Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the preference of some individuals in the workforce regarding their jobs?
What is the preference of some individuals in the workforce regarding their jobs?
- Jobs with diverse tasks and frequent changes
- Jobs with minimal intellectual demands and security of routine (correct)
- Jobs with high levels of supervision and control
- Jobs with high intellectual demands and minimal routine
Research has found a direct relationship between span of control and employee satisfaction or performance.
Research has found a direct relationship between span of control and employee satisfaction or performance.
False (B)
What is a factor that can explain when wide or narrow spans of control are likely to contribute to employee performance and job satisfaction?
What is a factor that can explain when wide or narrow spans of control are likely to contribute to employee performance and job satisfaction?
employees' experiences and abilities and the degree of structure in their tasks
Autonomy appears positively related to _______________________.
Autonomy appears positively related to _______________________.
What is a characteristic of less centralized organizations?
What is a characteristic of less centralized organizations?
All employees value autonomy in their work environment.
All employees value autonomy in their work environment.
Match the following organizational characteristics with their effects on employees:
Match the following organizational characteristics with their effects on employees:
What is a potential outcome for managers as the number of employees supervised increases?
What is a potential outcome for managers as the number of employees supervised increases?
What is the primary advantage of training for specialization in an organization?
What is the primary advantage of training for specialization in an organization?
The human diseconomies of specialization are offset by the economic advantages.
The human diseconomies of specialization are offset by the economic advantages.
What are the three ways to departmentalize tasks?
What are the three ways to departmentalize tasks?
Procter & Gamble reorganized by departmentalizing tasks based on ____________________.
Procter & Gamble reorganized by departmentalizing tasks based on ____________________.
Match the following departmentalization types with their descriptions:
Match the following departmentalization types with their descriptions:
Repetition is a key factor in increasing employee skills.
Repetition is a key factor in increasing employee skills.
What is the major advantage of departmentalizing tasks by type of product or service?
What is the major advantage of departmentalizing tasks by type of product or service?
What are the human diseconomies of specialization?
What are the human diseconomies of specialization?
What is the primary strength of a bureaucracy?
What is the primary strength of a bureaucracy?
Research has shown that companies with decentralized research and development offices in multiple locations are less innovative than companies with centralized research and development.
Research has shown that companies with decentralized research and development offices in multiple locations are less innovative than companies with centralized research and development.
What is formalization in an organization, and how does it affect employee discretion?
What is formalization in an organization, and how does it affect employee discretion?
The greater the _________, the less input the employee has into how the job is done.
The greater the _________, the less input the employee has into how the job is done.
What is a characteristic of a bureaucracy?
What is a characteristic of a bureaucracy?
In a bureaucracy, employees are encouraged to think creatively and make decisions on their own.
In a bureaucracy, employees are encouraged to think creatively and make decisions on their own.
Match the following organizational design elements with their definitions:
Match the following organizational design elements with their definitions:
What is a potential weakness of a bureaucracy?
What is a potential weakness of a bureaucracy?
What is the degree of heterogeneity and concentration among environmental elements referred to as?
What is the degree of heterogeneity and concentration among environmental elements referred to as?
In organic structures, employees value fairness in formal policies and procedures.
In organic structures, employees value fairness in formal policies and procedures.
What is the effect of work specialization on employee productivity according to the evidence?
What is the effect of work specialization on employee productivity according to the evidence?
As the workforce has become more highly educated and desirous of jobs that are intrinsically rewarding, productivity begins to __________ more quickly than in the past.
As the workforce has become more highly educated and desirous of jobs that are intrinsically rewarding, productivity begins to __________ more quickly than in the past.
Match the organizational design elements with their implications:
Match the organizational design elements with their implications:
In which type of organizational structure do employees value interpersonal justice more?
In which type of organizational structure do employees value interpersonal justice more?
Standardized work tasks and minimized ambiguity lead to higher job satisfaction in all employees.
Standardized work tasks and minimized ambiguity lead to higher job satisfaction in all employees.
What is a limitation of work specialization according to the chapter?
What is a limitation of work specialization according to the chapter?
What is the main advantage of work specialization, as demonstrated by Henry Ford's assembly line?
What is the main advantage of work specialization, as demonstrated by Henry Ford's assembly line?
Work specialization involves assigning multiple tasks to a single individual.
Work specialization involves assigning multiple tasks to a single individual.
What is the term used to describe the degree to which activities in an organization are subdivided into separate jobs?
What is the term used to describe the degree to which activities in an organization are subdivided into separate jobs?
The _____ of an organization defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated.
The _____ of an organization defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated.
Which of the following is NOT one of the six key elements of an organization's structure?
Which of the following is NOT one of the six key elements of an organization's structure?
Centralization involves delegating decision-making authority to lower-level employees.
Centralization involves delegating decision-making authority to lower-level employees.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
What is the term used to describe the number of employees a manager can effectively supervise?
What is the term used to describe the number of employees a manager can effectively supervise?
What is the primary purpose of an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of an organization's culture?
Which of the following qualities of organizational culture is most closely related to a culture where team members motivate each other towards profitability and productivity?
Which of the following qualities of organizational culture is most closely related to a culture where team members motivate each other towards profitability and productivity?
What is the primary purpose of recognition in an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of recognition in an organization's culture?
Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 elements of organizational culture?
Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 elements of organizational culture?
What is the primary purpose of employee voice in an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of employee voice in an organization's culture?
Which of the following qualities of organizational culture is most closely related to a culture where employees can rely on others for their support?
Which of the following qualities of organizational culture is most closely related to a culture where employees can rely on others for their support?
What is the primary purpose of leadership in an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of leadership in an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of belonging in an organization's culture?
What is the primary purpose of belonging in an organization's culture?
Study Notes
Organizational Design and Job Satisfaction
- Some individuals prefer routine and repetitive jobs, which provide job satisfaction through high work specialization, but this may not be the case for all employees.
- Research suggests that high specialization can lead to negative behavioral outcomes, particularly for individuals with high needs for personal growth and diversity.
Span of Control and Employee Satisfaction
- There is no evidence to support a relationship between span of control and employee satisfaction or performance.
- Employees have different preferences for supervision, with some preferring autonomy and others preferring close supervision.
Centralization and Job Satisfaction
- Decentralized organizations tend to have more autonomy, which is positively related to job satisfaction.
- However, some employees may find autonomous environments frustratingly ambiguous.
Organizational Design and Employee Behavior
- Different organizational designs can have significant effects on employee behavior, but individual differences must be considered.
- Factors such as employee experiences, abilities, and task structure influence the effectiveness of different organizational designs.
Work Specialization and Productivity
- Work specialization can contribute to higher employee productivity, but at the cost of reduced job satisfaction.
- However, productivity begins to decline as the human diseconomies of repetitive tasks outweigh the economies of specialization.
Six Elements of Organizational Structure
- The six elements of an organization's structure are:
- Work specialization
- Departmentalization
- Chain of command
- Span of control
- Centralization and decentralization
- Formalization
Formalization and Job Standardization
- Formalization refers to the degree to which jobs within an organization are standardized.
- Highly formalized jobs provide minimal discretion to employees, while low formalization allows for more autonomy.
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
- A bureaucracy is characterized by:
- Highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization
- Formalized rules and regulations
- Tasks grouped into functional departments
- Strong centralized authority
- Narrow spans of control
- Decision-making follows the chain of command
Departmentalization
- Departmentalization involves grouping jobs together to coordinate common tasks.
- Common methods of departmentalization include:
- Functional departmentalization (e.g., engineering, accounting, manufacturing)
- Product departmentalization (e.g., by product or service)
- Geographical departmentalization (e.g., by region or territory)
- Process departmentalization (e.g., by processing customers or products)
- Customer departmentalization (e.g., by type of customer)
Organizational Culture
- Organizational culture is the set of values, beliefs, attitudes, and rules that shape employee behavior within an organization.
- It reflects how employees, customers, and stakeholders interact with the organization and its brand.
- Culture is created over time through consistent and authentic behaviors.
Qualities of Organizational Culture
- Alignment: objectives and employee motivations are aligned and moving in the same direction.
- Application: team members frequently recognize and thank each other for their contributions.
- Trust: team members can rely on each other for support.
- Performance: a culture that motivates team members towards profitability and productivity.
- Resilience: adapting to continuous change in a dynamic environment.
- Team Work: collaboration, communication, and respect for each other.
- Integrity: honesty and integrity are essential components of the culture.
- Innovation: leveraging technologies, resources, and markets to achieve more.
- Safety: providing a safe environment for employees to take risks and give honest feedback.
Elements of Organizational Culture
- Recognition: team members feel supported and valued, with appreciation for their efforts.
- Values: organizational values influence daily decision-making.
- Employee Voice: employees can freely express themselves and provide feedback.
- Leadership: leadership reflects the organization's success, and leaders should model positive behaviors.
- Belonging: a sense of belonging is the foundation of a great culture.
Types of Organizational Culture
(Note: There are no specific types of organizational culture mentioned in the provided text.)
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of job satisfaction in highly specialized jobs, discussing the appeal of routine and minimal intellectual demands. It raises questions about the percentage of the workforce that prefers such jobs.
