Example questions Chapter 15 Essentials of Organizational Behavior (Robbins/Judge)

Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 12e (Robbins/Judge)
Chapter 15 Foundations of Organizational Structure

1) Which of the following is not one of the six key elements of organizational structure?
A) chain of command
B) departmentalization
C) work specialization
D) span of control
E) location of authority
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Managers need to address six key elements when they design their
organization's structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of
control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization.
Diff: 1
Objective: Organizational Structure
Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
LO: 1

2) A task that is subdivided into many separate jobs is considered to have ________.
A) a high degree of departmentalization
B) a low degree of decentralization
C) a high degree of work specialization
D) a wider span of control
E) a high degree of formalization
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The term "work specialization" describes the degree to which activities in the
organization are subdivided into separate jobs. The essence of work specialization is to divide a
job into a number of steps, each completed by a separate individual.
Diff: 1
Objective: Work Specialization
Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
LO: 1




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, 3) A ________ allows management to make the most efficient use of its employees' skills and
even successfully improve them through repetition.
A) low degree of centralization
B) high degree of formalization
C) wider span of control
D) low degree of departmentalization
E) high degree of work specialization
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Work specialization describes the degree to which activities in the organization
are subdivided into separate jobs. Because not all employees in an organization have the same
skills, management saw specialization as a means of making the most efficient use of its
employees' skills and even successfully improving them through repetition.
Diff: 2
Objective: Work Specialization
Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
LO: 1

4) Which of the following statements is true regarding work specialization?
A) Work specialization indicates to what degree there will be rules and formalization regulations
to direct employees and managers.
B) Work specialization decreases the time spent in changing tasks.
C) Work specialization increases the cost of finding and training workers to do specific and
repetitive tasks.
D) Work specialization provides an unending source of increased productivity.
E) Work specialization hinders efficient use of employee skills.
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Work specialization indicates the degree to which activities in the organization
are subdivided into separate jobs. Work specialization makes the most efficient use of employees'
skills. Less time is spent in changing tasks, putting away tools and equipment from a prior step,
and getting ready for another.
Diff: 2
Objective: Work Specialization
Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
LO: 1

5) The basis by which jobs are grouped is called ________.
A) formalization
B) departmentalization
C) chain of command
D) span of control
E) centralization
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The basis by which jobs are grouped is called departmentalization.
Diff: 2
Objective: Departmentalization
Quest. Category: Concept/Definitional
LO: 1

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