Chapter 9 - Terms

Question 1

Organizational structure

Answer 1

the vertical and horizontal configuration of departments, authority, and jobs within a company

Question 2

Organizational process

Answer 2

the collection of activities that transforms inputs into outputs that customers value

Question 3

Departmentalization

Answer 3

subdividing work and workers into separate organizational units responsible for completing particular tasks

Question 4

Functional departmentalization

Answer 4

organizing work and workers into separate units responsible for particular business functions or areas of expertise

Question 5

Product departmentalization

Answer 5

organizing work and workers into separate units responsible for producing particular products or services

Question 6

Customer departmentalization

Answer 6

organizing work and workers into separate units responsible for particular kinds of customers

Question 7

Geographic departmentalization

Answer 7

organizing work and workers into separate units responsible for doing business in particular geographic areas

Question 8

Matrix departmentalization

Answer 8

a hybrid organizational structure in which two or more forms of departmentalization, most often product and functional, are used together

Question 9

Simple matrix

Answer 9

a form of matrix departmentalization in which managers in different parts of the matrix negotiate conflicts and resources

Question 10

Complex matrix

Answer 10

a form of matrix departmentalization in which managers in different parts of the matrix report to matrix managers, who help them sort out conflicts and problems

Question 11

Authority

Answer 11

the right to give commands, take action, and make decisions to achieve organizational objectives

Question 12

Chain of command

Answer 12

the vertical line of authority that clarifies who reports to whom throughout the organization

Question 13

Unity of command

Answer 13

a management principle that workers should report to just one boss

Question 14

Line authority

Answer 14

the right to command immediate subordinates in the chain of command

Question 15

Staff authority

Answer 15

the right to advise, but not command, others who are not subordinates in the chain of command

Question 16

Line function

Answer 16

an activity that contributes directly to creating or selling the company’s products

Question 17

Staff function

Answer 17

an activity that does not contribute directly to creating or selling the company’s products but instead supports line activities

Question 18

Delegation of authority

Answer 18

the assignment of direct authority and responsibility to a subordinate to complete tasks for which the manager is normally responsible

Question 19

Centralization of authority

Answer 19

the location of most authority at the upper levels of the organization

Question 20

Decentralization

Answer 20

the location of a significant amount of authority in the lower levels of the organization

Question 21

Standardization

Answer 21

solving problems by consistently applying the same rules, procedures, and processes

Question 22

Job design

Answer 22

the number, kind, and variety of tasks that individual workers perform in doing their jobs

Question 23

Job specialization

Answer 23

a job composed of a small part of a larger task or process

Question 24

Job rotation

Answer 24

periodically moving workers from one specialized job to another to give them more variety and the opportunity to use different skills

Question 25

Job enlargement

Answer 25

increasing the number of different tasks that a worker performs within one particular job

Question 26

Job enrichment

Answer 26

increasing the number of tasks in a particular job and giving workers the authority and control to make meaningful decisions about their work

Question 27

Job characteristics model (JCM)

Answer 27

an approach to job redesign that seeks to formulate jobs in ways that motivate workers and lead to positive work outcomes

Question 28

Internal motivation

Answer 28

motivation that comes from the job itself rather than from outside rewards

Question 29

Skill variety

Answer 29

the number of different activities performed in a job

Question 30

Task identity

Answer 30

the degree to which a job, from beginning to end, requires the completion of a whole and identifiable piece of work

Question 31

Task significance

Answer 31

the degree to which a job is perceived to have a substantial impact on others inside or outside the organization

Question 32

Autonomy

Answer 32

the degree to which a job gives workers the discretion, freedom, and independence to decide how and when to accomplish the job

Question 33

Feedback

Answer 33

the amount of information the job provides to workers about their work performance

Question 34

Mechanistic organization

Answer 34

an organization characterized by specialized jobs and responsibilities; precisely defined, unchanging roles; and a rigid chain of command based on centralized authority and vertical communication

Question 35

Organic organization

Answer 35

an organization characterized by broadly defined jobs and responsibilities; loosely defined, frequently changing roles; and decentralized authority and horizontal communication based on task knowledge

Question 36

Intraorganizational process

Answer 36

the collection of activities that take place within an organization to transform inputs into outputs that customers value

Question 37

Reengineering

Answer 37

fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical measures of performance, such as cost, quality, service, and speed

Question 38

Task interdependence

Answer 38

the extent to which collective action is required to complete an entire piece of work

Question 39

Pooled interdependence

Answer 39

work completed by having each job or department independently contribute to the whole

Question 40

Sequential interdependence

Answer 40

work completed in succession, with one group’s or job’s outputs becoming the inputs for the next group or job

Question 41

Reciprocal interdependence

Answer 41

work completed by different jobs or groups working together in a back-and-forth manner

Question 42

Empowering workers

Answer 42

permanently passing decision-making authority and responsibility from managers to workers by giving them the information and resources they need to make and carry out good decisions

Question 43

Empowerment

Answer 43

feeling of intrinsic motivation in which workers perceive their work to have impact and meaning and perceive themselves to be competent and capable of self-determination

Question 44

Interorganizational process

Answer 44

a collection of activities that take place among companies to transform inputs into outputs that customers value

Question 45

Modular organization

Answer 45

an organization that outsources noncore business activities to outside companies, suppliers, specialists, or consultants

Question 46

Virtual organization

Answer 46

an organization that is part of a network in which many companies share skills, costs, capabilities, markets, and customers to collectively solve customer problems or provide specific products or services