ORGANIZING

All of the following are part of the process of organizational design EXCEPT ________.

• A) deciding how specialized jobs should be

• B) determining rules for employee behavior

• C) determining the level at which decisions are made

• D) determining goals for the organization

Answer explanation

Determining goals for the organization (D) is not part of organizational design, which focuses on structuring roles, rules, and decision-making processes within the organization.

A soap company that features a bath soap department, a laundry detergent department, and a dish soap department is using which of the following?

• A) process departmentalization

• B) functional departmentalization

• C) product departmentalization

• D) customer departmentalization

Answer explanation

The soap company organizes its departments by product type: bath soap, laundry detergent, and dish soap. This structure is known as product departmentalization, as it focuses on different products offered.

The personal secretary of a top manager may have ________.

• A) power but not authority

• B) authority but not power

• C) power and authority

• D) line authority but not staff authority

Answer explanation

The personal secretary has power through their influence and access to information but lacks formal authority to make decisions. Thus, the correct choice is A) power but not authority.

Managers find that they can ________ if their employees are experienced, well-trained, and motivated.

• A) increase their span of control

• B) decrease their span of control

• C) eliminate their span of control

• D) fluctuate their span of control

Answer explanation

Managers can increase their span of control when employees are experienced, well-trained, and motivated, as this allows for more effective delegation and oversight of tasks.

All of the following are characteristics of a highly formalized organization EXCEPT

• A) explicit job descriptions

• B) less authority for employees to make decisions

• C) minimum number of rules

• D) a standardized way of doing things

Answer explanation

A highly formalized organization typically has many rules to ensure consistency and control. Therefore, 'minimum number of rules' is not a characteristic of such organizations, making C the correct answer.

Ehsan graduated from university and was hired by a corporation that manufactured parts for the automotive industry. The employees on the assembly line seemed bored, and their motivation was low. Ehsan's employer decided to try to reorganize to increase productivity. During his career, Ehsan will see his job change from an engineer to a more complex job assignment.

The jobs of assembly-line employees are to be changed to allow more tasks to be done by individual workers. This is a reduction in ________.

• A) work specialization

• B) departmentalization

• C) chain of command

• D) centralization

Answer explanation

The change in assembly-line jobs to allow more tasks per worker reduces work specialization, which is when tasks are divided into smaller, repetitive parts. By increasing task variety, employees become more engaged and productive.

 A company that is trying to be a leader in innovation within its industry would be most likely to have this kind of structure.

• A) mechanistic

• B) organic

• C) simple

• D) functional

Answer explanation

An organic structure is flexible and promotes collaboration, making it ideal for innovation. In contrast, mechanistic, simple, and functional structures are more rigid and hierarchical, which can stifle creativity.

 In a ________, employees are recruited from functional departments to work on a specific project for a limited time period.

• A) team structure

• B) divisional structure

• C) product structure

• D) matrix structure

Answer explanation

In a matrix structure, employees from different functional departments collaborate on specific projects for a limited time, allowing for flexibility and efficient resource use. This distinguishes it from other structures.

Looking for ways to make their organization more flexible and innovative, today's managers may choose this kind of structure.

• A) simple

• B) divisional

• C) team

• D) functional

Answer explanation

A team structure promotes flexibility and innovation by encouraging collaboration and adaptability among members, making it ideal for organizations seeking to enhance these qualities.

Traditional organizational designs tend to be more mechanistic and include ________.

• A) simple, complex, and divisional structures

• B) simple, functional, and dysfunctional structures

• C) functional, divisional, and vertical structures

• D) simple, functional, and divisional structures

Answer explanation

Traditional organizational designs are characterized by clear hierarchies and roles. The correct choice, D) simple, functional, and divisional structures, reflects these mechanistic designs, emphasizing structured and defined organizational forms.