Ch7 Manufacturing And Service Technologies

Question 1

Define technology

Answer 1

Technology is an organization’s production process and includes work procedures as well as machinery.

Question 2

What is an organization’s core technology?

Answer 2

An organization’s core technology is the work process that is directly related to its mission, such as teaching University or medical services and health clinic

Question 3

What does the term ‘core’ refer to?

Answer 3

Core means that a work process is related to the organization’s mission.

Question 4

What are the three main parts of the summarized Woodward’s scale of technical complexity?

Answer 4

Group 1: small-batch and unit production
Group 2: large batch and mass production
Group 3: continuous process production

Question 5

Describe small-batch production

Answer 5

Small-batch production firms tend to be job shop operations that manufacture and assemble small orders to meet specific needs of customers.

Question 6

Describe large batch production

Answer 6

Large batch production is a manufacturing process characterized by long production runs of standardized parts.

Question 7

Describe the continuous process production

Answer 7

In continuous process production the entire process is mechanized -there is no starting and stopping.

Question 8

Technology could be considered to be the ______

Answer 8

Tools, techniques, and actions that are used to transform organizational inputs into outputs

Question 9

Describe lean Manufacturing

Answer 9

Lean manufacturing uses highly trained employees at every stage of the production process, and they may take a painstaking approach to details and problem solving to cut waste and improve quality.

Question 10

Draw Perrow’s framework for department technologies matrix

Answer 10

X-axis: variability (number of exceptions)
Y-axis: analyzability
Craft - low low
Engineering - high high
Routine - high analyzability low variability
Non-routine low analyzability high variability

Question 11

James Thomson defined three types of interdependence that influence organizational structure , what are they?

Answer 11

Pooled: low communication, standardization, rules, procedures and divisional structure
Sequential medium communication, plans, schedules, feedback, task forces
Reciprocal: high communication, cross-departmental meetings, teamwork, horizontal structure

Question 12

Describe Thompson’s typology in terms of technology

Answer 12

Pooled: mediating technology
Sequential: long-linked technology
Reciprocal: intensive technology