource pool D. Weather station E. All of these are typical forms of a project management office

A

Who is responsible for determining how tasks will be done in a matrix project management structure? A. The functional manager B. The project manager C. Both are responsible D. This is no pattern of who takes responsibility E. None of these are true

A

All of the following are disadvantages of organizing projects within a matrix arrangement EXCEPT A. Dysfunctional conflict between functional managers and project managers. B. Expensive C. Infighting D. Stressful E. Longer project duration

B

All of the following are functions culture plays in an organization EXCEPT A. It provides a sense of identity. B. It replaces the need for a project selection process. C. It helps create social order. D. It clarifies and reinforces standards of behavior. E. It helps legitimize the management system

B

In which of the following is the balance of authority strongly in favor of the functional managers? A. Matrix B. Weak matrix C. Balanced matrix D. Strong matrix E. Projectized

B

Matrix management violates the management principle of A. Span of control B. Unity of command C. Parity principle D. Empowerment E. All of these management principles

B

Which of the following combinations represents the extremes of project organization? A. Strong matrix and balanced matrix organizations B. Functional and project organizations C. Project and balanced matrix organizations D. Project and strong matrix organizations E. Strong matrix and functional organizations

B

Which of the following cultural characteristics relates to the degree to which work activities are organized around groups rather than individuals? A. Member identity B. Team emphasis C. Managerial focus D. Unit integration E. Control

B

Who is responsible for determining what tasks have to be done in a matrix project management structure? A. The functional manager B. The project manager C. Both are responsible D. This is no pattern of who takes responsibility E. None of these are true

B

_________ organization is a hybrid form in which a horizontal project management structure is "overlaid" in the normal functional hierarchy. A. Functional B. Matrix C. Project D. Balanced E. A, B, and C are all correct

B

A matrix structure in which the project manager and functional managers share roughly equal authority over the project. The project manager decides what needs to be done; functional managers are concerned with how it will be accomplished.

Balanced Matrix

A good project management system provides for defining the interface between the project team and the organization in all the following areas EXCEPT A. Authority B. Allocation of resources C. Development of project team members D. Integration of the project into the organization E. All of these are provided

C

From the list below, which is not a primary characteristic of organization culture? A. Control B. Team emphasis C. History D. Conflict tolerance E. Risk tolerance

C

Which are the three different matrix systems discussed in the text? A. Functional, Weak, Strong B. Balanced, Functional, Projectized C. Weak, Strong, Balanced D. Neutral, Weak, StrongE. Functional, Neutral, Projectized

C

Which of the following is NOT true of project management structures? A. They provide a framework for launching and implementing projects B. They appropriately balance the needs of both the parent organization and the project C. In selecting a management structure, the culture of the organization is not a huge consideration D. The project itself should be considered when determining which structure is best E. They help determine who has most authority in regard to managing the project

C

Which structure would be most appropriate for developing a new, highly innovative product that has strict time constraints? A. Functional organization B. Balanced matrix C. Dedicated project team D. Weak matrix E. Strong matrix

C

All of the following are organizational considerations when determining the right project management structure EXCEPT A. How important project management is to the success of the organization B. What percentage of core work involves projects C. Resource availability D. Budget constraints

D

Factors in identifying cultural characteristics include all the following EXCEPT A. Norms. B. Customs. C. Values. D. Attitude. E. All of these are factors in identifying cultural characteristics.

D

Organizations have difficulty in creating a system for managing projects because A. Contrary to typical operations, projects are one-time efforts B. Projects are multidisciplinary while organizations are usually departmentalized by discipline C. Projects are not focused on profits D. Both A and B are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

D

Which of the below is NOT considered a strength for a matrix organization? A. Strong project focus B. Flexibility C. Easier post-project transition D. Streamlined project selection

D

Which of the following cultural characteristics relates to the degree to which groups within the organization are encouraged to operate in a coordinated or independent manner? A. Member identity B. Team emphasis C. Managerial focus D. Unit integration E. Control

D

Which of the following cultural characteristics relates to the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve those results? A. Risk tolerance B. Reward criteria C. Conflict tolerance D. Means versus end orientation E. Open-systems focus

D

An organizational structure in which all of the resources needed to accomplish a project are assigned full time to the project.

Dedicated project team

A project team that operates with a full-time project manager as a separate unit from the rest of the organization is structured as a ________ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

At the project level, which of the following is a factor that should influence the choice of project management structure? A. The size of the project B. The novelty of the project C. Budget and time constraints D. The strategic importance of the project E. All of these are factors that should influence the choice of project management structure

E

Computers R Us is concerned about keeping project costs low and wants to be sure that all pools of expertise are used. Additionally they want to minimize duplication of efforts across projects. Their best choice for project management structure is the _______ organization structure. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

Elizabeth is considering how to structure a project team that will not directly disrupt ongoing operations. The project needs to be done quickly and a high level of motivation will be needed in order to do that. For this situation, the ______ organization would be the best choice. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

Factors in identifying cultural characteristics include all the following EXCEPT A. Norms. B. Customs C. Values D. Both B and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

E

How does someone learn more about an organization's culture? A. Read about the organization B. Interpret stories about the organization C. Observe how people interact within the organization D. Study the physical characteristics of the organization E. All of these are examples of how someone can learn more about an organization's culture

E

MegaComputers, Inc. has assigned a project manager for each of the five new-product teams. The managers as well as the project team members work on the projects on a full-time basis. The structure being used is ________ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

Projectitis is most likely to occur in the _______ organization structure. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

The Organizational Culture Diagnosis Worksheet classifies cultural characteristics into all of the following EXCEPT: A. Physical characteristics B. Public documents C. Behavior D. Folklore E. Ethics

E

The project organization structure that is least likely to have team members who are also members of another team is the ______ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

The project structure that is ranked as most effective for developing new products is ______ organization. A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

Which of the following cultural characteristic relates to the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior? A. Member identity B. Team Emphasis C. Managerial focus D. Unit integration E. Control

E

Which of the following is a disadvantage of functional project management organization? A. Lack of motivation of project team members B. Longer project duration C. Lack of focus on the project D. Both B and C are correct E. A, B, and C are all correct

E

Which of the following is considered to be the simplest, fastest, most expensive way to manage projects? A. Functional B. Balanced matrix C. Weak matrix D. Strong matrix E. Project

E

Which of the following structures is referred to in popular literature as a projectized form of organizations? A. Functional organization B. Balanced matrix organization C. Weak matrix organization D. Strong matrix organization E. Project organization

E

Which organization's culture is NOT a culture a project manager has to be able to operate in or interact with? A. The culture of their parent organization B. The culture of government and regulatory agencies C. The culture of vendors and subcontractors D. The culture of the project's customer or client E. All of these are cultures a project manager has to be able to operate in or interact with

E

Any organizational structure in which the project manager shares responsibility with the functional managers for assigning priorities and for directing the work of individuals assigned to the project.

Matrix

A system of shared norms, beliefs, values, and assumptions held by an organization's members.

Organizational Culture

A centralized unit within an organization or department that oversees and improves the management of projects.

Project Office

A social phenomenon in which project members exhibit inappropriately intense loyalty to the project.

Projectitis

A multi-project organization in which project managers have full authority to assign priorities and direct the work of persons assigned to their project.

Projectized Organization

A matrix structure in which the project manager has primary control over project activities and functional managers support project work.

Strong Matrix

A matrix structure in which functional managers have primary control over project activities and the project manager coordinates project work.

Weak Matrix