Organizational Structures in Construction and Software

Questions and Answers

C & J Construction has a ______ structure.

Matrix

Which of the following characteristics would you expect C & J Construction to have? (Select all that apply)

Human relationship skills are important. (correct)

There is unity of command.

Departments do not have formal leaders. (correct)

Vertical hierarchical structure provides accountability. (correct)

What would be the best reason for C & J Construction's CEO to consider moving to a virtual network structure?

To focus on the core competencies of the organization and outsource less mission-critical tasks.

What problem might the CEO expect if C & J Construction switches to a virtual network structure?

Employees may feel less loyalty to the reorganized company. Signup and view all the answers

QRT Software has a ______ structure.

Outsourcing structure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics would you expect QRT Software to have? (Select all that apply)

Highly centralized decision making. Signup and view all the answers

What would be the best reason for QRT Software's CEO to move to a functional structure?

To protect proprietary information. Signup and view all the answers

What problem might the CEO expect if QRT Software switches to a functional structure?

Decisions will be made at the top of the organization, creating delays. Signup and view all the answers

By delegating the status report to Joanne, she has____________ for its completion.

accountability and responsibility Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are true after you delegate the status report to Joanne? (Select all that apply)

Joanne will be held accountable for results. Signup and view all the answers

Unity of command _______ in matrix organizations.

does not exist Signup and view all the answers

The reorganization gave Joanne______ to direct the activities of the three people who now report to her.

line authority Signup and view all the answers

What can you expect as a result of your job design strategy of enrichment? (Select all that apply)

Increased long-term employee satisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

What can you expect as a result of your job design strategy of enlargement? (Select all that apply)

Increased job challenge. Signup and view all the answers

What can you expect as a result of your job design strategy of rotation? (Select all that apply)

Initial increase in employee stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

A person in a one-man band who plays guitar, drums, and harmonica is higher on this dimension than a musician who plays only the piano.

Skill Variety Signup and view all the answers

A doctor who can decide what medications a patient will be given is high on this dimension, whereas a nurse who must follow a doctor's orders is low.

Autonomy Signup and view all the answers

Teachers who believe that they can change the world one child at a time are high on this dimension.

Task Significance Signup and view all the answers

The student who knows almost immediately how well he or she did on a test is high on this dimension, but the employee who hasn't talked to his or her boss for a year is probably low.

Feedback Signup and view all the answers

A baker who designs, bakes, and frosts her own cakes is high on this dimension, but the assembly line worker who installs door handles all day is low.

Task Identity Signup and view all the answers

As an organization becomes more mechanistic, its decision making becomes

Centralized Signup and view all the answers

Banks are good examples of ______ because each location operates independently, but contributes to the common good of the organization.

pooled interdependence Signup and view all the answers

A company undergoing _____ completely redesigns its work processes, hoping for dramatic improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

reengineering Signup and view all the answers

As an organization becomes more organic, its chain of command becomes

Shorter Signup and view all the answers

Assembly lines are examples of:

sequential interdependence Signup and view all the answers

_____ is closely related to intrinsic motivation: Employees believe that they have the ability and autonomy to do meaningful work.

Empowerment Signup and view all the answers

As an organization becomes more organic, its communication flow becomes

More horizontal Signup and view all the answers

Airlines utilize ______ because there is constant communication and back-and-forth between gate agents, ticket agents, baggage handlers, pilots, and mechanics.

reciprocal interdependence Signup and view all the answers

A _________ consists of many organizations that form temporary alliances to provide a particular product or service.

Virtual Organization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered true about virtual organizations? (Select all that apply)

They provide better products and services. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered true about modular organizations? (Select all that apply)

They can consist of suppliers, specialists, or consultants. Signup and view all the answers

A _____________ purchases noncore business activities from outside companies.

modular organization Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

C & J Construction's Organizational Structure

C & J Construction operates under a matrix structure, where employees report to two managers: one for their job specialty and another for their current project.
This structure lacks formal leaders within departments, violating the principle of unity of command, as employees answer to multiple managers.
Important human relationship skills are necessary due to collaboration with senior managers for decision-making.
There are advantages to vertical hierarchy for accountability, while horizontal relationships help improve communication.

Virtual Network Structure Considerations

Transitioning to a virtual network structure could enhance focus on core competencies and allow outsourcing of less critical tasks.
Potential downside includes decreased employee loyalty following reorganization.

QRT Software's Structure and Operations

QRT Software follows a modular organizational structure, heavily utilizing outsourcing for core competencies like code development, marketing, quality control, and distribution.
Decision-making is highly centralized, offering flexibility as the company can pivot swiftly towards its goals.

Delegation and Accountability in Management

Delegation involves transferring responsibility to empower employees while allowing managers to focus on critical tasks.
Following delegation, the delegate assumes accountability and responsibility for the task's completion.

Unity of Command and Authority

The reorganization at the advertising agency resulted in Joanne reporting to one supervisor, thus establishing unity of command, which is typically absent in matrix setups.
Joanne acquired line authority, enabling her to direct team members after the reorganization.

Job Design Strategies for Employee Engagement

Job enrichment allows nurses to manage both lower and higher-level tasks, facilitating autonomy and accountability.
Job enlargement increases task variety and challenge, positively impacting job satisfaction.
Job rotation introduces flexibility in working schedules while enhancing stimulation and satisfaction over time.

Dimensions of Job Design

Skill variety reflects the range of tasks performed, such as a one-man band compared to a single instrument musician.
Autonomy is the level of control an employee like a doctor has over decision-making compared to a nurse following orders.
Task significance involves the perceived impact of the work done, as seen with teachers who believe in their influence on children.
Feedback refers to the immediacy of performance evaluation experienced by students compared to employees with infrequent assessments.

Organizational Structure Dynamics

Mechanistic organizations typically have centralized decision-making processes, while organic structures encourage decentralized communication and often present shorter chains of command.
Pooled interdependence illustrates how bank locations operate independently yet contribute to the overall organization.
Reengineering signifies a complete redesign of work processes to achieve substantial efficiency and effectiveness improvements.

Dependence Types in Organizations

Sequential interdependence occurs in assembly lines, where tasks depend in a specific sequence.
Empowerment is linked to intrinsic motivation, allowing employees autonomy and capability in performing impactful work.
Reciprocal interdependence is seen in airlines, relying on constant communication among various roles to ensure smooth operations.

Characteristics of Virtual and Modular Organizations

Virtual organizations consist of temporary alliances forming to deliver specific products or services, characterized by speed and flexibility in operations.
Modular organizations outsource non-core activities and can include a diverse group of suppliers and specialists to meet business needs.

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Description

Explore the organizational structures of C & J Construction and QRT Software. This quiz covers matrix and modular structures, the importance of human relationships, and the implications of transitioning to a virtual network. Test your understanding of these concepts in modern organizational management.