managing people & work chapter 2

_____ is (are) known for refining Taylor's analysis of work movements.

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

Which of the following best reflects Mary Parker Follett's views on management and leadership in an organization?

If workers have the relevant knowledge, then workers, rather than managers, should be in control of the work process itself.

Which of the following is true of dual command?

It causes confusion among subordinates.

Large companies like General Electric face challenges in maintaining a competitive edge with innovation because

new products or offerings must be approved by layers of formal bureaucracy, which slows down the process.

Smart Lites is a company that manufactures lighting products for industrial businesses. The managers at Smart Lites want to increase the quality of their products. They should opt for _____, a branch of management science that provides tools to analyze the company's input, conversion, and output activities.

total quality management

Managers who accept the assumptions of Theory X

counteract workers' natural tendencies to avoid work.

Midwest Woodworking is a small business run by skilled workers who produce customized and hand-manufactured furniture. _____ production is an example of the products they create.

crafts

Managers who accept the assumptions of Theory Y

create a work setting that encourages commitment.

Joey has worked in a bicycle factory for several months. The assembly process requires multiple tasks, and over the months Joe's supervisor has assigned him to several different jobs throughout the production line. His most recent assignment is applying the custom paint and adding the decals. Adding the decals requires perfection, and Joe does it quickly and always performs the task well, so his supervisor will keep him in this position. This is an example of

job specialization.

Which of the following statements indicates that Megabytes Inc. has implemented an organic structure?

At Megabytes, authority is decentralized to middle and first-line managers.

Which of the following is true of centralization in an organization?

Authority is concentrated at the top of the managerial hierarchy.

_____ refers to the concentration of authority at the top of the organizational chart instead of being distributed throughout the managerial hierarchy.

Centralization

_____ is the idea that the organizational structures and control systems that are chosen by managers depend on characteristics of the external environment in which the organization operates.

Contingency theory

Paula started a new bakery business. Because she must meet specific requirements from the state health department, Paula has decided to use a mechanistic structure for management. Which of the following supports Paula's choice to organize and control the business with a mechanistic structure?

Employees are closely supervised and follow well-defined rules and standard operating procedures.

_____ refers to the tendency of a closed system to lose its ability to control itself, and thus disintegrate.

Entropy

Which of the following is true of scientific management?

It resulted in job dissatisfaction for many workers.

_____ is the process by which a division of labor occurs as different workers specialize in different tasks over time.

Job specialization

Which of the following explains why Apple operates with an organic structure?

Management is able to stay abreast of technological developments and changing competitive conditions.

_____ is the study of the factors that have an impact on how individuals and groups respond to and act in organizations.

Organizational behavior

_____ refers to a system of task and authority relationships that controls how employees use resources to achieve a company's goals.

Organizational structure

_____ is the performance gain caused by two or more departments coordinating their efforts.

Synergy

Employees at Southwest Airlines have highly flexible job descriptions that enable them to chip in and help where needed. Employees are encouraged to help solve problems where they see them. Thus, it's not uncommon to see a Southwest manager helping move passenger luggage into aircraft or check in passengers at a gate. This is an example of:

Theory Y.

Which of the following is true of rules?

They are mandatory instructions.

Henry Fayol believed that in order to increase the efficiency of the management process, it is essential that

all organizational members are entitled to be treated with justice and respect.

In the context of the human relations movement and related studies, who among the following is a "ratebuster?"

a person performing above the work-group performance norm

Mayfair Mobile's external environment is changing rapidly, and it responds by decentralizing decisions to lower-level managers so that the organization can react faster. Which of the following types of organizational structure allows this?

an organic structure

Fayol recommended the use of _____ to show the position and duties of each employee and to indicate which positions an employee might move to or be promoted to in the future.

an organizational chart

If a manager designs the organizational hierarchy based on the characteristics of the organizational environment, he is acting in accordance with _____ theory.

contingency

The primary message of _____ is that there is no one best way to organize.

contingency theory

Helen doesn't always agree with her manager's decisions, but she always follows her manager's orders. This obedience to a manager's authority is most consistent with Fayol's principle of

discipline.

Job specialization refers the process by which

division of labor occurs as different workers gain expertise in tasks.

EZtronics' approach to management is consistent with Theory Y because managers at EZtronics

have created a work setting that allows workers to exercise initiative.

Communication among managers in Angela's business was slowing down the pace of planning and organizing, so Angela recently merged some of the company's departments and cut back on the number of levels of managers. Which of Fayol's principles of management supports Angela's decision?

line of authority

Ally works on a production line. Her manager has moved several of her coworkers around to achieve the right worker-task specialization and to link people and tasks by the speed of the production line. If successful, the manager will

lower costs.

Fayol's principle of initiative suggests that

managers should encourage employees to act on their own without direction from a supervisor.

Chris has a job as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company. The company offers both quarterly and annual bonuses based on performance. The company also has a profit-sharing plan for its employees. This organization follows Fayol's principle of

remuneration of personnel.

According to Henri Fayol, esprit de corps refers to

shared feelings of comradeship, enthusiasm, or devotion to a common cause among members of a group.

The idea that employees who stay with the organization for many years develop skills on the job which can help the organization to become more efficient is consistent with Fayol's principle of

stability of tenure.

Marcia works at a warehouse and her job involves maintaining an accurate inventory and accurate data for financial statements. Today she received a document from her manager with specific instructions to perform her job tasks. This is an example of:

standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The idea that workers should be aware of how their performance affects the performance of the organization as a whole is most consistent with Fayol's principle of

subordination of individual interests to the common interest.

The human relations movement advocates that

supervisors be behaviorally trained to manage subordinates

According to Henri Fayol, initiative refers to

the ability to act on one's own without direction from a superior.

Which of the following best defines synergy?

the performance gains that result when individuals and departments work together

Tyler is an engineer at an assembly plant for an auto company. Tyler receives orders from and reports to both his department manager and his project manager. This violates Fayol's principle of

unity of command.

The Marketing Manager at RST Global Inc. developed a five-year marketing plan that was in stark contrast with the objectives outlined in the organization's strategic plan. Which of the principles of Henri Fayol does this go against?

unity of direction

Carol works for a printing business that offers several services, including printing and copying, bookbinding, and graphic design. The business has a single, comprehensive long-term plan that leads every department. The business is following Fayol's principle of

unity of direction.