Systems Theory and Organizational Thinking Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a standard source of information about an employee’s job performance?

Number of years in the company

Objective production data (correct)

Personal hobbies and interests

Physical appearance

What is 360-degree feedback used for?

For personal use only

Only for developmental purposes

Only for administrative purposes

Both developmental and administrative purposes (correct)

According to the text, who can make appraisals of performance?

Only supervisors

Only peers

Peers, subordinates, and supervisors (correct)

Only subordinates

What is a factor that may influence a rater’s decision to give accurate and honest evaluations of employees?

Inhibiting factors within the organization Signup and view all the answers

Which theory of organizations is NOT outlined in the chapter?

Quantum Theory Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?

Total Quality Management Signup and view all the answers

In what decade did the study of organizations begin?

1950s Signup and view all the answers

What disciplines have contributed to the study of organizations?

Sociology and Economics Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized as the need for organizations in response to changing conditions?

Adaptability Signup and view all the answers

What are some components of social systems within organizations that are examined in the chapter?

Roles and Norms Signup and view all the answers

What is the website http://psychology.wadsworth.com/muchinsky8e primarily offering?

Online resources directly linked to the book Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of I/O psychology in relation to organizations?

Individual behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is used to understand the meaning of organizations according to the text?

Metaphors Signup and view all the answers

What is the rationale for organizational change covered in the chapter?

Adapting to environmental changes Signup and view all the answers

What is described as the major role of I/O psychologists in relation to organizations?

Helping organizations change Signup and view all the answers

What is discussed in relation to the creation of global organizations?

Cross-cultural I/O psychology Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what does the span-of-control principle refer to?

The number of subordinates a manager is responsible for supervising Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of classical theory in organizations?

Structural relationships Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle address?

The structured chain of command with increasing levels of authority Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the neoclassical theory of organizations?

Human relations and behavioral aspects Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what is the line/staff principle concerned with?

Differentiating organizational work into line and staff functions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary emphasis of systems theory in organizations?

Interdependence and interactions within an organization Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what is the unity of command principle about?

Each subordinate being accountable to only one supervisor Signup and view all the answers

What does the functional principle in classical theory propose?

Organizations should be divided into units that perform similar functions Signup and view all the answers

What was the belief of classical theorists about organizational fragmentation?

It should be overcome through a well-designed chain of command Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what is the span-of-control principle concerned with?

The number of subordinates a manager is responsible for supervising Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary emphasis of classical theory in addressing organizational structure?

Overcoming organizational fragmentation through a well-designed chain of command Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what is the focus of the line/staff principle?

Differentiating organizational work into line and staff functions Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what is considered a large span of control?

15 subordinates Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of classical theory?

Structural anatomy of organizations Signup and view all the answers

According to neoclassical theory, what does determining an effective span of control depend on?

Psychological factors such as leadership style and managerial ability Signup and view all the answers

What did neoclassical theory challenge about classical principles?

The rigidity of classical principles Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what did neoclassical theory reveal about formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?

They are influenced by informal interpersonal activities within organizations Signup and view all the answers

What does neoclassical theory emphasize about the division of labor?

It should be less rigid Signup and view all the answers

What did neoclassical theory draw heavily on to reveal the importance of individual differences in organizations?

Behavioral research Signup and view all the answers

What does neoclassical theory reveal about the theoretical distinction between line and staff functions?

It highlights the critical role of staff functions in organizational success Signup and view all the answers

What was neoclassical theory's approach to the classical principles of division of labor, scalar principle, line/staff principle, and span of control?

Challenged them Signup and view all the answers

According to classical theory, what was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?

Classical principles Signup and view all the answers

What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of employee work for satisfaction and productivity?

Less rigid division of labor Signup and view all the answers

What did neoclassical theory reveal about the influence of informal interpersonal activities on formal lines of authority?

Influence within organizations Signup and view all the answers

According to systems theory, how are organizations viewed?

As interdependent systems with their environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?

Failure to communicate Signup and view all the answers

How many parts is an organizational system composed of according to systems theory?

Five Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the parts and interactions of a system according to systems theory?

To meet the system’s larger goals: stability, growth, and adaptability Signup and view all the answers

How are coordination and linkage among system parts achieved according to systems theory?

Through communication and decision making Signup and view all the answers

From which field was systems theory developed?

Biological sciences Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary view of organizations from the systems theory perspective?

As living organisms Signup and view all the answers

What type of networks does organizational communication occur through according to systems theory?

Networks that deviate from formal lines of authority Signup and view all the answers

What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?

Failure to communicate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of systems theory in organizational thinking?

To provide a new approach to understanding organizations Signup and view all the answers

How are organizations viewed in systems theory in contrast to neoclassicists' conceptualization?

As interdependent systems with their environment Signup and view all the answers

What concept did systems theory emerge as a radically different school of thought from?

Classical perspective Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Systems Theory: A New Approach to Organizational Thinking

Neoclassicists' conceptualization of organizations was based on the classical perspective
Systems theory emerged in the 1970s as a radically different school of thought
Developed from the biological sciences and modified for organizational theory
Organizations are viewed as interdependent systems with their environment
All parts of the system are interdependent, making up the "system"
An organizational system is composed of five parts: individuals, formal organization, small groups, status and role, physical setting
Complex interactions exist among all parts of the system
Coordination and linkage among system parts are achieved through communication and decision making
Organizational communication occurs through networks that deviate from formal lines of authority
The Achilles’ heel of most large organizations is failure to communicate
Parts and interactions of a system exist to meet the system’s larger goals: stability, growth, and adaptability
Systems theory views organizations as living organisms with the purpose of reaching stability, growth, and adaptability

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Test your knowledge of systems theory and its impact on organizational thinking with this quiz. Explore the key concepts and principles, including the interdependence of organizational systems, communication and decision-making processes, and the overarching goals of stability, growth, and adaptability.

Systems Theory and Organizational Thinking Quiz

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Podcast

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a standard source of information about an employee’s job performance?

What is 360-degree feedback used for?

According to the text, who can make appraisals of performance?

What is a factor that may influence a rater’s decision to give accurate and honest evaluations of employees?

Which theory of organizations is NOT outlined in the chapter?

What are some of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?

In what decade did the study of organizations begin?

What disciplines have contributed to the study of organizations?

What is emphasized as the need for organizations in response to changing conditions?

What are some components of social systems within organizations that are examined in the chapter?

What is the website http://psychology.wadsworth.com/muchinsky8e primarily offering?

What is the focus of I/O psychology in relation to organizations?

What is used to understand the meaning of organizations according to the text?

What is the rationale for organizational change covered in the chapter?

What is described as the major role of I/O psychologists in relation to organizations?

What is discussed in relation to the creation of global organizations?

According to classical theory, what does the span-of-control principle refer to?

What is the focus of classical theory in organizations?

According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle address?

What is the main focus of the neoclassical theory of organizations?

According to classical theory, what is the line/staff principle concerned with?

What is the primary emphasis of systems theory in organizations?

According to classical theory, what is the unity of command principle about?

What does the functional principle in classical theory propose?

What was the belief of classical theorists about organizational fragmentation?

According to classical theory, what is the span-of-control principle concerned with?

What is the primary emphasis of classical theory in addressing organizational structure?

According to classical theory, what is the focus of the line/staff principle?

According to classical theory, what is considered a large span of control?

What was the focus of classical theory?

According to neoclassical theory, what does determining an effective span of control depend on?

What did neoclassical theory challenge about classical principles?

According to the text, what did neoclassical theory reveal about formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?

What does neoclassical theory emphasize about the division of labor?

What did neoclassical theory draw heavily on to reveal the importance of individual differences in organizations?

What does neoclassical theory reveal about the theoretical distinction between line and staff functions?

What was neoclassical theory's approach to the classical principles of division of labor, scalar principle, line/staff principle, and span of control?

According to classical theory, what was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?

What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of employee work for satisfaction and productivity?

What did neoclassical theory reveal about the influence of informal interpersonal activities on formal lines of authority?

According to systems theory, how are organizations viewed?

What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?

How many parts is an organizational system composed of according to systems theory?

What is the purpose of the parts and interactions of a system according to systems theory?

How are coordination and linkage among system parts achieved according to systems theory?

From which field was systems theory developed?

What is the primary view of organizations from the systems theory perspective?

What type of networks does organizational communication occur through according to systems theory?

What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?

What is the primary purpose of systems theory in organizational thinking?

How are organizations viewed in systems theory in contrast to neoclassicists' conceptualization?

What concept did systems theory emerge as a radically different school of thought from?

Study Notes

Studying That Suits You

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