Chapter 7: Creating a Flexible Organization

Question 1

the ability to complete a task using the minimum amount of resources

Answer 1

efficiency

Question 2

the ability to make decisions and how those decisions will be carried out

Answer 2

control

Question 3

speed that an organization can improve its products in response to customer feedback

Answer 3

responsiveness

Question 4

degree where employees can make decisions on their own

Answer 4

empowerment

Question 5

results in higher employee morale and more creative work environment but can also reduce management control

Answer 5

higher empowerment

Question 6

involves structuring tasks and activities

Answer 6

job design

Question 7

the separation of organizational activities into distinct tasks and assignment of these tasks to people

Answer 7

job specialization

Question 8

systematic shifting from one job to another

Answer 8

job rotation

Question 9

process of grouping jobs into manageable units

Answer 9

departmentalization

Question 10

groups employees who perform same activities

Answer 10

functional departmentalization

Question 11

groups employees who work with a particular good/service

Answer 11

product departmentalization

Question 12

groups employees according to geographic area

Answer 12

location/geographic departmentalization

Question 13

groups employees according to the needs of various customer population

Answer 13

customer departmentalization

Question 14

where decisions are concentrated at the upper levels of management

Answer 14

centralized authority

Question 15

where management attempts to spread authority widely across the staff

Answer 15

decentralized authority

Question 16

when manager assigns some of their work to someone else

Answer 16

delegation

Question 17

management attempts to spread authority widely across organization levels

Answer 17

decentralized organization

Question 18

systematically works to concentrate authority at upper levels

Answer 18

centralized organization

Question 19

the # of workers who report directly to one manager

Answer 19

span of management

Question 20

manager supervises many subordinates and can lead to flatter organization

Answer 20

wide span of control

Question 21

manager has only a few subordinates and can lead to taller organization

Answer 21

narrow span of control

Question 22

of layers, or levels, of management in a business

Answer 22

organizational height

Question 23

visual representation of the structured relationship among tasks, responsibilities and people given authority to do those tasks

Answer 23

organization chart

Question 24

an O.S where the chain of command goes directly from person to person

Answer 24

line of structure

Question 25

where authorities (e.g., managers) establish goals and directives that are then fulfilled by staff

Answer 25

line-and-staff structure

Question 26

an O.S where individuals work on teams so that conflicting objectives can be balanced and overall goals become the priority

Answer 26

matrix structure

Question 27

team of individuals with varying specialties and skills that are brought together to achieve a common task

Answer 27

cross-functional team

Question 28

represents the people in the company, how they’re grouped, and to whom they report

Answer 28

organizational structure

Question 29

the inner customs, traditions, and values of an organization

Answer 29

corporate culture

Question 30

pattern of behavior and interaction that stems from personal rather than professional relationships

Answer 30

informal organization

Question 31

informal communications network within an organization

Answer 31

grapevine