104) A key difference between a team structure and a matrix structure is that a team structure
________ while a matrix structure does not.
A) empowers group members
B) works on projects
C) has fairly permanent groups or teams
D) holds group members accountable
105) In a project structure, when employees finish a project they ________.
A) return to their department
B) return to a different division
C) move on to another project
D) return to their regular work
106) Which of the following areas has opened up new possibilities for how and where employees
work?
A) information technology
B) human resources
C) organizational design
D) global competition
107) Which of the following is the biggest concern when doing work at anytime and anywhere?
A) employee payroll
B) security
C) employee accountability
D) customer satisfaction
108) Boundaryless organizations try to eliminate ________ within their organization.
A) horizontal specialization and vertical hierarchy
B) horizontal specialization only
C) vertical hierarchy only
D) vertical specialization only
109) A virtual organization is essentially ________ who come together for a particular project.
A) a group of employees from a single company
B) a group of free agents
C) a team of employees from different departments of a company
D) a group of top managers and CEOs
110) How does a virtual organization save on costs?
A) by hiring people who specialize in what they do
B) by hiring fewer people than they need and making them work much longer hours
C) by eliminating all administrative duties
D) by keeping only a small permanent staff for administrative purposes only
111) A ________ subcontracts part of a project to outside suppliers.
A) virtual organization
B) boundary organization
C) matrix structure
D) network organization
112) A building contractor follows the network organization model when he does which of the
following?
A) does the framing and tiling by himself
B) hires three workers to help with framing
C) gives orders to workers
D) farms out the plumbing to a plumbing firm
Eric the Redd (Scenario)
Eric Redd graduated from college 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. Eric’s employer decided to try to reorganize to increase productivity. During his career,
Eric will see his job change from an engineer to a more complex job assignment.
113) Eric, who is trained as an engineer, is now in a group with production workers and
marketing specialists from different departments designing a new product that the company plans
to offer. This situation could be described as a(n) ________.
A) alternative assignment
B) collective assignment
C) advanced assignment
D) project assignment
114) One of the strengths of a simple structure is that it is flexible.
115) A strength of a functional structure is that it avoids duplication of activities.
116) A weakness of the divisional structure is that duplication of activities tends to occur.
117) In a team structure, team members are not held responsible for their decisions.
118) In a team structure, there is a clear line of managerial authority from top to bottom.
119) Employees in an organization with a matrix design can have two bosses for the same job.
120) A significant advantage of the matrix structure is the clear chain of command from top to
bottom of the organization.
121) When employees in a matrix structure finish a project, they go back to their functional
department.
122) When employees in a project structure finish a project, they go back to their original
department.
123) Vertical boundaries separate employees by their rank in an organization.
124) Internal boundaries separate the organization from its customers, suppliers and
stakeholders.
125) A virtual organization relies on free agents who have no permanent status or position in the
organization.
126) Managers want to eliminate boundaries in organizations primarily to increase stability and
reduce flexibility.
127) Horizontal boundaries separate employees by the specialization of their job.
128) A network organization uses its own employees and outside suppliers to provide manpower
for projects.
129) In a short essay, list and discuss two contingency variables that should be considered in
determining an appropriate structure in organizational design.
130) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a simple structure.
131) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a functional structure.
132) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a divisional structure.
133) In a short essay, describe the matrix structure. What are its advantages and disadvantages?
134) Global competition forces firms to ________.
A) become lean, fast, and flexible
B) build up enormous cash reserves
C) think locally
D) become more hierarchical
135) A learning organization develops the capability to ________.
A) add new training programs to keep employees up to date
B) accept the conventional wisdom of the industry
C) continuously learn, adapt, and change
D) attract new employees who have special knowledge
136) A learning organization requires employees to ________.
A) encode information to prevent competitors from stealing ideas
B) collaborate with competitors
C) make all ideas public
D) share information and collaborate with one another
137) All of the following are characteristic of learning organizations EXCEPT ________.
A) a strong sense of community
B) a collaborative environment
C) managers who serve as facilitators
D) fear of making mistakes
138) Organizational learning can’t take place without ________.
A) complete privacy for employees
B) a clear chain of command
C) a shared vision of the future
D) a stable structure or hierarchy
139) In a learning organization, it is important that all employees ________.
A) collaborate
B) study each night
C) have a strong sense of leadership
D) share the same vision for the organization
140) All learning organizations share a distinct structure.
141) The biggest issue in workers working at home or off-site involves fairness.
142) A learning organization puts an enormous amount of effort on making sure that all of its
employees are enrolled in some kind of university level class.
143) Organizations that implement flextime programs allow employees to work at home for
some of the work day.
144) Contingent workers may make up to 40 percent of the workforce by the end of the decade.
145) In a short essay, describe the boundaryless organization.
146) In a short essay, describe a learning organization. What structural aspects does a learning
organization need?