Organizational Culture and Structure Quiz

Organizational Culture and Structure

• How Employees Learn Culture: Organizational culture is learned through observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions.
  • Symbols: Objects, acts, qualities, or events conveying meaning.
  • Stories: Narratives emphasizing values, often embellished.
  • Heroes: Individuals whose accomplishments embody values.
  • Rites and Rituals: Activities celebrating important occasions.
  • Organizational Socialization: Process of learning organizational values, norms, and behaviors.

Three Levels of Organizational Culture

• Observable Artifacts: Visible manifestations like dress code, awards, myths, rituals, decorations, and employee behavior.

• Espoused Values: Explicitly stated values and norms preferred by the organization (e.g., company mission statement).

• Basic Assumptions: Unobservable core values of the organization; often taken for granted.

Four Types of Organizational Culture

• Clan Culture: Internal focus, values flexibility.

• Adhocracy Culture: External focus, values flexibility for innovation.

• Market Culture: External focus, values stability and control for results.

• Hierarchy Culture: Internal focus, values stability and control.

Major Features of Organizations

• Common Purpose: Shared goals.
• Coordinated Effort: Working together towards objectives.
• Division of Labor: Specialization of tasks.
• Hierarchy of Authority: Chain of command.
  • Flat Organizations: Decentralized authority structure, fewer layers of management.
• Spans of Control: Number of subordinates managed by one supervisor.
• Authority: Accountability for actions; responsibility for duties; delegating tasks.
  • Centralization: Authority concentrated at top.
  • Decentralization: Authority distributed throughout an organization

Organizational Chart

• Visual representation of formal authority, positions, and work specializations.

Eight Types of Organizational Structure

• Traditional Designs:

  • Simple Structure: Centralized authority, flat hierarchy, few rules.
  • Functional Structure: Grouping by similar occupational specialties.
  • Divisional Structure: Grouping by products, services, customers, or regions.

• Horizontal Designs:

  • Horizontal Structure (Team-based): Teams for improved collaboration.

• Designs that Open Boundaries Between Organizations:

  • Hollow Structure: Outsourced functions.
  • Modular Structure: Assembled product chunks from outside contractors.
  • Virtual Structure: Geographically dispersed employees, often remote.

Test your understanding of organizational culture and structure, including how employees learn culture and the three levels of organizational culture. This quiz covers key concepts like observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions. Challenge yourself with questions about symbols, stories, and rituals in the workplace.