Answer:  Practice Exam Structural

Practice. Pick the best answer.

1.   Which of the following is not a key insight from structural analysis (from Bolman and Deal):

a.  Different organizational structures are appropriate for different combinations of people and circumstances.

b. Integration and diversity are central issues to consider when you  design an organization.

c.  When things change for an organization in turbulent environments, there is need for more control at the top, in order to assure proper adaptation in the structure of the organization to the changes

d. In today's uncertainty many organizational problems are not alleviated through restructuring or developing new systems.

2.  According to Bolman and Deal (Chapter 3), a  major challenge in structural design are:

a.   Core processes  and environment.

b. Figuring out how to divide up the work, and coordinating or integrating the work once it’s divided.

c.   Technology and change

d.   People and Systems

e.  All of the above

3.  According to Bolman and Deal, the immediate result of major restructuring or reorganization is usually:

a.  Major investment in information technology

b.  Increased rewards for senior managers, but not for the rank and file

c.  Confusion, resistance to change, and a decline in effectiveness 

d.  Lower costs and greater efficiency

4. Frames according to Bolman and Deal (Chapter 1)

      a.  Are the organizing principles on which the design of an organization is based.

     b. Are unique lenses on the world that affect what you see and what it means to you

      c. Allow us to predict and control what happens in organizations

     d.  Require more comprehensive perspectives

e.       All of the above

5. If there is an appropriate structural design for every situation, how does a manger pick the right one. He/she  (Chapter Three):

a. hires an organizational behavior prof from the Bloch School like Heimovics (he doesn't consult any more, rather play tennis)

b.      must think contingently  (structure depends.....)

c.       begins at the strategic apex of an organization and works downward until proper horizontal integration is accomplished (needs differentiation too)

d.       works vertically to assure  proper  differentiation (we differentiated horizontally)

e.      as a general rule, first tries the simplest before trying a more complex design (b.s, answer)

f. sooner or later must flatten the organization because of technical imperatives (not always necessary, depends on goals, environment, kind of technology)

g.        all but a

6. According to Bolman and Deal, which team sport(s) require(s) the most structural  integration (Chapter 5)

a.       Soccer (much more freedom needed for movement

and flow of the game than say American football)

b.       Basketball (requires integration, yes there are set plays but ditto #1. The question asks "most")

c. American Football (It's why everything that happens begins with x's and o's; why there is practice-practice-practice of formations and set plays; also requires constant adaptation to what other teams is doing; both offense and defense are "set"; why there are so many coaches for every position, for defense for offense, etc. , necessary to integrate vertically. At the same time, there is some free lancing but only when the design of the play breaks down. Every play is designed to maximize yards gained.)

d.       Swimming (solo sport even to a large degree in relays; interdependence only at moment a swimmer touches side of the pool and another begins)

e.       Cross country running (highly differentiated, runner help runners as in team cycling; very little verticle integration required)

)f.     All the above

g. two of the above

7. T  F Structure does not mean bureaucracy, red tape and/or rigidity in organizations (For example, a flat organization has a "structure".)

8. T F The permeability of the boundaries of the organization is influenced  by the environment of the organizations (The environment can't make boundaries more permeable. However, it is often important to have open (permeable) boundaries in order for an organization to acquire information from the environment, e.g. city government. Leaders can make their organization more permeable, e.g., feedback from customers  or an Action Center like at KC MO City Hall )

9.  Uncertainty about goals

a.  is characteristic of the public sector (changing political interest, see #8 above)

b.  is lessened when proper integration of the structure occurs (we can have unclear goals even when there is proper/improper integration differentiation)

c.  is less likely in fully integrated organizations

d.  is more likely in fully differentiated organizations

        e.  b, c, and  d

        f.  all of the above