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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is a standard source of information about an employee’s job performance?
Which of the following is a standard source of information about an employee’s job performance?
What is 360-degree feedback used for?
What is 360-degree feedback used for?
According to the text, who can make appraisals of performance?
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?
What is a factor that may influence a rater’s decision to give accurate and honest evaluations of employees?
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Which theory of organizations is NOT outlined in the chapter?
Which theory of organizations is NOT outlined in the chapter?
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What are some of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?
What are some of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?
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In what decade did the study of organizations begin?
In what decade did the study of organizations begin?
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What disciplines have contributed to the study of organizations?
What disciplines have contributed to the study of organizations?
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What is emphasized as the need for organizations in response to changing conditions?
What is emphasized as the need for organizations in response to changing conditions?
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What are some components of social systems within organizations that are examined in the chapter?
What are some components of social systems within organizations that are examined in the chapter?
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What is the website http://psychology.wadsworth.com/muchinsky8e primarily offering?
What is the website http://psychology.wadsworth.com/muchinsky8e primarily offering?
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What is the focus of I/O psychology in relation to organizations?
What is the focus of I/O psychology in relation to organizations?
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What is used to understand the meaning of organizations according to the text?
What is used to understand the meaning of organizations according to the text?
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What is the rationale for organizational change covered in the chapter?
What is the rationale for organizational change covered in the chapter?
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What is described as the major role of I/O psychologists in relation to organizations?
What is described as the major role of I/O psychologists in relation to organizations?
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What is discussed in relation to the creation of global organizations?
What is discussed in relation to the creation of global organizations?
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According to classical theory, what does the span-of-control principle refer to?
According to classical theory, what does the span-of-control principle refer to?
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What is the focus of classical theory in organizations?
What is the focus of classical theory in organizations?
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According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle address?
According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle address?
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What is the main focus of the neoclassical theory of organizations?
What is the main focus of the neoclassical theory of organizations?
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According to classical theory, what is the line/staff principle concerned with?
According to classical theory, what is the line/staff principle concerned with?
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What is the primary emphasis of systems theory in organizations?
What is the primary emphasis of systems theory in organizations?
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According to classical theory, what is the unity of command principle about?
According to classical theory, what is the unity of command principle about?
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What does the functional principle in classical theory propose?
What does the functional principle in classical theory propose?
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What was the belief of classical theorists about organizational fragmentation?
What was the belief of classical theorists about organizational fragmentation?
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According to classical theory, what is the span-of-control principle concerned with?
According to classical theory, what is the span-of-control principle concerned with?
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What is the primary emphasis of classical theory in addressing organizational structure?
What is the primary emphasis of classical theory in addressing organizational structure?
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According to classical theory, what is the focus of the line/staff principle?
According to classical theory, what is the focus of the line/staff principle?
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According to classical theory, what is considered a large span of control?
According to classical theory, what is considered a large span of control?
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What was the focus of classical theory?
What was the focus of classical theory?
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According to neoclassical theory, what does determining an effective span of control depend on?
According to neoclassical theory, what does determining an effective span of control depend on?
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What did neoclassical theory challenge about classical principles?
What did neoclassical theory challenge about classical principles?
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According to the text, what did neoclassical theory reveal about formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?
According to the text, what did neoclassical theory reveal about formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?
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What does neoclassical theory emphasize about the division of labor?
What does neoclassical theory emphasize about the division of labor?
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What did neoclassical theory draw heavily on to reveal the importance of individual differences in organizations?
What did neoclassical theory draw heavily on to reveal the importance of individual differences in organizations?
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What does neoclassical theory reveal about the theoretical distinction between line and staff functions?
What does neoclassical theory reveal about the theoretical distinction between line and staff functions?
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What was neoclassical theory's approach to the classical principles of division of labor, scalar principle, line/staff principle, and span of control?
What was neoclassical theory's approach to the classical principles of division of labor, scalar principle, line/staff principle, and span of control?
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According to classical theory, what was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?
According to classical theory, what was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?
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What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of employee work for satisfaction and productivity?
What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of employee work for satisfaction and productivity?
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What did neoclassical theory reveal about the influence of informal interpersonal activities on formal lines of authority?
What did neoclassical theory reveal about the influence of informal interpersonal activities on formal lines of authority?
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According to systems theory, how are organizations viewed?
According to systems theory, how are organizations viewed?
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What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?
What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?
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How many parts is an organizational system composed of according to systems theory?
How many parts is an organizational system composed of according to systems theory?
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What is the purpose of the parts and interactions of a system according to systems theory?
What is the purpose of the parts and interactions of a system according to systems theory?
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How are coordination and linkage among system parts achieved according to systems theory?
How are coordination and linkage among system parts achieved according to systems theory?
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From which field was systems theory developed?
From which field was systems theory developed?
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What is the primary view of organizations from the systems theory perspective?
What is the primary view of organizations from the systems theory perspective?
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What type of networks does organizational communication occur through according to systems theory?
What type of networks does organizational communication occur through according to systems theory?
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What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?
What is the Achilles’ heel of most large organizations according to systems theory?
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What is the primary purpose of systems theory in organizational thinking?
What is the primary purpose of systems theory in organizational thinking?
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How are organizations viewed in systems theory in contrast to neoclassicists' conceptualization?
How are organizations viewed in systems theory in contrast to neoclassicists' conceptualization?
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What concept did systems theory emerge as a radically different school of thought from?
What concept did systems theory emerge as a radically different school of thought from?
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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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Description
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.