Organizational Decentralization

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the five organizational structures discussed by Mintzberg?

  • The Machine Bureaucracy
  • The Simple Structure
  • The Professional Bureaucracy
  • The Complex Structure (correct)

What is the main focus of 'Designing Effective Organizations' by Henry Mintzberg?

  • Exploring the psychological aspects of leadership
  • Reviewing the essence of organizational design and structure (correct)
  • Discussing the impact of technology on modern organizations
  • Analyzing historical business practices

What is the purpose of Mintzberg's book according to the text?

  • To provide a comprehensive analysis of power dynamics in organizations
  • To challenge existing literature on organizational design
  • To offer a distilled and concise interpretation of collaboration mechanisms (correct)
  • To discourage practitioners from using traditional organizational structures

What did Mintzberg survey to write his book according to the text?

<p>Literature on organizational design and structure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Mintzberg's work differ from much of the other work available in the field according to the text?

<p>It is more comprehensible and written specifically for practitioners (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are among Mintzberg's most famous findings according to the text?

<p>The Five Organizational Structures (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of organizational structuring according to Mintzberg?

<p>Maximizing the organization's return on investment (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Support Staff in an organization according to Mintzberg's classification?

<p>Ensuring optimal settings for the rest of the organization (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes horizontal job specialization from vertical job specialization according to Mintzberg?

<p>The number of tasks assigned to an organizational position (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mintzberg, what is the purpose of the Technostructure within an organization?

<p>Defining techniques and tools for the operating core (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Mintzberg mention about fitting into a distinct structural model in real organizations?

<p>Few real organizations fit into a distinct structural model (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Middle Line in an organization as per Mintzberg's classification?

<p>Managing the unit and delivering performance feedback (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mintzberg, what is mutual adjustment in organizational coordination based on?

<p>Communication between peers (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Mintzberg note about dependent or independent variables in a system?

<p>'Everything depends on something else' in a system (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mintzberg, what is the purpose of the Strategic Apex within an organization?

<p>'Conceiving visions and strategic goals' (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Mintzberg define job enlargement and job enrichment?

<p>Job enlargement happens when an employee simply is assigned more tasks, whereas job enrichment happens when an employee is given more control over tasks. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes horizontal job specialization from vertical job specialization according to Mintzberg?

<p>Horizontal job specialization defines the breadth of tasks assigned to an organizational position, while vertical job specialization occurs at higher levels in the organization. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the solution of distributing power due to human limitations with grasping complexity and vastness?

<p>Decentralization (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way can decentralization become depending on the degree of implementation?

<p>Vertical or horizontal (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When does horizontal decentralization occur?

<p>When power is shifted from managers to non-managers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does selective decentralization refer to?

<p>Power over different kinds of decisions resting in different parts of the organization (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which situation does a highly regulated technical system lead to a more decentralized organization?

<p>Sophisticated and difficult to understand technical system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Mintzberg cite as influencing the span of control and how the organization is grouped?

<p>Technical system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factor influences how power is enforced in the organization?

<p>External control (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the coordinating mechanism in the Divisionalized Form configuration?

<p>Standardization of outputs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does an organization adopt the Divisionalized Form configuration?

<p>To diversify its market presence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mintzberg, what does loose coupling in the Divisionalized Form lead to?

<p>Increased vulnerability (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential downside of the performance control system in the Divisionalized Form?

<p>Disregards softer social issues (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of organizational structure is suitable for dynamic environments with complex problems?

<p>Adhocracy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What coordinating mechanism is favored in an Adhocracy organizational structure?

<p>Mutual adjustment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In an Adhocracy, what is crucial to ensuring the optimal solution for complex problems?

<p>Information flow (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic sets the Operating Adhocracy apart from the Administrative Adhocracy?

<p>Client-based problem solving (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Administrative Adhocracy differ from the Operating Adhocracy in terms of organizing its operating core?

<p>&quot;It keeps a sharp distinction between operating core and administrative component&quot; (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the strategic apex play in running an Adhocracy?

<p>Ensures a setting that nurtures creativity and innovation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Mintzberg argue regarding innovation in an Adhocracy?

<p>Avoid any use of standardization for coordination to nurture creativity and innovation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organizational structure is primarily recognized by the foundation of routine it imposes on its work processes?

<p>Machine Bureaucracy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main power center in the Machine Bureaucracy organizational structure?

<p>Strategic apex (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which configuration allows standardization and decentralization to coexist?

<p>Professional Bureaucracy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which organizational structure does each division have a tendency to approach the Machine Bureaucracy as time goes by?

<p>Divisionalized Form (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic that makes the Machine Bureaucracy strong but also its Achilles heel?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main power source for the Technostructure in the Machine Bureaucracy?

<p>Operating core (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the work performed by the operating core becomes so complex that only the workers themselves fully understand its contents?

<p>Professional Bureaucracy gains more control (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the problems faced by Professional Bureaucracies due to their high reliance on professionals?

<p>Incompetent or uncooperative employees (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the middle line manager play in the Machine Bureaucracy?

<p>Handling disturbances in the operating core (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the environment in which Professional Bureaucracies operate?

<p>Stable and complex (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key organizational part in the Professional Bureaucracy?

<p>Operating core (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organizational structure is concerned with handling disturbances in its structure and ensuring the right resources for professionals?

<p>Professional Bureaucracy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which parameter refers to the regulation of how employees are expected to behave within the organization?

<p>Training and indoctrination (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What coordination mechanism is extensively used by bureaucracies?

<p>Standardization (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of performance control systems?

<p>To measure and motivate (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which parameter involves the process of structuring and distributing manpower and skills available within the organization?

<p>Superstructure design parameters (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of action planning?

<p>To predetermine specific decisions and actions for the outputs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which grouping emphasizes knowledge, skill, process, and function?

<p>Grouping by work processes and function (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

"The less formalized an organization is, the more ___ it is said to be." Fill in the blank.

<p>Organic (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

"Bureaucracies use formalization extensively as their main ___ mechanism." Fill in the blank.

<p>Control (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of liaison devices?

<p>To provide connections between different parts and units within the organization (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does planning and control systems measure and evaluate?

<p>The organizational system, its outputs, and processes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides the choice of how to organize unit grouping, what is also an important consideration?

<p>The unit size related to the used coordination mechanism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Mintzberg argue is necessary to consider besides the organizational superstructure?

<p>Quality, stability, and consistency within the organization (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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