Organizational Structures in Construction and Software
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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?

    <p>Employees may feel less loyalty to the reorganized company.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    QRT Software has a ______ structure.

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

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

    <p>Highly centralized decision making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>To protect proprietary information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

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

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

    <p>Joanne will be held accountable for results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Unity of command _______ in matrix organizations.

    <p>does not exist</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

    <p>Increased long-term employee satisfaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Increased job challenge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Initial increase in employee stimulation.</p> 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.

    <p>Skill Variety</p> 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.

    <p>Autonomy</p> 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.

    <p>Task Significance</p> 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.

    <p>Feedback</p> 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.

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

    As an organization becomes more mechanistic, its decision making becomes

    <p>Centralized</p> 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.

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

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

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

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

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

    Assembly lines are examples of:

    <p>sequential interdependence</p> 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.

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

    As an organization becomes more organic, its communication flow becomes

    <p>More horizontal</p> 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.

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

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

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

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

    <p>They provide better products and services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

    A _____________ purchases noncore business activities from outside companies.

    <p>modular organization</p> 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.

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