Chapter 8: Organizational Culture Structure
Which of the following statements are true regarding a market culture?
- Customers, productivity, and profits take precedence over employee development and satisfaction. - Employees are expected to work hard, react fast, and deliver quality work on time. - It is driven by competition and a strong desire to deliver results.
A clan culture has what three characteristics?
- A family-type organization - Encourages collaboration among employees - Strives to encourage cohesion through consensus and job satisfaction
In an organization's culture, basic assumptions:
- are not observable - are difficult to change - represent the organization's core values - are often taken for granted
What are the phases of organizational socialization?
- encounter - anticipatory - change and acquisition
Authority in organizations means _____ -- managers must report and justify work results to the managers above them and are responsible for performing assigned tasks.
accountability
In organizational culture, rites and rituals represent
activities and ceremonies that celebrate important occasions and accomplishments in the organization's life.
In order to implement a particular organizational strategy, managers must determine the right kind of organizational: (select all that apply)
structure. culture.
In organizational culture, enacted values represent the
values and norms that are actually exhibited in the organization.
What are the three layers of organizational culture?
- Basic assumptions - Observable artifacts - Espoused values
_____ is the tendency of the parts of an organization to disperse and fragment.
Differentiation
The more subunits into which an organization breaks down, the more highly _____ it is.
differentiated
When an organization has a central core of key functions and outsources others to vendors who can do them cheaper and faster, the organization is said to have a _____ structure.
hollow
Within a boundaryless organization, the ______ structure is also called a network structure.
hollow
Organizational culture:
- represents beliefs and values shared among workers - is passed on to new employees through socialization and mentoring - significantly affects work outcomes at all levels of the organization - is the social glue that binds members of the organization together - helps employees understand why the organization does what it does
What are the four types of organizational culture outlined in the competing values framework (CVF)?
-Adhocracy -Clan -Market -Hierarchy
Organizations wishing to change their culture may alter their physical layout and design in order to:
-encourage employee productivity -send a strong message about the culture
An organization's vertical hierarchy of authority demonstrates:
-the organization's chain of command. -the official communication network. -who talks to whom.
What is the most accurate description of person-organization fit?
A match between an individual's personality and values and those of the organization
Mitsubishi
Acknowledged that company engineers had been intentionally manipulating fuel-economy tests for 25 years.
Which description best fits the adhocracy organizational culture?
Adaptable, creative, and quick to respond to marketplace changes
Volkswagen
Admitted in 2015 that it had engaged in fraudulent behavior by cheating on vehicle emission tests.
Zenefits
After the company faced lawsuits, one of the organization's directors sent a memo to employees asking that they discontinue using company headquarters stairwells for smoking, drinking, and sex.
_____ values represent the values and norms actually exhibited in the organization.
Enacted
Which type of organization typically has few or no levels of middle management between top managers and those reporting to them?
Flat
_____ embed preferred culture by describing organizational philosophy, mission, vision, and values.
Formal statements
For-profit organization
Formed to make money by offering products or services
Nonprofit organization
Formed to offer services to clients rather than make money
What is the BEST example of a mutual-benefit organization?
Labor union
Which of these would be considered observable artifacts in an organization?
Rituals Decorations Awards
Which two of the following are some of the strongest ways to embed organizational culture?
Status symbols Rewards
Mutual-benefit organization
Voluntary collective formed to advance members' interests
Rites and rituals, which are activities and _____ used to celebrate important organizational events or achievements, can be leveraged in the process of culture change.
ceremonies
A control mechanism for making sure the right people do the right things at the right time is called hierarchy of authority or ______.
chain of command
A _____ culture has an internal focus and values flexibility rather than stability and control.
clan
Research shows that employees have more positive work attitudes in organizations with a(n) _____ culture.
clan
Observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions are the three levels of organizational _____.
culture
In organizational socialization, the _____ phase takes place when a person is first hired and comes to learn what the organization is really like and how to adjust her/his expectations.
encounter
Philosophies, beliefs, and norms that are explicitly stated by the organization reflect its _____ values.
espoused
An organizational ______ is someone whose accomplishments embody the values of the organization and whose accomplishments are put forth to motivate other employees to do the right thing.
hero
If an organization wishes to become more controlling and authoritative toward its employees, it should consider adopting a(n) _____ structure.
hierarchical
A(n) _____ culture values stability and has an internal focus.
hierarchy
Coordinated effort, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein,
is represented by the coordination of individual efforts coming together into an organization-wide effort.
Division of labor, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein,
is the arrangement of having discrete parts of a task done by different people in an organization.
An organization's _____ can pay attention to, measure, and control a number of activities, processes,or outcomes in order to foster a certain culture.
leaders
The readily apparent symbols and manifestations of an organization's culture are called its _____.
observable artifacts
A(n) _____ is a system of consciously coordinated activities or forces of two or more people.
organization
A box-and-lines illustration showing the formal lines of authority and the organization's work specializations is called a(n) ______ chart.
organizational
The competing values framework is a tool companies use to understand _____.
organizational culture
In terms of organizational culture, a _______ is an artifact, act, quality, or event that conveys an organization's most important values to others.
symbol
Common purpose, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein,
unifies members and helps everyone understand the organization's reason for being.
In the common elements of organizations, common purpose is realized through _______, which enables the work of individuals to combine in an organization-wide endeavor.
coordinated effort
A system of shared beliefs and values that develops within an organization and guides the behavior of its members is called organizational ______.
culture
If important decisions are made by middle-level and supervisory-level managers and power is delegated throughout the organization, the organization has ______ authority.
decentralized
With _____, an organization can parcel out the entire complex work effort to be performed by specialists, which results in greater efficiency.
division of labor
According to the competing values framework (CVF), organizational _____ varies along two dimensions.
effectiveness
Formal statements can help to change an organization's culture by
embedding the culture in various organizational materials such as the mission, vision, and values statements.
An organization that wants to eliminate layers in favor of creating a culture where employees have more power should consider adopting a _____ organizational structure.
flattened
The part of an organizational chart that shows different jobs or work assignments is called _____.
horizontal specialization
Hierarchy of authority, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein,
is a control mechanism that ensures that the right people do the right things at the right time.
More positive organizational outcomes are associated with _____ cultures.
market
The type of organizational culture that has a strong external focus and values stability and control is a(n) _____ culture.
market
In organizational culture, a story is a(n)
narrative based on true events which is repeated in order to emphasize a particular value.
The principle of unity of command was popular with early management theorists. It stressed the importance of employees reporting to _____.
no more than one manager, in order to avoid conflicting priorities and demands.
Symbols in organizational culture represent
objects or actions that convey an organization's most important values to others.
Some businesses have created open-area workspaces where employees sit at desks that are side-by-side and no walls are between them. This is to foster collaboration among the staff. What aspect of culture change does this represent?
physical design
The obligation you have to perform the tasks assigned to you in the organization is known as your _____.
responsibility
If an organization wishes to change its culture, managers can alter the types of _____ and status symbols they give out and to whom they give them.
rewards
Organizations can use _____, activities that celebrate important events or achievements for the organization, to change the organization's culture.
rites and rituals
Activities and ceremonies, planned and unplanned, that celebrate important occasions and accomplishments in an organization's life are known as rites and ______.
rituals
Which of the following represent learning-related tools that can be leveraged to change an organization's culture?
role modeling training coaching
Some workplaces now reflect a culture of "radical candor" which means that employees are encouraged to __________.
say what's on their minds regardless of the consequences
An organization that has authority centralized in a single person, as well as a flat hierarchy, few rules, and low work specialization, is using a _____.
simple structure
Very _____ companies tend to be the most centralized in terms of authority.
small
The process by which people learn the values, norms, and required behaviors that permit them to participate as members of an organization is known as organizational _____.
socialization
The number of people reporting directly to a given manager refers to _____.
span of control
In organizational culture, a hero is a(n)
person whose accomplishments embody the organization's values.
The extent to which your personality and values match the climate and culture in an organization is referred to as _____.
person-organization fit
In organizational culture, socialization represents the
process by which people learn the values, norms, and required behaviors that permit them to participate as organizational members.
The modular structure is oriented around outsourcing certain pieces of a(n) _____.
product
Early management scholars believed strongly in the principle of _____, in which employees should report to no more than one manager in order to avoid conflicting priorities and demands.
unity of command
The chain of command within a business is also referred to as the organization's _______ hierarchy of authority.
vertical
In an organization with a _____ structure, members are geographically dispersed but work together using information technology that provides customers the appearance of a single, unified organization.
virtual
Flat organizations generally have few levels with _______ spans of control, with one manager overseeing many employees.
wide
When important decisions are made by high-level managers, the organization has ______ authority.
centralized
In the elements of organizations, ________ unifies employees or members and gives everyone an understanding of the organization's reason for being.
common purpose
The ________ approach to management emphasizes that a manager's approach should vary according to the individual and environmental situation.
contingency
The process of fitting the organization to its environment is referred to as the _______ approach to organizational structure.
contingency
Which of the following are characteristics of a hierarchy culture?
- Uses a variety of control mechanisms that measure efficiency, timeliness, and reliability - Formalized, structured work environment - Internal focus
Organizational structure:
- is concerned with who reports to whom in the organization and who specializes in what work - must be aligned with the organization's vision, strategies, and culture
What are two characteristics of decentralized authority?
-Important decisions are made by middle level managers -Power is delegated throughout the organization
According to Barnard's definition, which of the following examples represent organizations?
-The BumbleBee or StarKist tuna companies with their thousands of employees -A crew of two people coordinating their activities on a commercial tuna fishing boat
Which of the following are true of staff personnel? (Select all that apply.)
-They have authority functions. -They provide advice, recommendations, and research to line managers.
What are the two types of information that organization charts reveal about organizational structure?
-Who specializes in what work -Who reports to whom
Functional organizational structures:
-are common in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. -put employees with similar occupational specialties together in formal groups.
What are two suggestions for improving your adaptability in the workplace?
-be more resourceful -be proactive in learning situations
Organizational design is concerned with which two activities?
-creating a structural design that will help an organization execute its strategies -creating structures of accountability and responsibility
Which of the following statements regarding a virtual structure are true?
-members are geographically apart -firms can save money they would have spent on real estate -companies can tap a wider talent pool not limited by geography
Which of the following statements regarding integrated organizations are accurate?
-specialists work together to achieve a common goal -there is frequent communication and coordination of parts -formal chains of command, standardized procedures, and cross-functional teams are common
Which of the following statements regarding the horizontal design are true?
-this design is also called a team-based design -workgroups are used to improve collaboration -internal boundaries are broken down
__________ refers to the rights inherent in a managerial position to make decisions, give orders, and utilize resources.
Authority
Take ownership and accept responsibility
Avoid holding grudges when you are wrong. Instead - absorb, learn, understand, and move on.
_____ represent core, taken for granted, unobservable aspects of an organization's culture.
Basic assumptions
Horizontal
Expresses the extent to which an organization focuses its attention and efforts inward on internal dynamics and employees versus outward toward its external environment and customers
Vertical
Expresses the extent to which an organization prefers flexibility and discretion versus stability and control
What is a characteristic of an organic organization?
Few rules and procedures
Customer division
Groups activities around common clients or customers.
Geographic division
Groups activities around defined regional locations.
Product division
Groups activities around similar services and/or products.
_____ is the tendency of the parts of an organization to draw together to achieve a common purpose.
Integration
_______ managers have decision-making authority and usually have people reporting to them, whereas _______ positions provide advice, recommendation and research.
Line; staff
Be more resourceful
Look for solutions to challenges, rather than problems
What are three characteristics of an organization with a simple structure? (Select all that apply.)
Low work specialization A flat hierarchy Authority in a single person
Display a proactive learning orientation
Maintain a desire to learn and improve your career readiness competencies
Identify the three types of structures categorized as organizational designs with open boundaries.
Modular Virtual Hollow
In an organic organization, which three of the following occur?
Shared tasks Decentralized hierarchy of authority Many teams
Which of the following occurs in the horizontal organizational design?
Teams are used to improve collaboration and work.
Expand your perspective by asking different questions
Try thinking about things such as "What surprised me about that situation?" or "What data might I be ignoring?"
Focus on being optimistic
View work or career changes as challenges to be overcome
Which of the following can leaders pay attention to, measure, and control in order to change the organization's culture?
activities outcomes processes
A(n) _____ culture values flexibility and has an external focus.
adhocracy
A(n) _____ organization is a fluid, highly adaptive organization whose members are linked by information technology and collaborate on common tasks.
boundaryless
When people with diverse occupational specialties are put together in formal groups by similar products or service, customers or clients, or geographic regions, the organization is using a _____ structure.
divisional
Espoused values in an organization's culture represent the
explicitly stated values and norms the organization prefers
Organic organizations tend to have a wide span of control and _____.
fewer rules
A _____ organization is defined as one with an organizational structure with few or no levels of middle management between top managers and those reporting to them.
flat
An organizational structure where people with similar occupational specialties are put together in formal groups is called a _____ structure.
functional
The three types of organizational design are:
horizontal open boundaries traditional
In a two-person operation, one may specialize in the outward-facing tasks such as sales while the other specializes in the internal jobs such as research and production. In a large firm, there may be vice presidents for each task such as marketing, finance, and HR. These examples represent different types of _____.
horizontal specialization
A type of organizational structure which combines functional and divisional chains of command in a grid so that there are two command structures, vertical and horizontal, is called a _____ structure.
matrix
An organization where authority is centralized, tasks and rules are clearly specified, and employees are closely supervised is called _____.
mechanistic
In a _____ organization, authority is centralized and tasks and rules are clearly specified.
mechanistic
Top-down structure and rigid rules are characteristics of a(n) _____ organization.
mechanistic
In a _______ structure, a firm assembles product components or sections provided by outside contractors.
modular
Managers can help to change the organization's culture by paying attention to which _____ they use as narratives to symbolize the organization's vision and values to employees.
stories
When employees share a narrative about an actual event that created the company's culture, they are relying on _____ to symbolize the company's vision and values.
stories
A _____ is a narrative about the company's history that is repeated by an organization's members in order to emphasize a particular value.
story
A company's _____ is the large-scale action plan that encompasses the company's vision and is used to create the direction for the business.
strategy
The formal system of task and reporting relationships that coordinates and motivates an organization's members to achieve the company's goals is called the organizational _____.
structure
In a matrix structure:
the organization combines functional and divisional chains of command in a grid
One method of changing organizational culture is to provide structured _____ as an in-depth introduction to organizational values.
training