Podcast
Questions and Answers
What term describes who leaves the group?
What term describes who leaves the group?
What do rituals in an organization primarily express?
What do rituals in an organization primarily express?
Which of the following is NOT a socialization method?
Which of the following is NOT a socialization method?
What does unfreezing in Lewin's three-step process involve?
What does unfreezing in Lewin's three-step process involve?
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Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to individual resistance to change?
Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to individual resistance to change?
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What is the primary purpose of job enrichment?
What is the primary purpose of job enrichment?
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Which term best describes motivation that results from completing a challenging task?
Which term best describes motivation that results from completing a challenging task?
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What is the Job Characteristics Model concerned with?
What is the Job Characteristics Model concerned with?
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What is a primary focus of the three key areas of change in an organization?
What is a primary focus of the three key areas of change in an organization?
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Which of the following is considered a barrier to organizational change?
Which of the following is considered a barrier to organizational change?
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Which of the following best describes the concept of work specialization?
Which of the following best describes the concept of work specialization?
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What does centralization in an organization refer to?
What does centralization in an organization refer to?
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Which characteristic of organizational structure allows for clarity in reporting relationships?
Which characteristic of organizational structure allows for clarity in reporting relationships?
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What is a key impact of a wide span of control in an organization?
What is a key impact of a wide span of control in an organization?
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How does departmentalization typically occur based on geography?
How does departmentalization typically occur based on geography?
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Which of the following is characteristic of a highly formalized job?
Which of the following is characteristic of a highly formalized job?
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What is the main outcome of decentralization within an organization?
What is the main outcome of decentralization within an organization?
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The concept of 'unit of authority' emphasizes which of the following principles?
The concept of 'unit of authority' emphasizes which of the following principles?
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What describes a simple structure in an organization?
What describes a simple structure in an organization?
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What is a key characteristic of an organic structure?
What is a key characteristic of an organic structure?
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In which type of organizational structure do employees work in empowered teams?
In which type of organizational structure do employees work in empowered teams?
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What is a strength of the mechanistic organizational structure?
What is a strength of the mechanistic organizational structure?
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What does the term 'boundary spanning' refer to in an organization?
What does the term 'boundary spanning' refer to in an organization?
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Which organizational structure is characterized by high formalization and work specialization?
Which organizational structure is characterized by high formalization and work specialization?
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What is one major effect of a commitment system on organizational behavior outcomes?
What is one major effect of a commitment system on organizational behavior outcomes?
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Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences the differences in organizational structures?
Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences the differences in organizational structures?
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In which type of culture do unwritten norms and mutual trust dominate?
In which type of culture do unwritten norms and mutual trust dominate?
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What is an example of a control system in an organization?
What is an example of a control system in an organization?
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How does socialization contribute to organizational culture?
How does socialization contribute to organizational culture?
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What defines a virtual structure in an organization?
What defines a virtual structure in an organization?
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What principle is central to the Attraction-Selection-Attrition Model in socialization?
What principle is central to the Attraction-Selection-Attrition Model in socialization?
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Study Notes
Organizational Systems
- Commitment systems focus on knowledge-based productivity, emphasizing organic structures and cultures.
- Control systems focus on manual productivity, using mechanistic structures and cultures.
Organizational Structure
- Organizational structure describes how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated.
- Key characteristics include work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization, decentralization, and formalization.
Work Specialization
- Breaking down work activities into separate job tasks improves efficiency.
- Also known as the division of labor.
Departmentalization
- Grouping jobs together based on certain criteria:
- Functional: Grouping by similar activities (e.g., marketing, finance).
- Product: Grouping by product line (e.g., cars, appliances).
- Geographic: Grouping by location (e.g., regional offices).
- Process: Grouping by process (e.g., order processing, production).
- Customer: Grouping by customer type (e.g., retail, wholesale).
Chain of Command
- Unbroken line of authority from top to bottom, specifying who reports to whom.
- Authority: The rights inherent in a managerial position to issue orders and expect obedience.
- Unity of command: A subordinate should receive instructions from only one superior.
Span of Control
- Number of subordinates reporting to a manager.
- Narrow span: Limited number of subordinates per manager; increases hierarchy.
- Wide span: Large number of subordinates per manager; greater efficiency.
Centralization/Decentralization
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Centralization: Degree of decision-making concentration at a single point.
- High managerial control, low employee empowerment.
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Decentralization: Degree of decision-making authority at lower levels.
- Low managerial control, high employee empowerment.
Formalization
- Degree to which organizational jobs are standardized.
- High formalization: Explicit job descriptions, rules, clear procedures for consistent output.
- Low formalization: Fewer constraints; workers have greater control.
Boundary Spanning
- Interactions with individuals outside formally assigned groups.
Organizational Design Types
-
Simple Structure:
- Low work specialization, flat hierarchy, centralized authority.
- Strengths: Simple, flexible, cost-effective.
- Weaknesses: Not suitable for growth, slow decision-making.
-
Organic Structure:
- Moderate work specialization, team-based departmentalization, decentralized authority.
- Strengths: Adaptable, responsive to change.
- Weaknesses: Can be complex to manage.
-
Mechanistic Structure:
- High work specialization, highly departmentalized, tall hierarchy, centralized authority.
- Strengths: Efficient, predictable.
- Weaknesses: Slow to adapt, inflexible.
Organizational Culture
- Shared perceptions, values, and meanings that shape behavior.
Hawthorne Studies
- Productivity is influenced more by the workers' feelings and relationships than by physical working conditions.
Organizational Structures (Beyond Simple, Organic, Mechanistic)
- Functional Structure: Groups by similar skills/tasks.
- Divisional Structure: Groups by product, geography, or customer.
- Virtual Structure: Small core with outsourced major functions.
- Team Structure: Replaces departments with empowered teams, eliminating horizontal/external boundaries.
- Circular Structure: Executives at the center, functions in rings.
Factors Influencing Structure
- Strategy, size, technology, and environment.
Organizational Culture Effects
- Can be a barrier to change, diversity, mergers, and acquisitions.
- Impacts productivity, absenteeism/turnover, OCBs, and job satisfaction.
Culture Formation
- Shaped by founders, selection process, top management, and socialization.
Attraction-Selection-Attrition (ASA) Model
- How individuals' desires to join (attraction) match an organization's hiring process (selection) and the attrition of those who don't fit.
Socialization Methods
- Stories, rituals, symbols, and language.
Lewins Three-step Process for Change
- Unfreezing: Moving away from the status quo through driving and restraining forces.
- Changing: Implementing new behavior patterns.
- Refreezing: Establishing and maintaining the change.
Individual and Organizational Resistance to Change
- Habit, security, economic factors, fear of the unknown.
- Structural inertia, limited focus, group inertia, threat to expertise, power.
Job Design
- Simple jobs: Clear, short descriptions & specifications, behavior-based evaluations.
- Complex jobs: Unclear, long descriptions & specifications, outcome-based evaluations.
Motivation Types
- Extrinsic: Motivation from external rewards.
- Intrinsic: Motivation from task completion and satisfaction.
Job Design Strategies
- Job rotation: Shifting workers between tasks.
- Job enlargement: Increasing the number of tasks.
- Job enrichment: Increasing the responsibility for a complete activity.
Change Management Approaches
- Proactive: Job analysis, selection, training, performance evaluation, and compensation.
- Reactive: Addressing legal issues, workplace violence, etc.
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Description
This quiz covers the principles of organizational systems, including commitment and control systems. It explores key topics such as organizational structure, work specialization, and departmentalization. Test your understanding of how organizations effectively divide and group tasks to enhance productivity.
