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Questions and Answers
What are standard sources of information about an employee’s job performance?
What are standard sources 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, can appraisals of performance be made by peers and subordinates?
According to the text, can appraisals of performance be made by peers and subordinates?
Is it acceptable to solicit evaluations from sources other than the supervisor in some cultures?
Is it acceptable to solicit evaluations from sources other than the supervisor in some cultures?
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Which principle in classical theory refers to the number of subordinates a manager is responsible for supervising?
Which principle in classical theory refers to the number of subordinates a manager is responsible for supervising?
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According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle in organizations refer to?
According to classical theory, what does the scalar principle in organizations 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, which principle states that each subordinate should be accountable to only one supervisor?
According to classical theory, which principle states that each subordinate should be accountable to only one supervisor?
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What does the line/staff principle in classical theory differentiate organizational work into?
What does the line/staff principle in classical theory differentiate organizational work into?
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According to classical theory, what should organizations be divided into based on the functional principle?
According to classical theory, what should organizations be divided into based on the functional principle?
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What is the main focus of neoclassical theory in organizations?
What is the main focus of neoclassical theory in organizations?
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According to neoclassical theory, what is emphasized to overcome organizational fragmentation?
According to neoclassical theory, what is emphasized to overcome organizational fragmentation?
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What is the primary emphasis of systems theories in organizations?
What is the primary emphasis of systems theories in organizations?
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According to systems theories, what is crucial for organizational success?
According to systems theories, what is crucial for organizational success?
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What does the unity of command principle in classical theory emphasize?
What does the unity of command principle in classical theory emphasize?
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According to classical theory, what are the four major structural principles?
According to classical theory, what are the four major structural principles?
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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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Which theory was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?
Which theory was the first to articulate the form and substance of organizations?
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What is the focus of classical theory?
What is the focus of classical theory?
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Which theory deeply influences the real-life structure of organizations with its four principles?
Which theory deeply influences the real-life structure of organizations with its four principles?
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When was neoclassical theory developed?
When was neoclassical theory developed?
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What does neoclassical theory question about classical principles?
What does neoclassical theory question about classical principles?
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What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of division of labor?
What does neoclassical theory argue for in terms of division of labor?
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According to neoclassical theory, what influences formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?
According to neoclassical theory, what influences formal lines of authority prescribed by the scalar principle?
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What does neoclassical theory highlight about the distinction between line and staff functions?
What does neoclassical theory highlight about the distinction between line and staff functions?
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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 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 importance of individual differences in organizations?
What does neoclassical theory reveal about the importance of individual differences in organizations?
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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 is one of the components of social systems within organizations that is examined in the chapter?
What is one of the components of social systems within organizations that is examined in the chapter?
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Which discipline has NOT contributed to the study of organizations?
Which discipline has NOT contributed to the study of organizations?
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What is one of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?
What is one of the organizational change strategies discussed in the chapter?
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When did the study of organizations begin to gain prominence?
When did the study of organizations begin to gain prominence?
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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 role do I/O psychologists play in relation to organizations?
What role do I/O psychologists play in relation to organizations?
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What characteristic are organizations described as having?
What characteristic are organizations described as having?
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What is an example of an online resource linked to the book?
What is an example of an online resource linked to the book?
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What is discussed in relation to organizational resistance to change?
What is discussed in relation to organizational resistance to change?
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What concept is explained in relation to the creation of global organizations?
What concept is explained in relation to the creation of global organizations?
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What has I/O psychology shifted its focus from?
What has I/O psychology shifted its focus from?
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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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What is the main difference between neoclassicists' conceptualization of organizations and systems theory?
What is the main difference between neoclassicists' conceptualization of organizations and 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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What field did systems theory emerge from?
What field did systems theory emerge from?
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How does systems theory view organizational communication?
How does systems theory view organizational communication?
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What are the larger goals of an organizational system according to systems theory?
What are the larger goals of an organizational system according to systems theory?
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What is the conceptualization of organizations based on the classical perspective according to the text?
What is the conceptualization of organizations based on the classical perspective according to the text?
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What is the primary influence for the development of systems theory?
What is the primary influence for the development of systems theory?
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According to systems theory, what do organizations resemble?
According to systems theory, what do organizations resemble?
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What is one of the reasons for resistance to organizational change?
What is one of the reasons for resistance to organizational change?
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What can create misunderstandings during organizational change?
What can create misunderstandings during organizational change?
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What is likely to disrupt established patterns of interaction during organizational change?
What is likely to disrupt established patterns of interaction during organizational change?
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What may elicit resistance to organizational change if perceived as such?
What may elicit resistance to organizational change if perceived as such?
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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.
