Organizational Behavior, 16e (Robbins/Judge)Chapter 15 Foundations of Organization Structure1) The term which is used to describe the degree to which tasks in an organization are subdividedinto separate jobs is called ________.A) social clusteringB) bureaucracyC) work specializationD) centralizationE) departmentalizationAnswer: CExplanation: C) We use the term work specialization, or division of labor, to describe the degree to which activities in the organization are subdivided into separate jobs. The essence of work specialization is to divide a job into a number of steps, each completed by a separate individual.LO: 1Difficulty: EasyQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure2) Which of the following statements is true regarding work specialization?A) Work specialization indicates to what degree will there be rules and formalized regulations to direct employees and managers.B) Work specialization decreases the time spent in changing tasks.C) Work specialization increases the cost of finding and training workers to do specific and repetitive tasks.D) Work specialization decreases efficiency and productivity.E) Work specialization hinders efficient use of employee skills.Answer: BExplanation: B) Work specialization indicates the degree to which activities in the organization are subdivided into separate jobs. Work specialization makes the most efficient use of employees'skills. Less time is spent in changing tasks, putting away tools and equipment from a prior step, and getting ready for another.LO: 1Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure1Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.3) For much of the first half of the twentieth century, managers viewed work specialization as ________.A) a means to encourage employee satisfactionB) an effective solution to overcentralizationC) an unending source of increased productivityD) difficult to implement without automation technologyE) a frustrating cause of reduced efficiencyAnswer: CExplanation: C) For much of the first half of the twentieth century, managers viewed work specialization as an unending source of increased productivity. And they were probably right. When specialization was not widely practiced, its introduction almost always generated higher productivity.LO: 1Difficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ConceptLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure4) The basis by which jobs are grouped is called ________.A) social clusteringB) span of controlC) work specializationD) centralizationE) departmentalizationAnswer: EExplanation: E) The basis by which jobs are grouped is called departmentalization.LO: 1AACSB: Analytic SkillsDifficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ApplicationLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure2Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.5) A plant manager organizes a plant by separating engineering, accounting, manufacturing, personnel, and purchasing into departments. The plant is departmentalized on the basis of ________.A) target customerB) productC) functionD) geographyE) serviceAnswer: CExplanation: C) One of the most popular ways to group activities is by functions performed. A manufacturing manager might organize a plant into engineering, accounting, manufacturing, personnel, and supply specialists departments.LO: 1AACSB: Analytic SkillsDifficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ApplicationLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure6) AgriProducers has customers all over the United States that need their soil and crops tested in their labs. The crops and soil are different in the various large areas of the nation, such as the West Coast and the Midwest. Which type of departmentalization would be best for AgriProducers?A) functionalB) processC) productD) geographicE) temporalAnswer: DExplanation: D) AgriProducers' needs would best be served by departmentalizing on the basis ofgeography. This form is valuable when an organization's customers are scattered over a large geographic area and have similar needs based on their location.LO: 1AACSB: Analytic SkillsDifficulty: HardQuest. Category: ApplicationLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure3Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.7) Procter & Gamble has separate departments for Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles. This is an example of departmentalization by ________.A) functionB) processC) geographyD) productE) interestAnswer: DExplanation: D) Firms can departmentalize jobs by the type of product or service the organization produces. For example, Procter & Gamble places each major product, such as Tide, Pampers, Charmin, and Pringles, under an executive who has complete global responsibility for it.LO: 1AACSB: Analytic SkillsDifficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ApplicationLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure8) Wiper Inc., a parts supplier, has separate departments for government aircraft and contracts, large commercial aircraft clients, and small personal aircraft clients. This is an example of departmentalization on the basis of ________.A) productB) functionC) geographyD) customerE) serviceAnswer: DExplanation: D) A firm can departmentalize based on the particular type of customer the organization seeks to reach. Microsoft, for example, is organized around four customer markets: consumers, large corporations, software developers, and small businesses. Customers in each department have a common set of problems and needs best met by having specialists for each. Wiper Inc. is departmentalized to meet different customer needs.LO: 1AACSB: Analytic SkillsDifficulty: ModerateQuest. Category: ApplicationLearning Outcome: Discuss the factors that influence decisions about organizational structure4Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.9) The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom is termed ________.A) chain of commandB) path of powerC) span of controlD) line of responsibilityE) web of authorityAnswer: AExplanation: A) The chain of command is an unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of