Ch1 Organizations And Organization Theory

Question 1

Define organization

Answer 1

Organizations are social entities that are goal directed, designed as deliberately structured and coordinated activity systems, and linked to the external environment

Question 2

Organizations are ubiquitous, what does ubiquitous refer to?

Answer 2

Being present everywhere at once

Question 3

Organizations exist to do what seven things?

Answer 3

1. bring together resources to achieve desired goals and outcomes
2. Produce goods and services efficiently
3. Facilitate innovation
4. Use modern manufacturing and information technologies
5. Adapt to and influence changing environment
6. Create value for owners, customers, and employees
7. Accommodate ongoing challenges of diversity, ethics, and the motivation and coordination of employees

Question 4

What are the five basic parts of an organization according to Mintzberg?

Answer 4

Top management
technical support staff
middle-management
administrative support staff
technical core

Question 5

What is an open system?

Answer 5

An open system is one that must interact with the environment to survive

Question 6

What is the role of the technical core?

Answer 6

The technical core does the basic work of the organization

Question 7

What is the role of management?

Answer 7

Management is responsible for directing and coordinating other parts of the organization

Question 8

What is the role of technical support?

Answer 8

Technical support function helps organization adapt to environment

Question 9

What is the role of administrative support?

Answer 9

The administrative support function is responsible for the smooth operation and upkeep of the organization, including its physical and human elements.

Question 10

What are the six structural dimensions of an organization?

Answer 10

1. formalization
2. specialization
3. Hierarchy of authority
4. Centralization
5. Professionalism
6. Personnel ratios

Question 11

Define formalization

Answer 11

Formalization pertains to the amount of written documentation in the organization.

Question 12

Define specialization

Answer 12

Specialization is the degree to which organizational tasks are subdivided into separate jobs

Question 13

Define hierarchy of authority

Answer 13

Hierarchy of authority describes who reports to whom and the span of control for each manager.

Question 14

Define centralization

Answer 14

Centralization refers to the hierarchal level that has the authority to make a decision.

Question 15

Define professionalism

Answer 15

Professionalism is the level of formal education and training of employees.

Question 16

Define personnel ratios

Answer 16

Personnel ratios refers to the development of people to various functions and departments.

Question 17

What are the five contextual dimensions?

Answer 17

1. Culture
2. Environment
3. Goals and strategy
4. Size
5. Technology

Question 18

What is the difference between efficiency and effectiveness?

Answer 18

Simply put, efficiency is “doing things right” while effectiveness is “doing the right thing.”

Question 19

Describe the stakeholder approach

Answer 19

Using the stakeholder approach managers carefully balance the needs and interests of various stakeholders in setting goals and striving for effectiveness.

Question 20

Define contingency

Answer 20

Contingency means that one thing depends on other things, and for organizations to be effective, there must be a “goodness of fit” between their structure and the conditions in their external environment.

Question 21

Describe organizational theory

Answer 21

Organizational theory is a macro examination of organizations because it analyzes the whole organization as a unit.

Question 22

Organizational theory is the _______ of organizations while organizational behavior is the ________ of organizations.

Answer 22

1. Sociology

2. Psychology

Question 23

Describe the meso theory

Answer 23

Meso theory (meso means in between) concerns the integration of both micro and macro levels of analysis.

Question 24

Organizational effectiveness is _________

Answer 24

The degree to which an organization realizes its goals

Question 25

What are the contingency effectiveness approaches?

Answer 25

Goal approach (output based)
Resource-based approach (input based)
Internal-process approach (process based)