Question 1

____ establishes the chain of command in an organization chart.

Accepted Answer

The vertical hierarchy in an organization chart establishes the chain of command, with higher-level positions having more authority and responsibility than lower-level positions. This helps to clarify who reports to whom and ensures efficient decision-making and communication within the organization.

Question 2

Ahn is looking for a job with a "very effective" company. What should you tell him about assessing organizational effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

Organizational effectiveness is a multifaceted concept that cannot be assessed through a single approach. Factors such as customer satisfaction, employee happiness, financial performance, and other metrics are all part of understanding how effective an organization is.

Question 3

A diagram of an organization's official positions and formal lines of authority refers to a(n)

Accepted Answer

An organization chart is a visual representation of an organization's official positions and formal lines of authority. It typically shows each position's title, department, and hierarchy.

Question 4

A ____ organization is one that is skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge, and at modifying its behavior to reflect new knowledge and insights.

Accepted Answer

A learning organization is one that continuously acquires knowledge and insights, modifies its behavior based on that knowledge and is skilled at transferring it throughout the organization. The other options, such as matrix or traditional organization, do not necessarily emphasize learning as a core competency.

Question 5

Which of these organizational characteristics does the chain of command refer to?

Accepted Answer

The chain of command refers to the hierarchy of authority in an organization, outlining who reports to whom and the order in which decisions are made. Therefore, the correct choice is E, hierarchy of authority.

Question 6

What establishes the division of labor in an organization chart?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal specialization establishes the division of labor by defining specific roles and tasks within an organization.

Question 7

The three organizational subsystems in the open-system model are technical, ____, and boundary-spanning.

Accepted Answer

The three organizational subsystems in the open-system model are technical, managerial, and boundary-spanning. The managerial subsystem involves planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals.

Question 8

The three stages of David A. Garvin's organizational learning model are cognition, ____, and ____.

Accepted Answer

The three stages of David A. Garvin's organizational learning model are cognition, behavior, and performance. This model emphasizes the progression from understanding (cognition), to action (behavior), and finally to outcomes (performance).

Question 9

What are the two dimensions of an organization chart?

Accepted Answer

The two dimensions of an organization chart are vertical hierarchy (the levels of authority in the organization) and horizontal specialization (the division of tasks and responsibilities within each level). Choice A and D are related to horizontal specialization, but do not encompass the full dimension of vertical hierarchy. Choice B is not a commonly recognized dimension of organizational structure. Choice E refers to the visual representation of the structure, but does not capture the underlying dimensions.

Question 10

According to David A. Garvin's model of the learning organization, what are two good ways to learn from others?

Accepted Answer

Benchmarking and customer feedback are effective ways to learn from others as they involve comparing practices with industry leaders and understanding customer needs and experiences.

Question 11

In David A. Garvin's model of organizational learning, ____ is not one of the required organizational skills.

Accepted Answer

In David A. Garvin's model of organizational learning, the required organizational skills are learning from experience/history, solving problems, experimenting, and learning from others. While hiring expert talent can be helpful, it is not listed as one of the required skills.

Question 12

By definition, which of these is defined as the right to direct the actions of others?

Accepted Answer

Authority is the right to direct the actions of others. Power refers to the ability to act or produce an effect, while responsibility is the duty to take care of something or someone. Leadership is the ability to inspire and guide others towards a common goal, and hierarchy refers to the arrangement of individuals or groups in a structured order of rank or level.

Question 13

According to the open-system model, a sporting goods company's sales representatives would be part of the ____ organizational subsystem.

Accepted Answer

According to the open-system model, the boundary-spanning subsystem is responsible for interacting with the environment outside of the organization. Sales representatives, who interact with customers and clients, would fall under this subsystem. Therefore, choice C, boundary-spanning, is the best answer.

Question 14

In which way has the concept of the learning organization extended the open-system model of organizations?

Accepted Answer

The concept of the learning organization extends the open-system model of organizations by putting a human head on the biological (open-system) model. This means that it recognizes the importance of the human element in an organization and emphasizes the continuous learning and adaptation of the organization as a whole. It does not introduce a specific organizational life cycle, eliminate the concept of equifinality, or reintroduce the idea of responsibility.

Question 15

____ is the relationship between outputs and inputs, whereas ____ is a measure of whether or not organizational objectives are accomplished.

Accepted Answer

Efficiency is the relationship between outputs and inputs, while effectiveness is a measure of whether or not organizational objectives are accomplished. Choices A, B, D, and E are incorrect because they either confuse the meanings of efficiency and effectiveness or provide unrelated concepts.

Question 16

W. Edward Deming's PDCA cycle stands for

Accepted Answer

W. Edward Deming's PDCA cycle stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act. It is a systematic approach to continuous improvement and problem-solving. The cycle involves planning the activity or process, executing the plan, evaluating the results, and taking necessary actions to improve. This cycle is widely used in quality management and has contributed significantly to the success of many organizations.

Question 17

The ____ subsystem controls and directs the other subsystems in the organization.

Accepted Answer

The managerial subsystem controls and directs the other subsystems in the organization by setting goals, making decisions, allocating resources, and coordinating activities. It includes top-level executives, middle managers, and supervisors who are responsible for planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the organization.

Question 18

Robert is the owner of a small pizza shop where there are no departments and all of the employees report directly to him. He currently has two employees, one who cooks and one who waits on tables. Robert wants to hire one additional employee to be the delivery person. This new employee will represent which dimension in the organization chart?

Accepted Answer

The new employee, being a delivery person, adds to the horizontal specialization within the organization. Horizontal specialization refers to the division of labor where different employees perform different tasks, in this case, cooking, waiting tables, and delivering, all at the same level of hierarchy and reporting directly to the owner.

Question 19

Angelo, a supply-chain manager at a construction firm, is responsible for making sure the organization has a steady and reliable flow of raw materials and subcomponents. This is an example of what kind of job?

Accepted Answer

Boundary-spanning roles involve managing relationships and interactions between an organization and its external environment, such as suppliers, to ensure a steady flow of resources.

Question 20

The ____ subsystem, also called the ____ function, physically transforms raw materials into finished goods and services.

Accepted Answer

The technical subsystem deals with the physical transformation of raw materials into finished goods and services. This function is also commonly referred to as the production function. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate answer. Option A refers to the managerial subsystem, which involves planning, organizing, and controlling various aspects of the organization. Option C refers to the boundary-spanning subsystem, which involves interacting with the environment around the organization. Option D combines the technical and organizing subsystems, which deal with coordinating and directing resources within the organization. Option E combines the managerial and organizing subsystems, which deal with planning and directing various activities within the organization. None of these options clearly address the physical transformation of raw materials into finished goods and services, making option B the best choice.

Quiz 9: Organizations: Effectiveness, Design, and Cultures