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</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</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

    <p>Communication between peers</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</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'</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.</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.</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</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

    When does horizontal decentralization occur?

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

    What factor influences how power is enforced in the organization?

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

    What is the coordinating mechanism in the Divisionalized Form configuration?

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

    Why does an organization adopt the Divisionalized Form configuration?

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

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

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

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

    <p>Adhocracy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What coordinating mechanism is favored in an Adhocracy organizational structure?

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

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

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

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

    <p>Client-based problem solving</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;</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</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</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</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

    Which configuration allows standardization and decentralization to coexist?

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

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

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

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

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

    What is a key organizational part in the Professional Bureaucracy?

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

    What coordination mechanism is extensively used by bureaucracies?

    <p>Standardization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of performance control systems?

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

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

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

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

    <p>Control</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</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does planning and control systems measure and evaluate?

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

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