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Fundamentals of Management

Essential Concepts and Applications


9th Edition Robbins Test Bank
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Fundamentals of Management, 9e (Robbins)
Chapter 6 Organizational Structure and Design

1) Organizational design is the process in which managers change or develop an organization's


structure.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: By definition, organizational design requires a manager to develop an
organization's structure, or change the structure in some way.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

2) There are four basic elements in organizational structure.


Answer: FALSE
Explanation: There are six elements: work specialization, departmentalization, authority and
responsibility, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

3) The original ideas about organizational design formulated by Fayol and Weber are now
largely obsolete.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Surprisingly, many of the ideas of Fayol and Weber about organizational design
are still valid today.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Summarize the major historical and current approaches to management

4) When work specialization originally began to be implemented early in the twentieth century,
employee productivity initially rose.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Initially, managers saw huge increases in productivity as a result of specialization.
However, when work became overly specialized, employee morale and motivation dropped,
erasing many productivity gains.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

5) Today, most managers see work specialization as a source of ever-increasing productivity.


Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Today, managers see a limit to the amount of productivity increase they can see
from specialization. Specialization that is not deadening to employees tends to work best.
Monotonous assembly-line work seems to have diminishing returns.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions
1
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
6) The advantage of work specialization is that it always results in high employee motivation and
high productivity.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The opposite occurs—too much work specialization results in lower motivation
and productivity.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

7) Departmentalization is how jobs are grouped.


Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The grouping of jobs along lines of function, product, and other criteria defines
departmentalization.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

8) Staff authority is the ability to direct the work of any employee who does not have a higher
rank in the organization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Staff authority is authority over support staff only, not general employees. Thus, a
payroll manager has authority over payroll staff but not other organizational employees.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

9) Grouping jobs on the basis of major product areas is termed customer departmentalization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Grouping along the lines of product areas is termed product departmentalization,
not customer departmentalization.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

10) Line authority can be exerted only after a manager checks with his or her superior.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Line authority does not require checking with superiors. It can be exerted as the
manager sees fit without any kind of consultation.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

2
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
11) Unity of command prevents an employee from trying to follow two conflicting commands at
once.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The original management theorists stated that subordinates should not be put in the
position to try to follow two or more conflicting commands at once. Unity of command ensures
that the command from the highest organizational level is followed.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

12) Power is a right that a manager has when he or she has a higher rank in an organization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Power can arise from rank, but it also can arise from a particular skill, knowledge,
or access within the organization. For example, the boss's secretary has power to gain access to
the boss without having a high rank in the organization.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

13) When decisions tend to be made at lower levels in an organization, the organization is said to
be centralized.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Centralized decisions originate at higher rather than lower levels of an
organization.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

14) Traditional organizations are structured in a pyramid, with the power and authority located in
the pyramid's broad base.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The power and authority in a traditional organization resides at the narrow point of
the pyramid where top management is located, not the base.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

15) The two prevalent organizational structure models in today's world are the organic
organization and the inorganic organization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The two structures are termed organic and mechanistic.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

3
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
16) A mechanistic organization is bureaucratic and hierarchical.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Mechanistic organizations are formal, hierarchical, impersonal, specialized, and
heavily dependent on rules and protocols.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

17) An organic organization tends to be flexible and have few formal rules.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: An organic organization tries to be nimble in a dynamic business climate, paring
down bureaucratic complexity and focusing on innovation, flexibility, and creativity.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

18) Innovators need the efficiency, stability, and tight controls of a mechanistic structure rather
than an organic structure.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Innovators usually do better in a flexible organic structure where they are given
leeway to think creatively.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Describe the innovation process and identify strategies for stimulating
creativity and innovation

19) The relationship between organizational size and structure tends to be linear.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The greater the size of the organization, the more mechanistic it tends to be.
However, the relationship is not at all linear but rather seems to jump at certain levels in numbers
of employees. An organization with fewer than 100 employees, for example, may be very
organic, while adding just a few more employees could cause the organization to suddenly take
on more mechanistic characteristics.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

20) Joan Woodward attempted to view organizational structure from a technological perspective.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Woodward looked at how production methods affected organization structure.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

4
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
21) Woodward concluded that mass production worked best with an organic organizational
structure.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Woodward found that a mechanistic structure, rather than an organic structure,
worked best with mass production technology.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

22) The stability of a mechanistic structure seems to work best in today's dynamic and uncertain
business environment.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Most managers feel that today's dynamic environment calls for a more organic
approach, not a more mechanistic approach.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

23) The strength of a simple structure is that it is flexible.


Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The simple structure is most widely used in smaller businesses and its strengths
should be obvious. It's fast, flexible, and inexpensive to maintain, and accountability is clear.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

24) A strength of a functional structure is that it avoids duplication.


Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Putting specialties together makes departments efficient. For example, expensive
equipment can get used in one central place, eliminating the need for the same equipment to be
located elsewhere in the organization.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

25) A weakness of the divisional structure is that duplication tends to occur.


Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A divisional structure can duplicate entire departments whose tasks could
otherwise be carried out by a single, centrally located department.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

5
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
26) In a team structure, team members are not held responsible for their decisions.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The opposite occurs—team members make decisions and are accountable for their
decisions.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

27) In a team structure, there is a clear line of managerial authority from top to bottom.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: A team makes decisions on its own. For the most part, a team is not subject to
decisions or orders that come from outside the team.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

28) Employees in an organization with a matrix design can have two bosses for the same job.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: An employee in a project group can have a project manager in addition to a
manager from his or her functional department.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

29) A significant advantage of the matrix structure is the clear chain of command from top to
bottom of the organization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: In a matrix structure in which employees can have multiple supervisors, the chain
of command can become confused and conflicts can arise.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

30) When employees in a matrix structure finish a project, they go back to their functional
department.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A matrix structure maintains departments. When projects are finished, employees
return to their original department.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

6
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
31) When employees in a project structure finish a project, they go back to their original
department.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: In a project structure, an employee has no original department. Instead, after the
project ends the employee enrolls in a new project.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

32) Vertical boundaries separate employees by their rank in an organization.


Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Vertical boundaries refer to the classic corporate pyramid in which rank is
measured by how high vertically an employee is on the pyramid.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

33) Horizontal boundaries separate employees by the amount of power they have in an
organization.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Horizontal boundaries separate employees by what they specialize in, not how
much power they have.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

34) A virtual organization relies on freelancers who have no permanent status or position in the
organization.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Virtual organizations keep a skeleton staff and rely on the talents of free agents
who perform the work that the organization does.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

35) Managers want to eliminate boundaries in organizations primarily to increase stability and
reduce flexibility.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Managers primarily want to increase flexibility in boundaryless organizations
without jeopardizing stability.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

7
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
36) Horizontal boundaries separate employees by the specialization of their job.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Horizontal boundaries mark the difference between, for example, an ad executive
and a member of a creative advertising team. Both may have equal ranks in the organization, but
they are separated by what they do.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

37) A network organization uses its own employees and outside suppliers to provide manpower
for projects.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A network organization uses its own employees to do some work activities and
networks of outside suppliers to provide other needed product components or work processes.
This organizational form is sometimes called a modular organization by manufacturing firms.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

38) All learning organizations share a distinct structure.


Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Learning organizations take on a variety of different structures. Each structure is
customized for the organization and the work that it does.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

39) The biggest issue in workers working at home or off-site involves fairness.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The biggest off-site work issue is security.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

8
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
40) A learning organization puts an enormous amount of effort on making sure that all of its
employees are enrolled in some kind of university level class.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Learning organizations focus on learning, adapting, and changing within the
business environment, not taking classes.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

41) Organizations that implement flextime programs allow employees to work at home for some
of the work day.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Working from home is called telecommuting and gives employees flexibility with
regard to time and location of work. Flextime gives flexibility in time.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

42) Contingent workers may make up to 40 percent of the workforce by the end of the decade.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The use of contingent workers who do jobs by the piece is increasing every year.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

43) Organizational design requires a manager to ________.


A) organize groups within an organization
B) change the culture of an organization
C) change or develop the structure of an organization
D) change the logo of an organization
Answer: C
Explanation: C) By definition, organizational design requires that an individual develop or
change an organization's structure. Changing organizational culture or organizing groups may
influence structure in minor ways, so those choices are incorrect. Changing the logo of the
organization also does not constitute creating or significantly modifying the organization's
structure.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

9
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
44) All of the following are part of the process of organizational design EXCEPT ________.
A) deciding how specialized jobs should be
B) determining rules for employee behavior
C) determining the level at which decisions are made
D) determining goals for the organization
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Organizing jobs, formulating rules, or clarifying a decision-making process are
clearly examples of developing an organization's structure. Determining goals is part of
establishing an organization's mission, not creating its structure that will help carry out that
mission.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

45) Which of the following are NOT basic elements of organizational structure?
A) work specialization, span of control
B) chain of command, line authority
C) centralization, decentralization
D) departmentalization, formalization
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The six elements of organizational structure are given in the three incorrect
choices: work specialization, span of control, centralization, decentralization,
departmentalization and formalization. Chain of command and line authority are not included as
basic elements of organizational structure, so "chain of command, line authority" is the correct
response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

46) Which of the following is synonymous with work specialization?


A) division of labor
B) job discrimination
C) chain of command
D) job preference
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Division of labor is the only term among the four choices that describes how
work is specialized. Job discrimination describes how employees are mistreated in the job
market. Job preference describes how employees select jobs. Chain of command describes
authority relationships in organizations.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

10
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
47) Which statement accurately defines work specialization?
A) It is the degree to which tasks are grouped together.
B) Individual employees specialize in doing part of an activity rather than the entire activity.
C) Jobs are ranked relative only to their worth or value to the businesses.
D) Work specialization clarifies who reports to whom.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The choice regarding the degree to which tasks are grouped together describes
departmentalization, not specialization. The choices regarding ranking jobs and work
specialization both describe a power relationship in an organization, so they are incorrect. The
choice regarding individual employees accurately identifies the idea that work specialization
requires dividing a task into parts, so it is the correct response.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

48) Early supporters of work specialization saw it as ________.


A) a reliable way to increase productivity
B) a good way to increase employee morale
C) a source of innovation
D) an immoral way to coerce workers into greater productivity
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Work specialization has never been seen as a way to increase productivity or
innovation. Work specialization was seen as an excellent but ultimately limited way to increase
productivity, so "a reliable way to increase productivity" is the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

49) Early users of work specialization in the early twentieth century found that the practice
ultimately resulted in ________.
A) higher profits and better employee morale
B) bored workers with low morale
C) huge and permanent productivity gains
D) better communication among employees
Answer: B
Explanation: B) While managers initially saw profit and productivity gains in work
specialization, the gains were not huge, not permanent, and not accompanied by increases in
morale, so these choices are incorrect. Better communication was never observed by managers
so that choice is incorrect. After initial gains, managers did see an inevitable drop in morale of
employees as they contended with drudgery, making "bored workers with low morale" the
correct response.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning abilities
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

11
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
50) Today, managers favor this approach instead of work specialization.
A) All tasks are performed by all employees.
B) Partners switch jobs every half hour.
C) Employees perform a broad range of tasks.
D) Monotonous tasks are shared by all employees.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Today's managers prefer an approach in which employees perform many tasks,
eliminating monotony. The other choices given here have been tried in isolated cases, but none
constitutes a prevalent approach of today's managers.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

51) Functional departmentalization groups jobs by ________.


A) tasks they perform
B) territories they serve
C) products or services they manufacture or produce
D) type of customer they serve
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The choice regarding territories describes geographic departmentalization,
while the choice regarding products or services describes product departmentalization, and the
choice regarding type of customer describes customer departmentalization. That makes "tasks
they perform" the correct response, as functional departmentalization groups employees by the
jobs they perform.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

52) ________ departmentalization is based on territory or the physical location of employees or


customers.
A) Functional
B) Product
C) Geographic
D) Matrix
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Among the four choices, only "geographic" refers to territory, so "geographic"
is the correct choice.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

12
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
53) A soap company that features a bath soap department, a laundry detergent department, and a
dish soap department is using which of the following?
A) process departmentalization
B) functional departmentalization
C) product departmentalization
D) customer departmentalization
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The soap company clearly is organizing by product, not a particular process, the
job people do, or the customer that is served. That makes "product departmentalization" the
correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

54) What kind of departmentalization would be in place in a government agency in which there
are separate departments that provide services for employers, employed workers, unemployed
workers, and the disabled?
A) product
B) geographic
C) outcome
D) customer
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Employed workers, unemployed workers, employers, and disabled workers are
categories of people who will use the agency's services—its customers. Therefore, "customer" is
correct and the other choices incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

55) State motor vehicle offices usually use this kind of departmentalization.
A) product
B) functional
C) customer
D) process
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Motor vehicle offices organize, for example, by the process of getting a driver's
license. First the customer fills out forms, then takes an eye test, then takes a written test, and so
on. This makes "process" correct.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

13
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
56) The line of authority that extends from the upper levels of management to the lowest levels
of the organization is termed the ________.
A) chain of responsibility
B) unity of command
C) staff authority
D) chain of command
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Unity of command refers to a single authority prevailing when organizational
conflicts arise rather than a hierarchical authority. Staff authority refers to the authority that staff
managers have over support personnel. Only the chain of command describes the hierarchical
relationship between levels of an organization with respect to authority, so that is the correct
response. "Chain of responsibility" is incorrect because it is not a recognized term.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

57) The chain of command answers this question.


A) Where do I go for help?
B) How do I know when the task is complete?
C) What are the rules?
D) Who reports to whom?
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The classic description of the chain of command is that it determines who
reports to whom. The other questions given here—asking for help, knowing when work is
complete, and learning the rules—do not explicitly involve authority, so they are incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

58) Authority gives an individual the right to do this.


A) give orders
B) reprimand employees
C) command respect
D) obey orders
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Authority confers the right to direct subordinates and, if necessary, issue
commands and orders, making "give orders" the correct response. Reprimanding may be done by
superiors to subordinates, but it is not an explicit part of authority. Commanding respect is
completely independent of authority—although practically speaking, authority is hard to
establish without it. Finally, all employees have the "right" to obey orders, not just a person with
authority, making "obey orders" incorrect.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

14
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
59) In the chain of command, each person above you ________.
A) has special privileges
B) receives higher pay
C) has line authority
D) has no right to give you orders
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Line authority is the explicit right to issue orders to a subordinate. People of
higher rank may or may not receive special privileges or more pay than people below, so those
choices are incorrect. Finally, "has no right to give you orders" can be eliminated because it is
the opposite of the correct answer.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

60) Staff managers have authority over ________.


A) special support employees only
B) line managers
C) middle managers
D) the person above them in the chain of command
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Staff managers have authority only over the special support staff they control.
Staff managers typically do not exercise authority over other employees, even if they outrank
them. This makes "special support employees only" the correct response and the other three
choices incorrect because they all identify people other than support staff.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

61) Line authority gives a manager the ability to direct the work of ________.
A) any employee in the firm
B) any subordinate
C) any subordinate, after consulting with the next higher level
D) only subordinates one level down
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Line authority is the explicit right to issue orders or direct the activities of any
subordinate. Line authority confers this right to a manager without any prior consultation with
higher-ups. This makes "any subordinate" the correct response. "Any subordinate, after
consulting with the next higher level" is incorrect because line authority extends only downward,
not up to higher-ranking individuals.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

15
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
62) ________ prevents a single employee from getting conflicting orders from two different
superiors.
A) Line authority
B) Unity of command
C) Staff authority
D) Chain of command
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Chain of command, line authority, and staff authority are involved in
determining how organizational orders and discipline are handled. However, only unity of
command deals explicitly with resolving conflicting orders, so it is the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

63) The importance of unity of command has diminished in today's workplace because of its
tendency to be ________.
A) inflexible and inefficient
B) ethically questionable
C) chauvinistic and dictatorial
D) too decisive
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Unity of command is a principle that establishes absolute authority of the
superior in an organization. In today's workplace, flexibility is valued over authority so unity of
command has been downgraded. This makes "inflexible and inefficient" the correct response.
Unity of command is not ethically questionable, so that choice can be eliminated. Similarly,
though there may be an element of veracity in the remaining two choices, they can both be ruled
out since being dictatorial or overly decisive are not causes of the diminution of unity of
command.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

64) Which of the following statements is true?


A) Power is a right.
B) Authority is one's ability to influence decisions.
C) Authority is a right.
D) Both power and authority are rights.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The choices indicating that power is a right and authority is one's ability to
influence decisions have the facts reversed. Power, not authority, is the ability to influence
decisions, and authority is a right. That makes the choice indicating that authority is a right the
correct response and also rules out the remaining choice since authority alone is a right.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

16
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
65) ________ is the obligation or expectation to perform a duty.
A) Responsibility
B) Unity of command
C) Chain of command
D) Span of control
Answer: A
Explanation: A) By definition, responsibility is the obligation to perform duties that have been
assigned, so that is the correct choice. An employee's responsibility is to complete the task that
he or she has been assigned. Two of the other choices here, "unity of command" and "chain of
command," refer to giving and following orders, so they can be eliminated. Span of control
refers to the number of employees who report to a manager, so it also is an incorrect choice.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

66) The personal secretary of a top manager may have ________.


A) power but not authority
B) authority but not power
C) power and authority
D) line authority but not staff authority
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A secretary who controls access to the boss wields power in his or her ability to
grant people entrance, but he or she does not have authority to issue orders or assignments.
Therefore, the secretary has power without authority. This makes "power but not authority" the
correct choice and renders the other three choices incorrect.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

67) Which of the following statements is true?


A) Power is a type of authority.
B) Authority and power are identical.
C) Authority is a type of power.
D) Power is determined by horizontal position in an organization.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Authority is a subset of power. Authority is the power to give orders and make
assignments. This makes "authority is a type of power" the correct choice and causes "power is a
type of authority" and "authority and power are identical" to be incorrect because neither one of
them identifies authority as a type of power. Finally, "power is determined by horizontal position
in an organization" is incorrect because power is determined by both the horizontal and vertical
position of a person in an organization.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

17
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68) As represented in a power cone, power is based on ________.
A) vertical position only
B) horizontal position only
C) distance from the center only
D) vertical position and distance from the center
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Vertical position by itself determines authority, not power, so "vertical position
only" is incorrect. Horizontal position on its own determines neither power nor authority, so
"horizontal position only" is incorrect. Distance from the center only partly defines power, so
that choice is incorrect. The remaining choice gives the correct relationship: power is determined
by both vertical position and the distance from the center power core of the diagram.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

69) As represented in a hierarchical organization diagram, authority is based on ________.


A) vertical position only
B) horizontal position only
C) distance from the center only
D) horizontal and vertical position
Answer: A
Explanation: A) In a hierarchical organization diagram, vertical position is a measure of
authority. The person at the top, therefore, has the most authority and the person on the bottom
the least, making "vertical position only" the correct choice. The three other listed possibilities
feature a horizontal dimension, so they are incorrect.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

70) A construction site supervisor who sees an impending thunderstorm and tells workers to go
home is demonstrating ________.
A) line authority
B) staff delegation
C) provisional accountability
D) responsibility
Answer: A
Explanation: A) This is a perfect example of line authority: the supervisor is exercising the
authority to make a decision and give an order to subordinates without consulting any of his
superiors. This makes "line authority" correct and rules out the other three choices.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

18
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
71) ________ is the power that rests on the leader's ability to punish or control.
A) Reward power
B) Coercive power
C) Expert power
D) Referent power
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Coercive power is the power that comes from fear, so the ability to punish or
control is a coercive power. This makes "coercive power" correct. The leader is not using
expertise, access, or some kind of premium or bonus to influence others, so these choices are
incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

72) A bank manager who passes out bonuses at the end of the year is exercising this.
A) reward power
B) coercive power
C) expert power
D) referent power
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A bonus is a type of reward, so the manager is exercising reward power. The
power is not based on fear (coercive power), expertise, or knowing someone (referent power), so
none of these choices is correct.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

73) Your firm's attorney has ________ power when giving legal advice.
A) legitimate
B) status
C) expert
D) coercive
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Legal advice is a type of expertise, so "expert" is the correct response. The
attorney's power is not based on fear, so "coercive" is incorrect. "Legitimate" and "status" are
both incorrect because they refer to a type of hierarchical power, not power that comes from
expertise.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

19
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
74) ________ is the power that arises when a person is close to another person who has great
power and authority.
A) Expert power
B) Referent power
C) Reward power
D) Legitimate power
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The boss's secretary is a classic case of referent power—his or her power is
based on the ability to give access to an important person, the boss. This makes "referent power"
the correct response. The other three choices are incorrect because none of the three describes the
power that comes from proximity and access to a person who has power or resources.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

75) When a top manager decides to hire an individual over the objections of her staff, she is
exercising which kind of power?
A) referent
B) expert
C) coercive
D) legitimate
Answer: D
Explanation: D) When the manager does what she wants over the objection of subordinates, she
is exploiting her position of authority in the vertical organizational hierarchy—in other words,
she is using legitimate power. None of the other choices refers to the vertical power that comes
from one's position in the corporate pyramid.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

76) The traditional view holds that managers should not directly supervise more than ________
subordinates.
A) three or four
B) five or six
C) seven or eight
D) nine or ten
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Classical studies and observations limited the number of employees under a
single manager to six, making five or six correct. This view has recently evolved. As
organizations become more sophisticated and workers become better trained and more
accountable, the span of control has increased in size.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

20
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
77) Modern managers find that they can ________ if their employees are experienced, well-
trained, and motivated.
A) increase their span of control
B) decrease their span of control
C) eliminate their span of control
D) fluctuate their span of control
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Having eager, well-trained, experienced employees seems to be the key to
increasing span of control. In a sense, the manager oversees a group of "self-managed"
individuals who are almost equal to him- or herself in accountability and responsibility. In
addition, many of his or her charges may have skills, knowledge, or insights that actually surpass
the manager's own abilities.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

78) A traditional "top down" organization is ________ organization.


A) a largely centralized
B) a largely decentralized
C) an absolutely decentralized
D) an absolutely centralized
Answer: A
Explanation: A) By definition, a centralized organization is one in which decisions are issued
from the top. This makes "largely centralized" the correct choice and "largely decentralized" and
"absolutely decentralized" incorrect because they refer to decentralized rather than centralized
structure. Finally, "absolutely centralized" is not correct because no organization is completely
centralized or decentralized. All organizations are somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

21
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
79) ________ reflects the degree to which decision making is distributed throughout the
hierarchy rather than concentrated at the top.
A) Centralization
B) Span of control
C) Concentration
D) Decentralization
Answer: D
Explanation: D) By definition, decentralization refers to the opposite of top-down decision
making: the more decentralized decisions in an organization are, the less often they are made by
top managers and filter down from above. When decision making is distributed throughout the
hierarchy, it is decentralized, making "decentralization" the correct response. Obviously,
"centralization" is incorrect here. "Span of control" and "concentration" also are wrong because
neither span of control nor concentration refers to decision making that comes from all levels of
an organization.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

80) In recent years, organizations have become more ________ to be responsive to a dynamic
business environment.
A) centralized
B) decentralized
C) structured
D) mechanistic
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The fast-changing business environment of today has made managers seek to be
more flexible. A decentralized structure that can effect change from any position in the hierarchy
without waiting for a centralized top-down decree is therefore favored by managers seeking
flexibility. This makes "decentralized" the correct response and rules out the other three choices,
all of which identify inflexible rather than flexible decision making.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

22
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
81) In today's decentralized business world, ________ the most important strategic decisions.
A) top managers still primarily make
B) middle managers make
C) lower-level managers
D) nonmanagerial employees
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Though decentralization has increased greatly in the recent past, the truly
important decisions in most organizations are still made by top managers. The decisions that
middle managers, lower managers, and nonmanagers make are usually of a tactical nature and do
not affect the direction in which the organization is headed.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Identify the different types of decisions managers make and discuss how
they make decisions

82) All of the following are characteristics of a highly formalized organization EXCEPT
________.
A) explicit job descriptions
B) little discretion for employees
C) minimum number of rules
D) a standardized way of doing things
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A formalized organization is very precise and bureaucratic. Jobs are precisely
defined; employees are given little leeway in how they carry out tasks, rules are given great
emphasis, and most activities are routine and standardized. Since rules are important in this kind
of an organization, you would not expect a minimum of rules, making it the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

83) Today's managers are moving away from formalization and trying to be this.
A) more rigorous
B) more flexible
C) more strict
D) less permissive
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Today's managers, if anything, are getting less strict and more permissive,
making "more strict" and "less permissive" incorrect. "More rigorous" is wrong simply because
rigor has not been identified as a current trend among managers. The correct choice identifies
flexibility as the key to dealing with a fast-changing economic environment.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Describe the roles of managers and the skills they need to succeed within an
organization

23
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84) Today's managers expect employees to ________.
A) ignore rules for the most part
B) use discretion when it comes to following rules
C) faithfully follow rules even when it may harm the organization
D) make their own rules
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Rules have been de-emphasized in today's business environment, but not
forgotten. This rules out ignoring rules and faithfully following rules as the correct answer.
Managers don't want to go so far as having employees make their own rules, which eliminates
that choice. The correct response is using discretion, which reflects a decentralized view of
management in which employees participate in decision making—including the decision to
interpret rules.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Describe the roles of managers and the skills they need to succeed within an
organization

85) A(n) ________ organization has a high degree of specialization, formalization, and
centralization.
A) organic
B) horizontal
C) learning
D) mechanistic
Answer: D
Explanation: D) By definition, a mechanistic organization is hierarchical and highly specialized
with rigid, formal rules and decision making controlled at the top of the corporate pyramid. Both
organic and learning organizations are very nearly opposite to a mechanistic structure, featuring
highly empowered employees, few rules, and flexible, decentralized decision making.
"Horizontal" is incorrect because it does not describe a recognized organizational model.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

86) Which of the following would likely be found in mechanistic organizations?


A) wide span of control
B) empowered employees
C) decentralized responsibility
D) standardized jobs
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A mechanistic organization would feature a narrow span of control, employees
who were not highly empowered, and centralized responsibility, making the choices indicating
the opposite incorrect. A mechanistic organization would feature precisely defined, highly
standardized jobs, which makes "standardized jobs" the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

24
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
87) A(n) ________ organization is able to change rapidly as needs require.
A) organic
B) hierarchical
C) vertical
D) mechanistic
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The hallmark of an organic organization is its ability to be flexible and change
in response to a dynamic business environment. Hierarchical, vertical, and mechanistic
organizations are entities that do not adapt well to new situations, so these choices are incorrect.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

88) Which term best describes an organic organization?


A) hierarchical
B) pyramid-shaped
C) flexible
D) fixed
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Flexibility is the key to an organic organization, making that choice correct.
The terms hierarchical, pyramid-shaped, and fixed all correlate with a mechanistic organization,
so each of these choices is incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

89) Which word best characterizes a mechanistic organization?


A) hierarchical
B) collaborative
C) adaptable
D) informal
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A mechanistic organization is not collaborative, adaptable, or informal. Those
terms describe more organic models, such as a team or matrix structure. A mechanistic
organization is hierarchical, depending on vertical relationships for the way business is
conducted, so "hierarchical" is correct.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

25
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
90) Strategy, size, technology, and the degree of uncertainty in the environment together make
up what are called ________.
A) contingency variables
B) control factors
C) structure variables
D) probable factors
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The inputs that determine an organization's structure are called contingency
variables—strategy, size, technology, and degree of uncertainty. Each of these variables can
change how a company is organized and structured. For example, as the size of an organization
changes, its structure also gets modified to accommodate its new stature. Since "contingency
variables" is the only choice that correctly identifies these variables, it is the right response.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

91) Together, contingency variables determine the ________.


A) success of an organization
B) culture of an organization
C) structure of an organization
D) size of an organization
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Contingency variables are the inputs that determine an organization's structure.
For example, in a highly uncertain business environment, the structure of an organization
typically changes to become more nimble and adaptable so it can change quickly. Since degree
of uncertainty is a contingency variable, this makes "structure of an organization" the correct
response and renders the other terms incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

92) A company that is pursuing a cost leadership strategy would be most likely to have this kind
of structure.
A) mechanistic
B) virtual
C) team
D) matrix-project
Answer: A
Explanation: A) In a cost leadership strategy, holding down costs and maximizing efficiency
and productivity are paramount. A mechanistic approach has been found to work best for holding
down costs, so that is the correct response here. Virtual, team, and matrix-project models
typically work better for innovation and creativity rather than the cost-cutting measures needed
for a cost leadership strategy.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

26
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
93) A company that is trying to be a leader in innovation within its industry would be most likely
to have this kind of structure.
A) mechanistic
B) organic
C) simple
D) functional
Answer: B
Explanation: B) An organic model has been found to work best for innovation and creativity
within an organization, making "organic" the correct response. The other three choices identify
nonorganic approaches that work better for cost-cutting and efficiency than they do for
innovation.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

94) Larger organizations tend to have ________ than smaller organizations.


A) more specialization
B) less departmentalization
C) less centralization
D) fewer rules and regulations
Answer: A
Explanation: A) It is inevitable that as an organization grows to a large size, a high degree of
specialization results. With so many employees to keep track of, it is only natural that groups
form that consist of individuals who share tasks or priorities. The other three choices are
incorrect because in larger organizations you would expect more, not less, departmentalization
and centralization and more, not fewer, rules to follow.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

95) As an organization grows to a size of over 2,000 employees, it finds it hard to avoid
becoming more ________.
A) mechanistic
B) organic
C) informal
D) adaptable
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Like an army, the realities of organizing large groups of people require a fairly
rigid, rule-bound structure. This causes large organizations to become more mechanistic as they
increase in size. If anything, as organizations grow they become less organic, informal, and
adaptable, making all of these choices incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

27
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
96) Joan Woodward conducted pioneering studies on how this affected the structure of
companies.
A) ethics
B) technology
C) values
D) corporate culture
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Woodward studied factories that used different technologies to produce goods,
discovering trends in the way technology affected organizational structure. Woodward did not
observe firms with respect to ethical, value-based, or cultural concerns, making all of these
choices incorrect for this question.
Diff: 1
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

97) Recent studies on Woodward's initial research found that if the technology was nonroutine,
this structure worked best.
A) mechanistic
B) traditional
C) inorganic
D) organic
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Woodward's findings showed that no matter how vertical differentiation
differed, low horizontal differentiation correlated with an organic model. A mechanistic or
traditional structure correlated with high horizontal differentiation, eliminating those two
choices. "Inorganic" is ruled out because inorganic is not a recognized model.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

98) Woodward concluded that a mechanistic structure worked best for a firm that used
________.
A) unit production
B) mass production
C) process production
D) quality production
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Woodward found that mass production technology correlated with a
mechanistic structure, making that the correct choice and eliminating the other choices.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

28
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
99) In Woodward's study, this type of production was the most complex and the most
sophisticated.
A) unit production
B) mass production
C) process production
D) technological production
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Woodward found that process production was very hierarchical, that is,
vertically differentiated into levels of organizational authority, but low in horizontal
differentiation, meaning there was little specialization. The other technologies did not match this
profile, so the other three choices are incorrect.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Use of information technology
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

100) The greater the environmental uncertainty, the more an organization needs to become
________.
A) organic
B) mechanistic
C) stable
D) high-tech
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Increased uncertainty in a business environment requires an organization to be
more flexible and adaptable—in other words, more organic. High uncertainty would militate
against being more mechanistic, and it would have little influence on the stability of an
organization or the degree to which it was "high-tech."
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

101) Global competition forces firms to ________.


A) become lean, fast, and flexible
B) build up enormous cash reserves
C) think locally
D) become more hierarchical
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Competing in a global market adds unpredictability to a business, typically
forcing it to become more adaptable and quick to respond to change, making "lean, fast, and
flexible" the correct response. Global competition requires the opposite of thinking locally or
becoming more hierarchical (less flexible). Going global does not necessarily affect cash
requirements, so "build up enormous cash reserves" is incorrect.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Dynamics of the global economy
Objective: 6.2
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

29
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
102) Traditional organizational designs tend to be more mechanistic and include ________.
A) simple, complex, and divisional structures
B) simple, functional, and dysfunctional structures
C) functional, divisional, and vertical structures
D) simple, functional, and divisional structures
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The original organizational theorists divided organizations into three categories:
simple, functional, and divisional. Several other categories and subcategories have subsequently
been added, but these traditional characterizations still stand up well today. For example, the
newly identified matrix model is a modification of the original functional design, with teams
forming from individuals within a functional system.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

103) A simple structure is ________ like a mechanistic organization, but ________ like an
organic organization.
A) centralized; informal
B) informal; decentralized
C) decentralized; formal
D) centralized; formal
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A simple structure is largely a one-person show, with a single person being the
originator and driving force behind the organization he or she formed. A single person makes
virtually all important decisions in a simple structure, making the system highly centralized.
However, since the simple structure is largely used in very small companies, it is also typically
very informal. The combination of being centralized and informal matches the choice with the
same description.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

104) What is a strength of a simple structure?


A) Employees are grouped with others who have similar tasks.
B) Power and authority are widely distributed.
C) Accountability is clear.
D) There are cost-saving advantages from specialization.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Simple structures have a number of strengths, but they do not include
specialization, departmentalization, or decentralization. A simple structure is typically too small
for any of those attributes to emerge. What almost all simple structures do feature is a strong
sense of accountability. With a single person largely making all important decisions, simple
structures do not suffer from murkiness when it comes to determining who was responsible for
an action or decision. This makes the choice on accountability the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions
30
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
105) What is a weakness of a simple structure?
A) Duplication of activities and resources increases costs and reduces efficiency.
B) Functional specialists become insulated and have little understanding of what other units are
doing.
C) Pursuit of functional goals can cause managers to lose sight of what is best for the overall
organization.
D) Reliance on a single person is risky.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Simple structures are usually too small to suffer from duplication, too much
specialization, or losing sight of larger goals, so none of these choices is correct. The weakness
that simple structures do suffer from is putting "too many eggs in a single basket"—relying on a
single person to make all key decisions and perform all important functions. This makes
"reliance on a single person is risky" the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

106) This is a key characteristic in an organization with a functional structure.


A) adaptability
B) departmentalization
C) flexibility
D) little specialization
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The hallmark of a functional structure is departmentalization. An organization
that has functional structure is essentially a sum of individual parts, each one being a separate
department. Adaptability and flexibility are traits one would be likely to see in an organic
organization of some type, so those choices are incorrect. Similarly, one would expect to see a
great deal of specialization in a functional structure, making "little specialization" incorrect.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

31
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
107) This is a weakness of a functional structure.
A) favoring functional goals over organizational goals
B) favoring organizational goals over functional goals
C) failing to attain functional goals
D) overemphasizing organizational goals
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The risk that any functional structure with strong departments runs is that
departmental goals will begin to eclipse overall organizational goals. A department will become
so focused on its task that it might take actions that are less than beneficial or even harmful to the
organization itself. Given this tendency, it is easy to see that the choices regarding favoring and
overemphasizing organizational goals are not correct, as organizational goals are not likely to be
favored. The risk of not meeting functional goals is always possible, but certainly would not be
considered a weakness of the functional structure.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

108) Avoiding redundancy is a strength of which structure?


A) simple
B) divisional
C) functional
D) corporate
Answer: C
Explanation: C) In a functional structure, workers are grouped together according to specialty,
meaning that the chance of duplicating resources and equipment gets minimized. For example, if
an art department needs a super-expensive printer, it is likely that the organization will purchase
only one printer rather than have artists scattered in other segments of the organization requiring
their own printers. These facts all indicate that "functional" is the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

109) In a ________ structure each business unit has complete autonomy to reach its goals.
A) simple
B) functional
C) divisional
D) matrix
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A divisional structure combines a number of separate business units under the
umbrella of the main organization. These units are almost completely autonomous but benefit
from the resources and brand of the combined organization. The divisional structure allows more
autonomy for its subunits than any other structure, making divisional the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

32
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
110) A media company that has separate, autonomous companies for movies, TV, Internet, and
print journalism is most likely a ________ structure.
A) divisional
B) functional
C) simple
D) matrix
Answer: A
Explanation: A) An organization that features autonomous branches that function like
independent companies is likely to be a divisional structure. This media company fits the
description of a divisional structure, making that the correct response and ruling out a functional,
simple, or matrix structure.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

111) Having separate payroll departments in each division of a divisional structure is an example
of which of the following?
A) efficiency, because payroll departments compete
B) duplication, because a single payroll department could do the job
C) effectiveness, because separate payroll departments create jobs
D) efficiency, because separate payroll departments can share methods of operation
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Separate departments that perform the same task is an example of redundancy,
not efficiency or effectiveness. The organization is wasting resources by having different units
perform tasks that could be done by a single unit. This makes the choice regarding duplication
the correct response.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

112) As the number of employees in an organization grows, structure tends to become more
________.
A) bureaucratic
B) informal
C) decentralized
D) relaxed
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Size increases complexity, so an organization inevitably becomes more
bureaucratic and centralized as it increases in size—simply to manage the increase in complexity
it faces. This makes "bureaucratic" the correct response. The other three choices identify traits
that a larger organization tends to move away from as it grows: informality and less top-down in
decision making.
Diff: 1
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

33
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
113) Looking for ways to make their organization more flexible and innovative, today's
managers may choose this kind of structure.
A) simple
B) divisional
C) functional
D) team
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Simple, divisional, and functional structures are traditional organization types
that have many strengths but do not typically specialize in being flexible or innovative. That
makes the team structure the best candidate here, as it is typically employed in firms that seek to
be creative and adaptable.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Describe the innovation process and identify strategies for stimulating
creativity and innovation

114) In a team structure, ________.


A) there is a clear line of managerial authority
B) there is no clear line of managerial authority
C) authority comes from top managers only
D) no one has the authority to make decisions
Answer: B
Explanation: B) An organization that has a team structure is made entirely of work groups or
teams. Each team is fairly independent of others, causing traditional lines of managerial authority
to be cast aside or blurred. For example, within a team a project leader's request might take
precedence over the request of a manager of higher rank who is outside the team. This makes the
choices regarding authority from top managers and a clear line of managerial authority incorrect
as they describe traditional authority relationships. The choice regarding no one having authority
is incorrect because it assumes no authority for decisions and though teams make decisions
differently than traditional structures, they still ultimately assert authority and arrive at decisions.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

34
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
115) In a team structure, team members ________.
A) are subject to decisions made by their supervisors
B) can influence decisions made by top managers
C) make decisions and are accountable for their decisions
D) make decisions only after first checking with management
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Within a team structure, team members are empowered to make and influence
decisions. This privilege does have its price—team members are held accountable for their
decisions and cannot make excuses that they were "only following orders." The choice regarding
accountability, therefore, is the correct response, making the choices regarding supervisors and
top managers, both traditional arrangements, incorrect. The choice regarding checking with
management is also incorrect because team members do not typically need to consult
management before making decisions that affect their team's functioning.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

116) All of the following are necessary for successful team structure EXCEPT ________.
A) well-trained team members
B) team members with cross-functional skills
C) team members with years of management experience
D) a fair and well-run team-based pay plan
Answer: C
Explanation: C) An effective team needs skilled, highly trained, versatile team members. It also
requires a specialized pay plan to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings. An effective team
typically does not need management experience, making the choice regarding team members
with years of management experience the correct response.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

117) In a ________, employees are recruited from functional departments to work on a specific
project for a limited time period.
A) team structure
B) divisional structure
C) product structure
D) matrix structure
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Of the contemporary organizational designs, only the matrix structure preserves
functional departments within its format. Team and product structures do not recruit group
members from existing functional departments, so those choices are incorrect. A divisional
structure does not typically engage in project work, so that choice also is incorrect.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

35
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
118) In a matrix structure, a group member will typically report to ________.
A) a project manager only
B) both a project manager and functional department head
C) a functional department head only
D) Group members are fully autonomous in a matrix structure, so they don't report to anyone.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Since group members in a matrix structure are recruited from functional
departments, they report to their project manager and their department head. This makes the
choice regarding both a project manager and functional department head the correct response and
eliminates the choices regarding a project manager only and a functional department head only.
The choice regarding group members being fully autonomous is incorrect because matrix group
members do need to report to managers.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

119) When a group member in a matrix structure finishes a project, he or she ________.
A) returns to his or her functional department
B) stays with the group to take on a new project
C) enters a pool of available employees from the entire organization
D) starts looking for a new job
Answer: A
Explanation: A) A key difference between a matrix structure and a project structure is that group
members return to their departments after finishing a project in a matrix system. In a project
system, group members have no "home" department and go on to new projects when they
complete their current project. The choice regarding staying with the group describes the
arrangement in a team structure while the remaining two choices match the situation in a project
structure.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

120) By giving employees two direct superiors, a matrix structure violates this key element of
organizational design.
A) unity of command
B) chain of command
C) span of management
D) decentralization
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Unity of command requires that a single voice be dominant in the event that
there are conflicting orders in an organization. Since a matrix system can give a single employee
two bosses, it violates the unity of command tradition.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

36
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
121) A key difference between a team structure and a matrix structure is that a team structure
________ while a matrix structure does not.
A) empowers group members
B) works on projects
C) has fairly permanent groups or teams
D) holds group members accountable
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Both matrix and team structures feature small groups working together on
projects with empowered employees who are held accountable for their decisions. A key
difference between the two structures is that teams can be fairly permanent while matrix groups
return to their functional departments when their project is complete.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

122) In a project structure, when employees finish a project they ________.


A) return to their department
B) return to a different division
C) move on to another project
D) return to their regular work
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A project structure has employees who have no "home" department and move
from one project to the next in the organization. This identifies "move on to another project" as
the correct response and eliminates the other three choices as correct responses since the
employee would not return to a department, division, or "regular work."
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

123) Which of the following areas has opened up new possibilities for how and where employees
work?
A) information technology
B) human resources
C) organizational design
D) global competition
Answer: A
Explanation: A) It's fair to say that the world of work will never be like it was 10 years ago. IT
has opened up new possibilities for employees to do their work in locations as remote as
Patagonia or in the middle of downtown Seattle. Although organizations have always had
employees who traveled to distant corporate locations to take care of business, these employees
no longer have to find the nearest pay phone or wait to get back to "the office" to see what
problems have cropped up.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

37
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
124) Which of the following is biggest concern when doing work at anytime and anywhere?
A) employee payroll
B) security
C) employee accountability
D) customer satisfaction
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The biggest issue in doing work anywhere, anytime is security. Companies
must protect their important and sensitive information. However, software and other disabling
devices have minimized security issues considerably.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

125) Boundaryless organizations try to eliminate ________ within their organization.


A) horizontal specialization and vertical hierarchy
B) horizontal specialization only
C) vertical hierarchy only
D) vertical specialization only
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Boundaryless organizations try to eliminate both kinds of boundaries—vertical
boundaries that separate by rank and horizontal boundaries that separate by specialization. This
makes "horizontal specialization and vertical hierarchy" the correct response and renders the
other choices incorrect.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

126) A virtual organization is essentially ________ who come together for a particular project.
A) a group of employees from a single company
B) a group of free agents
C) a team of employees from different departments of a company
D) a group of top managers and CEOs
Answer: B
Explanation: B) A virtual organization maintains a small administrative staff but relies on
freelancers to perform tasks, complete projects, and do the work of the organization. The
freelancers do not come from a single organization, nor are they high-ranked corporate
managers. Instead, the freelancers come from a variety of different places and typically are
unaffiliated with any permanent organization or company.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

38
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
127) How does a virtual organization save on costs?
A) by hiring people who specialize in what they do
B) by hiring fewer people than they need and making them work much longer hours
C) by eliminating all administrative duties
D) by keeping only a small permanent staff for administrative purposes only
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A virtual organization can temporarily grow to a large size by hiring large
numbers of freelancers. However, it keeps costs to a minimum by paying these individuals only
for actual work they do and not providing benefits and compensation when there is no work for
them to perform. This makes "keeping only a small permanent staff" the correct response.
"Eliminating all administrative duties" is incorrect because a virtual organization does keep a
small administrative staff. "Hiring people who specialize in what they do" is incorrect because
hiring people with specialties does not necessarily keep costs down. "Hiring fewer people than
they need" is incorrect because virtual organizations typically do not hire fewer workers than are
necessary.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

128) A ________ subcontracts part of a project to outside suppliers.


A) virtual organization
B) boundary organization
C) matrix structure
D) network organization
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A network organization takes on projects knowing that it has resources to
complete only some phases of the work. The network organization then relies on subcontracting
to outside firms or groups that specialize in the services needed by the project. None of the other
choices—virtual, boundary, or matrix structures—have these qualities, so all of these choices are
incorrect for this situation.
Diff: 2
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

39
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
129) A building contractor follows the network organization model when he does which of the
following?
A) does the framing and tiling by himself
B) hires three workers to help with framing
C) gives orders to workers
D) farms out the plumbing to a plumbing firm
Answer: D
Explanation: D) A building contractor functions as a network organization when he farms out
work to others. The contractor, for example, may do one part of the job himself and subcontract
phases of the job that he is not qualified to do. This makes" farms out the plumbing" the correct
response. Doing the framing and tiling on his own, hiring workers, or issuing orders does not
qualify the contractor as a networker; that occurs only when he actually subcontracts a part of the
job to another organization or individual.
Diff: 3
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

130) A learning organization develops the capability to ________.


A) add new training programs to keep employees up to date
B) accept the conventional wisdom of the industry
C) continuously learn, adapt, and change
D) attract new employees who have special knowledge
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A learning organization does not just train employees, gain insights, or hire
knowledgeable people. Instead, a learning organization specializes in adapting to new conditions
and developing new methods and ideas as an organization. For example, a learning organization
might collectively discover innovative new ways to improve a process or a product. This makes
"continuously learn, adapt, and change" the correct response.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

40
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
131) A learning organization requires employees to ________.
A) encode information to prevent competitors from stealing ideas
B) collaborate with competitors
C) make all ideas public
D) share information and collaborate with one another
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Collaboration is critical to a learning organization, making "share information
and collaborate with one another" the correct response. Note that collaboration is limited to the
inside of the organization, making both "collaborate with competitors" and "make all ideas
public" incorrect. "Encode information" is wrong because it focuses on employees failing to
share information, something that a learning organization would not do.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

132) All of the following are characteristic of learning organizations EXCEPT ________.
A) a strong sense of community
B) a collaborative environment
C) managers who serve as facilitators
D) fear of making mistakes
Answer: D
Explanation: D) To function well, learning organizations need a strong sense of community and
skilled managers who facilitate collaboration. This leaves "fear of making mistakes" as the
correct response—learning organizations want their employees to be creative and recognize that
part of the creative process is to make mistakes.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

41
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
133) Organizational learning can't take place without ________.
A) complete privacy for employees
B) a clear chain of command
C) a shared vision of the future
D) a stable structure or hierarchy
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Learning organizations are often boundaryless organizations in which such
things as chain of command, a rigid hierarchy, and excessive privacy are out of place. One thing
that learning organizations do require is a vision of the future to guide employees toward
common goals.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

134) In a learning organization, it is important that all employees ________.


A) collaborate
B) study each night
C) have a strong sense of leadership
D) share the same vision for the organization
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Employees in a learning organization may or may not collaborate with one
another, depending on the situation. They may or may not be good leaders, and in most cases do
not need to study to succeed. What employees do require in a learning organization is a shared
vision for the organization. That shared vision allows them to work together and further
organizational goals.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Communication abilities
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

42
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
Eric the Redd (Scenario)

Eric Redd graduated from college and was hired by a corporation that manufactured parts for the
automotive industry. The employees on the assembly line seemed bored, and their motivation
was low. Eric's employer decided to try to reorganize to increase productivity. During his career,
Eric will see his job change from an engineer to a more complex job assignment.

135) The jobs of assembly-line employees are to be changed to allow more tasks to be done by
individual workers. This is a reduction in ________.
A) work specialization
B) departmentalization
C) chain of command
D) centralization
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Increasing the number of tasks that employees perform is an example of
becoming less specialized. It would not increase how many departments there are nor affect
authority relationships or decision making, so all of these choices would be incorrect.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

136) Eric, who is trained as an engineer, is now in a group with production workers and
marketing specialists from different departments designing a new product that the company plans
to offer. This situation could be described as a(n) ________.
A) alternative assignment
B) collective assignment
C) advanced assignment
D) project assignment
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Since Eric is working with employees from different departments, it appears
that he is working on a project team within a matrix structure. He will go on to design the new
product, then move back to his original position in the organization. None of the other terms
given here matches a recognized work structure, so they are incorrect.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

43
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
137) Eric is offered a chance to help direct the efforts of some employees assigned to his work
group. This is a chance for Eric to experience ________.
A) functional structure
B) divisional structure
C) responsibility
D) authority
Answer: D
Explanation: D) By definition, authority gives an employee the right to direct the work of others
and give orders if necessary. This means that Eric is assuming authority. Assuming responsibility
would be just meeting organizational obligations. The other two choices are incorrect because
they refer to organizational design structures, not abilities that Eric might assume.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

138) Eric sees this new assignment as an increase in ________, or an obligation or expectation
for him to perform at a new level.
A) functional structure
B) divisional structure
C) responsibility
D) authority
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Assuming authority is about giving orders and directing the work of others
while assuming responsibility is about fulfilling one's obligations with respect to the
organization. Since Eric is meeting expectations, "responsibility" is the correct response.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

44
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
139) In a short essay, list and explain three key elements in designing an organization's structure.
Answer: (any three of the following)

Work specialization
This concept describes the degree to which tasks in an organization are divided into separate
jobs. The essence of work specialization is that an entire job is not done by one individual, but
instead is broken down into steps, with each step completed by a different person.

Departmentalization
The basis by which jobs are grouped together is called departmentalization. The five common
forms of departmentalization include functional, product, geographical, process, and customer
departmentalization.

Chain of command
This is the continuous line of authority that extends from upper organizational levels to the
lowest levels and clarifies who reports to whom. It helps employees answer questions such as
"Who do I go to if I have a problem?" and "To whom am I responsible?"

Span of control
The question of how many employees a manager can efficiently and effectively supervise is
important because, to a large degree, it determines the number of levels and managers an
organization has. Trends in today's organizations show wider spans of control that reflect better-
trained employees who are more independent and accountable.

Centralization and decentralization


Centralization describes the degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in
the organization. If top managers make the organization's key decisions with little or no input
from below, then the organization is centralized. In contrast, the more that lower-level employees
provide input or actually make decisions, the more decentralized the organization is.

Authority, responsibility, and power


Authority is the right to give directions and expect them to be obeyed within an organization; the
amount of authority for a given position is inherent in that position, not related to the individual
who fills that position. Responsibility is the obligation to perform assigned tasks. While authority
is a right given by position, power is an ability to change things that is independent of position.
For example, a low-level employee with a particular skill has considerable power in an
organization if that skill is valuable to the organization.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

45
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
140) In a short essay, list and discuss three common forms of departmentalization.
Answer: (any three of the following)

Functional departmentalization
Jobs are grouped by the functions (i.e., marketing, finance, human resources) performed. This
approach can be used in all types of organizations, although the functions change to reflect the
organization's objectives and work activities.

Product departmentalization
Jobs are grouped by product line. In this approach, each major product area is placed under the
authority of a manager who is a specialist in, and is responsible for, everything having to do with
that product line. Examples might include men's shoes, women's shoes, men's clothing, women's
clothing, and so on.

Geographical departmentalization
Jobs are grouped on the basis of a territory or geography that is served. Territory might reflect
the location of employees, customers, plants, and so on.

Process departmentalization
This method groups jobs on the basis of product or customer flow. In this approach, work
activities follow a natural processing flow of product or even customers. An example of process
departmentalization is a motor vehicles office that is organized around a process that customers
use to obtain permits, licenses, and other services.

Customer departmentalization
Jobs are grouped on the basis of common customers who have common needs or problems that
can best be met by having specialists for each. An example of customer departmentalization
includes separate retail, wholesale, and government customers at a large firm.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.1
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

46
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
141) In a short essay, list and discuss two contingency variables that should be considered in
determining an appropriate structure in organizational design.
Answer: (any two of the following)

Strategy and structure


An organization's structure should facilitate the achievement of goals. Since goals are influenced
by the organization's strategies, it's only logical that strategy and structure should be closely
linked. More specifically, structure should follow strategy. If managers significantly change the
organization's strategy, they will need to modify structure to accommodate and support the
change.

Size and structure


There is considerable evidence that an organization's size significantly affects its structure. For
instance, large organizations—those with 2,000 or more employees—tend to have more
specialization, departmentalization, centralization, and rules and regulations than do small
organizations. However, the relationship isn't linear. Rather, size affects structure at a decreasing
rate; that is, size becomes less important as an organization grows.

Technology and structure


Every organization has at least one form of technology to convert its inputs into outputs. The
processes or methods that transform an organization's inputs into outputs differ by their degree of
routineness. In general, the more routine the technology, the more standardized and mechanistic
the structure can be. Organizations with more nonroutine technology are more likely to have
organic structures.

Environment and structure


The greater the uncertainty in the environment, the greater the need for the flexibility offered by
an organic design. On the other hand, in stable, simple environments, mechanistic designs tend to
be most effective.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

142) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a simple structure.


Answer: The simple structure is most often associated with small entrepreneurial ventures and is
common among organizations where the owner and manager are one and the same. Simple
structures possess low departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a
single person, and little formalization. As firms grow, structure tends to become more specialized
and formalized, departments and new levels of management are created, and the firm takes on a
more bureaucratic nature. The great weakness in a simple structure is that it relies too much on a
single individual. If that person is unavailable for some reason, the organization grinds to a halt.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

47
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
143) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a functional structure.
Answer: A functional structure is an organizational design that groups similar or related
occupational specialties together. It is a functional approach to departmentalization applied to the
entire organization. For example, an organization could be structured by the separate functions of
operations, finance, human resources, marketing, and R&D. Strengths of a functional structure
include advantages from specialization—economies of scale and little redundancy. Weaknesses
of a functional structure involve employees putting the functional goals ahead of the goals of the
entire organization.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

144) In a short essay, describe the characteristics of a divisional structure.


Answer: The divisional structure is an organizational structure made up of separate business
units or divisions. In this design, each unit maintains limited autonomy, with a division manager
responsible for performance and determining who has strategic and operational authority within
the divisional unit. However, the parent corporation typically still acts as an external overseer to
coordinate and control the various divisions. Strengths of the divisional structure include a focus
on results as divisions are highly motivated to achieve their goals. Weaknesses of this approach
include the redundancy that might arise from having autonomous divisions operating at the same
time.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

145) In a short essay, describe the matrix structure. What are its advantages and disadvantages?
Answer: The matrix structure is an organizational structure that assigns specialists from
different functional departments to work on one or more projects being led by project managers.
Each product is managed by an individual who staffs his or her product team with people from
each of the functional departments. The addition of this vertical dimension to the traditional
horizontal functional departments, in effect, "weaves together" elements of functional and
product departmentalization, creating a matrix arrangement. One unique aspect of this design is
that it creates a dual chain of command, which violates the classical organizing principle of unity
of command. Employees in a matrix organization have two managers who share authority: their
functional area manager and their product or project manager. The project managers have
authority over the functional members who are part of their project team in areas related to the
project's goals. However, decisions such as promotions, salary recommendations, and annual
reviews typically remain the functional manager's responsibility. To work effectively, project
and functional managers have to communicate regularly, coordinate work demands on
employees, and resolve conflicts together.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.3
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

48
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
146) In a short essay, describe the boundaryless organization.
Answer: Another approach to contemporary organizational design is the concept of a
boundaryless organization, an organization whose design is not defined by, or limited to, the
horizontal, vertical, or external boundaries imposed by a predefined structure. To minimize or
eliminate these boundaries, managers might use virtual or network structural designs. Advances
in technology have facilitated the movement toward more boundaryless organizations.
Diff: 2
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss factors influencing organizational structure decisions

147) In a short essay, describe a learning organization. What structural aspects does a learning
organization need?
Answer: A learning organization is an organization that has developed the capacity to
continuously learn, adapt, and change. In a learning organization, employees continually acquire
and share new knowledge and are willing to apply that knowledge in making decisions or
performing their work.

What structural aspects does a learning organization need? First, it is critical for members in a
learning organization to share information and collaborate on work activities throughout the
entire organization—across different functional specialties and even at different organizational
levels. To do this requires minimal structural and physical barriers. In such a boundaryless
environment, employees can work together and collaborate in doing the organization's work the
best way they can and learn from each other.

Finally, because of this need to collaborate, teams also tend to be an important feature of a
learning organization's structural design. Employees work in teams that are empowered to make
decisions about doing whatever work needs to be done or to resolve issues. With empowered
employees and teams, there is little need for "bosses" to direct and control. Instead, managers
serve as facilitators, supporters, and advocates.
Diff: 3
AACSB: Analytic thinking
Objective: 6.4
Learning Outcome: Discuss the factors that affect how individuals behave and learn within an
organization

49
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
*$1.50 University press, Brookland, Washington,
D.C. 304

20–221

“A collection of papers that have appeared in various publications


during the past ten years. Only the first paper relates intimately to
the title of the book. Other topics discussed are: A living wage; The
legal minimum wage; Moral aspects of the labor union; The moral
aspects of speculation; Birth control; and Woman suffrage.”—Am
Econ R

Am Econ R 10:385 Je ’20 50w

“The essay, ‘False and true conceptions of welfare,’ is to our mind


the most practical of the entire series.”

+ Cath World 111:392 Je ’20 280w

“They reveal a large acquaintance with economic and industrial


problems. It would be beside the point to criticize these papers
without remembering that they were written for Catholics. While we
agree with many of Dr Ryan’s conclusions, we should find it difficult
to subscribe to some of his premises and to submit to the intellectual
limitations which follow.” R: Roberts

+ − Nation 110:266 F 28 ’20 280w


Springf’d Republican p8 D 13 ’19 90w
RYAN, JOHN AUGUSTINE. Living wage; with
an introd. by R: T. Ely. *$2 Macmillan 331.2

20–1611

“A revised and abridged edition of a work that has had much


influence in bringing about the enactment of minimum-wage laws
and the acceptance of the principle that the laborer has a moral claim
to at least a decent living wage. The author is a priest of the Roman
Catholic church and a professor in the Catholic university of
America.”—R of Rs

“It is agreeable to say that Dr Ryan argues the living wage question
better than almost anybody else.”

+ N Y Times 25:267 My 23 ’20 550w


R of Rs 61:447 Ap ’20 60w

“Ethically it is far in advance of the thought of a generation ago,


and many even now will find themselves unable to keep pace with it.”

+ Springf’d Republican p10 Je 22 ’20


100w

RYAN, WILLIAM PATRICK. Irish labor


movement. (Modern Ireland in the making) *$2
Huebsch 331.09
(Eng ed 20–113)

In reviewing the history of Irish labor in the seventeenth,


eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the author points out how the
genius of the Irish people was submerged and its spirit broken by the
enforced assimilation of a foreign social system, a foreign speech and
a foreign character. However cruel and inhuman English dominion
has proved itself to be, the struggle for freedom has been mental and
spiritual as well as economic. “The breaking of the chains, the
unloading of the degrading burdens that we know, will inevitably
lead to the resurrection and the flowering of the workers’ deeper
natures, now blunted and buried. Then they may be artists and
creators.” Contents: Labor and the Gael; Land workers’ ordeals and
deeds; William Thompson, Robert Owen and Ralahine; Our early
trade unionism; The guilds and the unions; Illusive emancipation;
O’Connell and tragi-comedy; Weavers and “lock-ups”; Lalor and lean
years; In Davitt’s days; Connolly in the schools of labor; Connolly’s
teaching—industrial unionism; Larkin’s youth in the depths; The rise
of “Larkinism”; Up from slavery in Ulster; The struggle of 1913; The
ultimate sacrifice; Towards the commonwealth; Authorities and
sources.

Ath p412 My 30 ’19 70w


S

SACKVILLE, MARGARET, lady. Selected


poems. *$2.50 Dutton 821

“Lady Margaret Sackville is a feminine version of the late Richard


Middleton. Her themes are the themes of Middleton—the gay
seasons, love and desire with their antithesis of crepuscular quiet, a
selected Greek mythology, and the vaguely idealistic ‘dreams’ of the
romantics.” (Ath) “She writes lyrics and short plays: her subjects are
largely Greek, and, so far as effects of brightness and directness, of
clear air and frank sunshine, are concerned, the atmosphere is
Greek.” (Review)

“Out of her materials she makes a bright, easy poetry, which it


would be unfair to subject to the test of frequent reading. It is only at
rare intervals that something of more permanent quality, as, for
example, ‘Invitation au repos,’ rises above the level of pleasant
facility.”

+ − Ath p225 F 13 ’20 110w

“Lady Margaret Sackville is the possessor of charm. Original or


powerful she may not be, but charm in itself is fortune.” O. W.
Firkins

+ Review 3:318 O 13 ’20 330w


“Lady Margaret Sackville has suffered by reason of being Lady
Margaret. The paths were made too easy for her. She set out with the
true throat of the bird at dawn, but somehow somewhere the music
went wrong. It is wrong now.”

− + Sat R 129:392 Ap 24 ’20 170w

“Pieces that give the effect of having been written as technical


exercises, but which are not without charm.”

+ − Spec 124:429 Mr 27 ’20 30w

SADLER, MICHAEL. Anchor. *$1.75 (2½c)


McBride

The interest of the story centers about Laddie Macallister, an over-


sensitive, introspective young man whose self-questionings and
doubtings make him feel hopelessly adrift and unstable for all his
solid foundation of a clean and honest manhood. We meet him first
as newspaper correspondent for an English paper in Paris; later as
literary secretary for a radical London weekly. The anchor, the
“something-firm-to-cling-to” which he craves he finds in Janet Tring,
daughter of a country squire and a singularly well-poised,
straightforward bit of young womanhood. It is the character-drawing
rather than the plot that is significant in the story. Some of the other
characters that stand out are Laddie’s father, the country parson,
whose mellow wisdom and dependable love for his son are the
latter’s safe armor; Dermot Gill, the very odd, very lovable and very
radical Irishman, whose friendship Laddie picked up en route;
Janet’s cousin, the militant suffragette, proud of her prison record;
and the wily newspaper woman whose vindictive designs on Laddie
rebound from Janet’s good sense.
“The sentimentality of such fiction lies in its slavish worship of
youngness—the mere state and act of being young, of muddling
through youth.” H. W. Boynton

+ − Review 2:489 My 8 ’20 900w

“The story is lacking in form and consistency; the latter half, which
tells the love story, has the greater driving force. The character of
Laddie is, within limits, fairly clear and truthful. Mr Sadler’s method
is psychological, but not unduly so, and the story of the partial love
affairs which accompany his great love is done with some originality
and insight.”

+ Springf’d Republican p11a Je 13 ’20


480w

SAFRONI-MIDDLETON, A. South Sea foam.


*$2 (2c) Doran 919.6

20–18944

In “the romantic adventures of a modern Don Quixote in the


southern seas” (Sub-title) the author has attempted to capture and
hold for all times, some of the earliest “poetic babblings” of the
children of nature of the South Sea islands before, with the advent of
the missionary, “island mythology and heathen legends were
sponged off the map of existence.” He has attempted to see the
mysteries of nature with the eyes of the primitive man and, in
retelling the legends of some old Polynesian chiefs, to remain as
faithful to primitive conceptions as is possible to a sophisticated
mind. The contents give glimpses of the author’s own adventurous
youth in following the call of the “true poetry of life” and some of his
island reminiscences in: Fae Fae; The heathen’s garden of Eden; In
old Fiji; Kasawayo and the serpent; O Le Langi the pagan poet; An
old Marquesan queen; Charity organization of the South Seas.

Ath p1395 D 26 ’19 500w

“Not the least stimulating portions are those devoted to the sailing
vessels in which the author has pursued his study of man and
nature.” Margaret Ashmun

+ Bookm 52:343 D ’20 200w


+ Boston Transcript p5 O 6 ’20 350w
Cleveland p76 Ag ’20 70w

“The jerky transitions, the Bowdlerized legends, the tantalizing


sequels that the author ‘can’t tell,’ the dialect never heard on land or
sea, the author’s occasional verse ... contrive to trip the reader up
time after time just as the magic joy of life is beckoning him farther
into fairyland.”

− + Nation 111:786 D 29 ’20 260w

“Here is a chronicle of vagabonding among the isles of the South


seas that sets him who has lived amid the cities of civilization to
wondering whether or not he has squandered his life.”
+ N Y Times 25:301 Je 6 ’20 540w

“Much of the same delicate charm of fantasy which belongs to so


many of the Hindu stories told us by F. W. Bain distinguishes, also,
these tales of the isles in the far seas.”

+ N Y Times p26 S 12 ’20 380w

“It makes one long for Stevenson, who could be frank and
downright enough, but never wrote with a leer.” E. L. Pearson

− Review 3:229 S 15 ’20 300w

“Mr Safroni-Middleton gives us a glimpse of true natural poetry


that should appeal to the lover of life and beauty.”

+ Springf’d Republican p9a O 17 ’20 300w


The Times [London] Lit Sup p709 D 4
’19 320w

ST JOHN, LARRY. Practical fly fishing. (Outing


handbooks) il *$1.25 Macmillan 799

20–3413

“As the title indicates, it is a treatise about luring the finny


inhabitants of pond, lake or other watery area into human hands,
through the medium of the ‘fly.’ There are numerous illustrations
that will please and enlighten both the amateur and the ‘old-timer.’
There is a brief historical review of this form of fishing, while
considerable space is given over to tackle, other chapters are given
over to flies, reels, apparel, biological, preparatory and casting. The
final chapter is entitled ‘strategy,’ and deals with methods of best
making use of the tackle, reels, etc., previously described.”—Springf’d
Republican

Booklist 16:269 My ’20


R of Rs 61:560 My ’20 80w

“The descriptions are written in simple direct form, and are easily
understood and applied.”

+ Springf’d Republican p10 Mr 12 ’20


160w

ST MARS, F. Way of the wild (Eng title, Pinion


and paw). il *$2 (2c) Stokes 590.4

20–100

Epics of the wild would truly characterize these tales of thrilling


adventures of wild things in their own haunts. They are not natural
history but stories of animals befitting their characters as men
conceive them. Thus in “Gulo the indomitable” we see the wolverine
—most hated of all the animals among themselves, with a character
“that came straight from the devil,” and with brains “that only man,
and no beast, ought to be trusted with”—and his ghoulish escapades.
The weak and the powerful, the four-footed and the winged tribes,
even the legless viper, engage our human sympathies for their fears,
their passions, their struggles and their wiles. Contents: Gulo the
indomitable; Blackie and co.; Under the yellow flag; Nine points of
the law; Pharaoh; The cripple; “Set a thief”; The where is it? Lawless
little love; The king’s son; The highwayman of the marsh; The furtive
feud; The storm pirate; When nights were cold; Fate and the fearful;
The eagles of Loch Royal; Ratel, V. C.; The day; Illustrations.

“Real art here, with the scientist’s passion for strict accuracy. It is a
book for the whole family, a book to be kept and cherished and
handed on to the children as they grow old enough to appreciate it.”
Hildegarde Hawthorne

+ N Y Times p4 D 5 ’20 150w

SAINT-SAËNS, CAMILLE. Musical memories;


tr. by Edwin Gile Rich. il *$3 Small 780.4

19–15405

“This book is virtually an autobiography, but the story of the


author’s life is told briefly, so as to leave room for chapters on
Rossini, Meyerbeer, Offenbach, Viardot, Louis Gallet, Delsarte,
Victor Hugo, which, however, are also more or less autobiographic,
for these were among his friends. The English volume omits some of
the chapters in the original French edition and changes the order of
others.” (Bookm) “Contents: Memories of my childhood; The old
conservatoire; Victor Hugo; The history of an opéra-comique; Louis
Gallet; History and mythology in opera; Art for art’s sake; Popular
science and art; Anarchy in music; The organ; Joseph Haydn and the
‘Seven words’; The Liszt centenary at Heidelberg (1912); Berlioz’s
requiem; Pauline Viardot; Orphée; Delsarte; Seghers; Rossini; Jules
Massenet; Meyerbeer; Jacques Offenbach; Their majesties; Musical
painters.” (Pittsburgh)

+ Booklist 16:80 D ’19

“It should be in every library.” H: T. Finck

+ Bookm 51:171 Ap ’20 250w

“Camille Saint-Saens is not only one of France’s greatest living


composers but a musician who can write excellent and witty prose,
and an erudite scholar who knows how to impart information
without being pedantic.” Henrietta Strauss

+ Nation 111:75 Jl 17 ’20 320w


Pittsburgh 25:35 Ja ’20 70w

Reviewed by Lawrence Gilman

Yale R n s 9:872 Jl ’20 1100w

SAINTSBURY, GEORGE. Notes on a cellar-


book. *$3 Macmillan 663
“Mr Saintsbury, it will be remembered, had proposed to write a
history of wine; for sundry reasons he renounced his intention; and
what he gives us in this small volume are ‘notes and reminiscences
on the subject which may ... add a little to the literature of one of the
three great joys of life.’” (The Times [London] Lit Sup) “The body of
the work is occupied by a history of Mr Saintsbury’s experiences in
keeping a wine cellar; literally, as the title has it, the record of a
cellar-book.” (Review)

“Here, then, is a book which few men, and no woman, could have
written, full of knowledge that comes of experience, and is therefore,
as a rule, useless to others—full of the ripe humour that characterizes
all the best things of the world.” R. S.

+ Ath p301 S 3 ’20 800w

“A quaint and delightful chronicle it is, and as we have a right to


expect from such a pen, interspersed with many an apt literary hint
and suggestion.” Michael Monahan

+ Review 3:559 D 8 ’20 2150w

“Mr Saintsbury was prevented from carrying out his original


intention of writing a history of wine, but he has done the next best
thing in giving us this book.”

+ Spec 125:114 Jl 24 ’20 1900w

“No man could be less of a pedant. His erudition does not obtrude
itself; it merely supplies suitably evocative expressions; the bubbles
wink, and so does he. There is the very spirit of wine in the genial
ferocity with which he denounces those who would deprive him of
that good gift.”

+ The Times [London] Lit Sup p436 Jl 8


’20 1000w

SAMPSON, EMMA SPEED. Mammy’s white


folks. il *$1.50 (2c) Reilly & Lee

20–4267

Dr Andy Wallace is a shy young doctor with no use for women


folks when a baby girl is left on his doorstep. His negro Mammy
persuades him to keep the child and he brings her up as his own
daughter. The story tells of the happiness she brings to him, and of
the happiness that comes to her when she grows to womanhood.
Mammy has a large part in the story and the widow Richards and her
daughter Lucile, who try to steal Esther’s privileges, are also factors,
as is Dr Jim Dudley, the doctor’s assistant.

“A good wholesome story dominated by the motherly old negro’s


philosophy.”

+ Booklist 17:36 O ’20

SAMPTER, JESSIE ETHEL, ed. Guide to


Zionism. il $1.50 Zionist organization of Am. 296

20–8649
The book has grown out of an earlier publication, ‘A course in
Zionism,’ now out of print. The present volume is more than twice
the size of the first and presents as many more problems and facts
concerning the Zionist movement. Its purpose is to serve not only for
individual perusal but as a text-book for groups of students. Of its
thirty-three chapters the first ten deal with Zionist theory, history
and organization, the next ten with more specialized phases of the
movement, and the last thirteen with Palestine. Each chapter is
followed by a short bibliography and there are important appendices,
a general bibliography, an index and illustrations.

SANBORN, MARY FARLEY (MRS FRED C.


SANBORN). First valley. *$1.75 (2½c) Four seas
co.

20–8860

A story of life after death. Tina, a pleasure-loving girl, killed in an


automobile accident, is speeded to the other world in the swift car of
Death, not knowing what is happening to her. She finds herself in the
first valley of the life to come and valiantly sets herself to learn its
ways. She makes friends with the Spade Man, who teaches her to
cultivate her garden, and with Odo, the childlike poet, and she lends
a helping hand to those who follow her to this new world, to St Leon,
the university professor who bemoans his lost career, and to Helene,
the beautiful woman whose worldly ideals have not been abandoned.
The story ends with her passage to the second valley.

“A curiously interesting book.”

+ Cleveland p106 D ’20 20w


“It is a little book conceived in a spirit of singular purity and
reverence, and almost faultlessly executed; without cant or
sentimentalism or any forcing of the risky note.” H. W. Boynton

+ Review 3:234 S 15 ’20 250w

SANCHEZ, MRS NELLIE (VAN DE GRIFT).


Life of Mrs Robert Louis Stevenson. il *$2.25 (2½c)
Scribner

20–3787

“Whoever reads this book from cover to cover will surely agree that
no woman ever had a life of more varied experiences nor went
through them all with a stauncher courage.” So writes Mrs Sanchez
in the preface to this biography of her sister Fanny, wife of Robert
Louis Stevenson. There are thirteen chapters: Ancestors; Early days
in Indiana; On the Pacific slope; France, and the meeting at Grez; In
California with Robert Louis Stevenson; Europe and the British Isles;
Away to sunnier lands; The happy years in Samoa; The lonely days of
widowhood; Back to California; Travels in Mexico and Europe; The
last days at Santa Barbara. There are a number of portraits and other
illustrations. Letters from Henry James and others are quoted and
the book closes with an account of the services at Vailima in 1915
when the ashes of Mrs Stevenson were carried to her husband’s
resting place on the summit of Mount Vaea.

+ Ath p650 N 12 ’20 580w


“Well worth while, not only as an addition to Stevensoniana, but
also as a picture of a very interesting woman.”

+ Booklist 16:241 Ap ’20

“To the Stevensonian, this book is a mine of delight. It sets down


what has never before been sufficiently made clear, that Mrs
Stevenson was, in her own way, as remarkable and as gifted as her
husband.” Christopher Morley

+ Bookm 51:356 My ’20 850w


+ Boston Transcript p6 Mr 3 ’20 2650w
+ Cleveland p73 Ag ’20 150w

“So interesting that one could wish it more extended. We are


inclined to think the book better worth while than anything that has
been printed about Stevenson since the Letters.’”

+ Outlook 124:431 Mr 10 ’20 150w

“This concise and vivid narrative reveals Mrs Stevenson clearly as


the splendid woman she was, but it also reveals her, first and last, as
the reason why the literary world today possesses some of the most
highly valued of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson.”

+ Springf’d Republican p6 My 3 ’20 600w

“One might venture to say she has written a manly book. She has
drawn the character of a frank and courageous woman with a
straightforwardness that would surely have pleased its possessor.”
+ The Times [London] Lit Sup p699 O 28
’20 2000w

SANDBURG, CARL. Chicago race riots, July,


1919. pa 60c Harcourt 326

19–19136

“Reprinted from articles contributed at the time to a Chicago


newspaper, Mr Sandburg’s description tallies with other authentic
accounts of the origin and progress of the race riots. Though he acted
merely as a reporter, the author evidently formed strong opinions of
his own as to the most promising line of action to prevent the
recurrence of this outrageous happening. Better housing, more and
better industrial opportunities, and—immediately—a thorough
federal investigation of the unsatisfactory race relationships that lead
to race conflicts seem part of such a program.”—Survey

“A serious and intelligent investigation into conditions which


made the race riots possible. A contribution to the solving of the
negro problem in any section of the country.”

+ Booklist 16:154 F ’20

“The pamphlet is naturally less constructed, less pondered than Mr


Seligmann’s careful thesis. But it has the advantage of its journalistic
method, for by personal narrative and comment it makes vivid its
statistics and analysis, and brings the general problem down to more
specific terms.” M. E. Bailey
+ Bookm 52:303 Ja ’21 170w

“Everyone in this country who is interested in our sharpest


national disgrace—our treatment of negro citizens ought to read this
collection of articles. Especially every Chicagoan ought to read it.” E.
F. Wyatt

+ New Repub 22:98 Mr 17 ’20 1750w


+ Spec 124:51 Jl 10 ’20 700w
+ Survey 43:408 Ja 10 ’20 100w

SANDBURG, CARL. Smoke and steel. *$2


Harcourt 811

20–17899

The sections of this new book of poems are called Smoke nights,
People who must, Broken-face gargoyles, Playthings of the wind,
Mist forms, Accomplished facts, Passports, Circles of doors, Haze,
Panels. Some of the poems are reprinted from Poetry, the New
Republic, Liberator, and other periodicals.

+ Booklist 17:63 N ’20

“‘Smoke and steel’ is both an epic of modern industrialism and a


mighty pæan to modern beauty.” L: Untermeyer
+ Bookm 52:362 Ja ’21 360w

“Mr Sandburg has no sense of the past, no vision of the future, and
so his reality is a little huddled bunch of dried-up aspects out of
which have escaped the aspects of life about which he is so
passionately concerned. This is a great pity, because I believe there is
no poet in the country who has by nature the qualities of spirit which,
if fused and blended in the proper alembic, would not make some of
the loveliest and most convincing poems of our day.” W: S.
Braithwaite

* + -|Boston Transcript p7 O 16 ’20 2050w

“Sandburg has lost (at least temporarily) the one and only thing
which makes him great—the ability to determine when he has
written something good. He now apparently believes that everything
he writes is a poem. He imitates Gary, and turns his product out on a
quantity basis.” Arthur Wilson

− Dial 70:80 Ja ’21 680w

“‘Smoke and steel’ is longer than either of the earlier volumes, and
not so uniformly good. Over many pages, it must be admitted, Mr
Sandburg has rather obviously repeated himself, has put himself
through motions that were more profitable once than they are now.
But the book as a whole has great fascination and pull. Technically,
Mr Sandburg is as interesting as any poet alive.”

+ Nation 111:621 D 1 ’21 750w


“This new collection establishes what ‘Chicago poems’ only
promised and ‘Cornhuskers’ plainly intimated. It proves that these
states can now claim two living major poets: Sandburg and Frost.” L:
Untermeyer

+ New Repub 25:86 D 15 ’20 1450w

“He is misty, rather than descriptive or truly evocative; he is the


whole antithesis of the imagist demand for a sharply evoked image, if
this is their demand; and, sometimes at least, it should be. We see
the smoke, and miss the steel.” Clement Wood

− + N Y Call p6 Ja 9 ’21 600w

Reviewed by Babette Deutsch

+ N Y Evening Post p6 N 27 ’20 1150w

“Reading these poems gives me more of a patriotic emotion than


ever ‘The star-spangled banner’ has been able to do. This is America,
and Mr Sandburg loves her so much that suddenly we realize how
much we love her, too. Either this is a very remarkable poet or he is
nothing, for with the minors he clearly has no place. He has greatly
dared, and I personally believe that posterity with its pruning hand
will mount him high on the ladder of poetic achievement.” Amy
Lowell

+ − N Y Times p7 O 24 ’20 2500w

“Mr Sandburg has introduced themes which have seldom, perhaps


never, been treated before. There is an impressive display of energy

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