WorksheetsModule 8: Recreating the Organisation as a Living Organism
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
What does the metaphor of an organisation as a “living organism” primarily suggest?
An organisation should operate with strict rules and fixed structures
An organisation must continuously evolve, adapt, and maintain internal harmony
An organisation should focus only on profit maximisation
An organisation should minimise employee involvement
Why are agility and adaptability critical in modern organisations?
They increase bureaucracy and control
They help organisations avoid innovation
They allow organisations to respond quickly to opportunities and challenges
They eliminate the need for leadership
Which action best supports fostering agility and adaptability?
Increasing hierarchical approvals
Standardising every decision
Empowering teams to make decisions quickly
Limiting employee autonomy
Enhancing collaboration and communication in an organisation is comparable to what aspect of a living organism?
Competition between organs
Isolation of systems
Coordination among interconnected systems
Centralised control of all functions
Which practice directly supports collaboration and communication?
Reducing transparency
Using digital collaboration tools and regular inter-departmental meetings
Restricting information flow
Encouraging departmental silos
What is the main goal of promoting continuous learning and development?
Reducing workforce costs
Maintaining fixed skill sets
Improving adaptability and innovation potential
Eliminating the need for leadership training
How does investing in employee development benefit the organisation?
It slows down decision-making
It improves individual capabilities and overall adaptability
It reduces collaboration
It increases bureaucracy
Which organisational model emerged during the Industrial Revolution?
Agile organisations
Holacratic organisations
Mechanistic organisational structures
Network-based organisations
What is a key limitation of mechanistic organisational structures?
Lack of efficiency
Excessive flexibility
Stifling creativity and adaptability
Weak hierarchies
Which modern organisational movement promotes fluid and responsive structures?
Scientific management
Bureaucratic administration
Agile management
Classical hierarchy
What is the first step in transforming an organisation from a machine to a living system?
Implementing new technology
Redesigning job titles
Shifting the organisational mindset
Eliminating leadership roles
What does decentralised decision-making involve?
Centralising authority at the top
Allowing teams to make local-level decisions
Removing accountability
Reducing organisational speed
Why is employee empowerment essential in a living system organisation?
It limits innovation
It reduces responsibility
It encourages ownership and problem-solving
It replaces leadership
What are fluid organisational structures designed to do?
Maintain permanent rigid hierarchies
Prevent collaboration
Evolve based on business and environmental needs
Eliminate teamwork
Which work arrangement best reflects fluid organisational structures?
Fixed job roles with no variation
Cross-functional and project-based teams
Isolated departments
Centralised command chains
What is the purpose of continuous learning in a living organisation?
To slow organisational change
To keep skills static
To help the organisation remain competitive and adaptable
To reduce employee engagement
What does resilience building focus on?
Avoiding all risks
Withstanding and recovering from disruptions
Eliminating change
Centralising all resources
Which action supports organisational resilience?
Relying on a single resource
Ignoring contingency planning
Diversifying resources and preparing contingency plans
Avoiding cultural change
What is the primary purpose of sustainability practices in organisations?
Short-term cost reduction
Environmental protection only
Long-term environmental, social, and economic viability
Limiting innovation
How do agile methodologies support a responsive organisation?
By enforcing rigid long-term plans
By enabling iterative development and continuous feedback
By reducing customer involvement
By slowing response times
