Question 1

The principle that each employee should report to only one manager is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Unity of command states that each employee should report to only one manager to avoid confusion, conflicting priorities, and role ambiguity. Authorized line of responsibility and chain of command are similar but do not specifically refer to the principle of each employee reporting to only one manager. Responsibility factor and span of control do not relate to this principle.

Question 2

__________ organization is rigidly controlled and efficient.

Accepted Answer

A mechanistic organization is characterized by clear hierarchical structures, strict rules and procedures, and centralized decision-making. This leads to high levels of control and efficiency, as tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined and resources allocated efficiently.

Question 3

The degree to which jobs are standardized and guided by rules and procedures is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Formalization refers to the degree to which jobs are standardized and guided by rules and procedures. Work specialization refers to the degree to which tasks in an organization are divided into separate jobs. Centralization refers to the degree to which decision-making authority is concentrated at higher levels in the organization. Regulation and specification are not commonly used terms in organizational behavior.

Question 4

As organizations become more flexible and responsive, there is a distinct trend toward __________.

Accepted Answer

The trend towards flexibility and responsiveness typically involves flattening the organizational structure and empowering employees at lower levels to make decisions. This is achieved through decentralized decision making, where authority and decision making are pushed down to front-line employees. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 5

__________ refers to the rights inherent in a position that allows a manager to tell subordinates what to do and then expect them to do it.

Accepted Answer

Authority refers to the right to give orders and expect them to be followed. This power comes with a managerial position and is the basis for establishing unity of command and a chain of command within an organization. Responsibility and accountability also come with this position, but they are not the specific term used to refer to the right to give orders.

Question 6

Under which of the following circumstances should an organization use more centralization?

Accepted Answer

Centralization is often used in a crisis to ensure quick decision-making and maintain control.

Question 7

Under which of the following circumstances should an organization use more decentralization?

Accepted Answer

When a company is geographically dispersed, it is often more practical and efficient to delegate decision-making to local managers who have a better understanding of the local market and culture. Decentralization can help the organization respond more quickly and flexibly to local needs and opportunities.

Question 8

Assigning designers, production workers, and salespeople to a common work group to develop a new product is called a __________ team.

Accepted Answer

A cross-functional team consists of individuals from different functional areas, such as designers, production workers, and salespeople, working together to develop a new product. This approach brings together different perspectives and skill sets to enhance creativity and problem-solving, leading to more innovative and successful products.

Question 9

Another term for increased decentralization is __________ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of Another term for increased decentralization is __________...

Question 10

__________ is the obligation or expectation to perform an assigned duty.

Accepted Answer

Responsibility refers to the obligation or expectation to perform an assigned duty. Delegation refers to the act of assigning duties to others. Authority refers to the power to make decisions and take action. Span of control refers to the number of individuals that a manager can effectively supervise. Accountability refers to being answerable for one's actions and decisions.

Question 11

The continuous line of authority that extends from the upper levels of management to the lowest levels of the organization is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The term "chain of command" refers to the continuous line of authority that extends from the upper levels of management to the lowest levels of the organization. This chain outlines who reports to whom and the decision-making authority throughout the organization.

Question 12

If top managers make key decisions with little input from below, then the organization is ________.

Accepted Answer

If top managers make key decisions with little input from below, then the organization is more centralized. Centralization refers to the concentration of decision-making power at the top of the organizational hierarchy.

Question 13

Pierre has just been promoted to line manager in the manufacturing plan. Which of the following should automatically accompany his new title of manager?

Accepted Answer

As a line manager, Pierre should have the authority to make decisions and manage his team effectively. The other options listed may be important for a manager to have, but they are not necessarily automatic or guaranteed with the title of manager. Respecting a manager is a choice made by employees, delegation is a skill that may need to be developed, higher compensation may or may not accompany a promotion, and acceptance by employees may need to be earned.

Question 14

All other things being equal, as the span of control grows wider, the organization becomes __________.

Accepted Answer

As the span of control grows wider, it means that each manager is responsible for overseeing a larger number of employees, which can lead to more efficient use of resources and delegation of tasks. Therefore, the organization becomes more efficient.

Question 15

The trend in recent years has been toward __________ spans of control to help reduce costs and speed up decision making.

Accepted Answer

Wider spans of control mean that managers oversee more employees, which can reduce costs by requiring fewer managers and can speed up decision-making by reducing layers of management.

Question 16

Which one of Fayol's 14 principles of management helps preserve the concept of a continuous line of authority?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of Fayol's 14 principles of...

Question 17

Two popular trends in departmentalization are the increasing use of __________ departmentalization and the use of __________ teams.

Accepted Answer

Customer departmentalization groups employees based on the specific customers they serve, while cross-functional teams bring together individuals from different departments and areas of expertise to work on a project or task. Both trends are becoming increasingly popular in organizations seeking to improve customer satisfaction and enhance collaboration and innovation.

Question 18

The degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in an organization is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Centralization refers to the degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in an organization. Unity of command refers to the principle that each employee should have only one boss. Chain of command refers to the formal line of communication and authority within an organization. Span of management refers to the number of subordinates reporting to a single supervisor. Concentration of authority is not a commonly used term in management theory.

Question 19

A company is planning to revise its organizational structure and one of the managers suggests increasing employee empowerment by giving them more decision-making authority. Which of the following, if true, would support his stand?

Accepted Answer

One of the main advantages of empowering employees is that front-line workers have greater knowledge of day-to-day operations and can contribute valuable insights to decision-making processes. Therefore, choice C would support the manager's suggestion to increase employee empowerment. Options A and B would suggest that employees are resistant to change, whereas employee empowerment requires a willingness to change the current status quo. Option D doesn't provide any indication of whether employee empowerment would be suitable or not in the company, while option E implies a culture that might not be amenable to empowerment.

Question 20

__________ refers to the number of subordinates that a manager can efficiently and effectively manage.

Accepted Answer

Span of control refers to the number of subordinates that a manager can efficiently and effectively manage. It is an important concept in organizational design and management as it can impact the efficiency and productivity of an organization. A manager with a narrow span of control may have fewer subordinates, which can allow for more hands-on supervision and micromanagement. On the other hand, a manager with a wide span of control may have a larger number of subordinates, which can allow for more autonomy and less micromanagement, but may also lead to a lack of oversight and communication difficulties.

Quiz 10: Organizational Design