Lesson 1.4.3

1.4.3 Organisational design and structure Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Business, Unit 1

20 questions

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Lesson 1.4.3, Organisational design and structure: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Business (9BS0), Unit 1: Marketing and people, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does a hierarchy represent in a business's organisational structure?

    • Flow of communication
    • Levels of authority
    • Geographic locations
    • Types of product

  2. What term describes the line along which authority passes through an organisation?

    • Chain of command
    • Span of control
    • Delegation path
    • Hierarchy level

  3. What is meant by the term span of control in organisational design?

    • Subordinates per manager
    • Length of command
    • Layers of management
    • Level of centralisation

  4. In a centralised organisation, where are strategic decisions primarily made?

    • External consultants
    • Departmental teams
    • Junior supervisors
    • Senior management

  5. What combination of features defines a tall organisational structure?

    • Few levels, narrow spans
    • Many levels, narrow spans
    • Many levels, wide spans
    • Few levels, wide spans

  6. What combination of features defines a flat organisational structure?

    • Few levels, narrow spans
    • Many levels, narrow spans
    • Few levels, wide spans
    • Many levels, wide spans

  7. Which feature specifically defines a matrix organisational structure?

    • Zero delegation
    • Dual reporting lines
    • Centralised power
    • Single command lines

  8. A manager has 12 staff reporting directly to her. What is her span of control?

    • 120
    • 12
    • 3
    • 1

  9. A team of 36 staff is organised with a span of control of 6. How many managers are needed for the team?

    • 6
    • 216
    • 9
    • 3

  10. What effect does a long chain of command in a tall structure usually have on communication?

    • Fewer communication barriers
    • Faster decision making
    • Slower communication speed
    • Improved message accuracy

  11. What is a major advantage of decentralised decision-making for a business?

    • Stronger central control
    • Reduced delegation
    • Greater consistency
    • Faster local decisions

  12. Which organisational structure is best suited to a business running multiple temporary projects simultaneously?

    • Tall structure
    • Flat structure
    • Matrix structure
    • Hierarchical structure

  13. Which structure is most efficient for a large business managing routine, standardised tasks?

    • Flat structure
    • Decentralised structure
    • Tall structure
    • Matrix structure

  14. Why does a flat organisational structure often increase employee motivation?

    • Greater autonomy
    • Centralised control
    • More promotion layers
    • Closer supervision

  15. What is a main drawback of a manager having an excessively wide span of control?

    • Slower communication speed
    • Higher management costs
    • Longer command chain
    • Reduced staff support

  16. What is a key disadvantage of using a matrix organisational structure?

    • Lack of flexibility
    • Conflicting manager priorities
    • Slow communication flow
    • Narrow control span

  17. What is a common drawback of a flat organisational structure?

    • Excessive management layers
    • Managerial overload
    • Slow decision making
    • Distorted communication

  18. A firm with 240 staff and a span of control of 1:8 needs how many first-line managers?

    • 8
    • 240
    • 24
    • 30

  19. A decentralised firm has five regional branches, each making three decisions a day, over 20 working days. How many decisions are made in total?

    • 40
    • 120
    • 300
    • 60

  20. What main factor motivates a business to delayer from a tall to a flat structure?

    • Increasing central control
    • Adding management layers
    • Narrowing control spans
    • Reducing overhead costs

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