Which structure control is most appropriate for a firm pursuing a localization strategy?

A firm's organizational culture refers to the:

A. norms and value systems that are shared among the employees of an organization.
B. formal organizational structure of the company.
C. control systems and incentives in place.
D. human resources component.

A. norms and value systems that are shared among the employees of an organization.

A firm's _____ determines where in its hierarchy the decision-making power is concentrated.

A. organizational architecture
B. vertical differentiation
C. organizational structure
D. horizontal differentiation

B. vertical differentiation

By centralizing decision making, a firm:

A. allows managers to respond to environmental changes more quickly.
B. runs the risk of not being able to respond to environmental changes quickly.
C. can avoid the duplication of activities that occurs when similar activities are carried on by various subunits within the organization.
D. often has issues with duplication of activities that occurs when similar activities are carried on by various subunits within the organization.

C. can avoid the duplication of activities that occurs when similar activities are carried on by various subunits within the organization.

_____ gives top-level managers the power and authority to be able to bring about needed major organizational changes.

A. Personal control
B. Decentralization
C. Bureaucratic control
D. Centralization

A firm pursuing a(n) _____ will have a strong incentive to decentralize decision-making.

A. localization strategy
B. transnational strategy
C. global standardization strategy
D. international strategy

In firms pursuing a(n) _____, some operating decisions are relatively centralized, while others are relatively decentralized.

A. global standardization strategy
B. transnational strategy
C. localization strategy
D. international strategy

B. transnational strategy

Regardless of a firm's domestic structure, its international division tends to be:

A. organized on economy.
B. decentralized.
C. organized on geography.
D. centralized.

C. organized on geography.

The _____ tends to be adopted by firms with a low level of diversification whose domestic structures are based on functions.

A. global matrix structure
B. worldwide product division structure
C. performance structure
D. worldwide area structure

D. worldwide area structure

A _____ tends to be adopted by firms that are reasonably diversified and originally had domestic structures based on product divisions.

A. worldwide product division structure
B. global matrix structure
C. worldwide area structure
D. performance structure

A. worldwide product division structure

In a _____, individual managers belong to two hierarchies (a divisional hierarchy and an area hierarchy) and have two bosses (a divisional boss and an area boss).

A. worldwide product division structure
B. classic matrix structure
C. worldwide area structure
D. performance structure

B. classic matrix structure

The need for coordination is high in:

A. firms trying to pursue localization strategies.
B. international firms.
C. firms trying to profit from location and experience curve economies.
D. domestic corporations.

C. firms trying to profit from location and experience curve economies.

In a _____ all roles are viewed as integrating roles.

A. worldwide area structure
B. process structure
C. worldwide product division structure
D. global matrix structure

D. global matrix structure

_____ is a type of control that tends to be most widely used in small firms.

A. Personal control
B. Output control
C. Bureaucratic control
D. Cultural control

In a company using _____, employees tend to control their own behavior, which reduces the need for direct supervision.

A. bureaucratic controls
B. cultural controls
C. personal controls
D. output controls

_____ can be defined as the amount of time top management must devote to monitoring and evaluating subunits' performance.

A. Performance ambiguity
B. The formal matrix
C. The costs of control
D. Differentiation

Firms pursuing a global standardization strategy must cope with a higher level of _____, and this raises their costs of control.

A. vertical differentiation
B. cultural division
C. horizontal differentiation
D. performance ambiguity

Which of the following is more difficult for a leader?

A. To change an established organizational culture
B. To import an organizational culture
C. To create an organizational culture from scratch in a new venture
D. To export an organizational culture

A. To change an established organizational culture

Firms pursuing a(n) _____ have a low need for coordination between subunits.

A. global standardization strategy
B. localization strategy
C. transnational strategy
D. international strategy

Firms pursuing a(n) _____ are more centralized than enterprises pursuing a localization or international strategy.

A. localization strategy
B. international strategy
C. global standardization strategy
D. transnational strategy

C. global standardization strategy

Because of inertia forces, _____ is often no change.

A. big bang change
B. cultural change
C. shock therapy change
D. incremental change

To unfreeze the established culture of an organization, the company:

A. must take bold steps such as shaking up the management structure in order to implement change.
B. is best served by taking incremental steps.
C. should employ the existing structural organization to integrate changes.
D. implement a rewards or incentive program.

A. must take bold steps such as shaking up the management structure in order to implement change.

Organizational structure includes several elements. Which of the following is one of them?

A. The establishment of integrating mechanisms to coordinate the activities of subunits.
B. The horizontal decision-making that occurs daily, for example, on the plant floor to improve operations.
C. The manner in which decisions are made and work is performed by individuals.
D. The informal division of the organization into cultural groups.

A. The establishment of integrating mechanisms to coordinate the activities of subunits.

Which of the following terms refers to the metrics used to measure the performance of subunits and make judgments about how well managers are running those subunits?

A. Key processes
B. Control systems
C. Knowledge networks
D. Job assignments

Historically, Unilever measured the performance of national operating subsidiary companies according to profitability. In this example, profitability is a(n) _____.

A. control system
B. process
C. integrating mechanism
D. incentive

The manner in which decisions are made and work is performed within the organization is known as the firm's _____.

A. organizational culture
B. incentives
C. control systems
D. processes

The norms and values systems that are shared among the employees of a company are referred to as _____.

A. processes
B. control systems
C. incentives
D. organizational culture

D. organizational culture

A firm's _____ determines where in its hierarchy the decision-making power is concentrated.

A. integrating mechanism
B. vertical differentiation
C. knowledge network
D. horizontal differentiation

B. vertical differentiation

What is horizontal differentiation?

A. The mechanisms that enable each subunit to operate independently
B. The formal division of the organization into subunits
C. The location of decision-making responsibilities within a structure
D. The mechanisms for coordinating subunits

B. The formal division of the organization into subunits

Integration mechanisms are the:

A. formal division of the organization into subunits.
B. mechanisms that enable each subunit to operate independently.
C. mechanisms for coordinating subunits.
D. location of decision making responsibilities within a structure.

C. mechanisms for coordinating subunits.

Which of the following is an argument favoring centralization?

A. It permits greater flexibility.
B. Motivational research favors it.
C. It can avoid the duplication of activities.
D. It gives top management time to focus on critical issues by delegating routine issues to lower-level managers.

C. It can avoid the duplication of activities.

Which of the following is an argument favoring decentralization?

A. It can facilitate coordination.
B. It can help ensure that decisions are consistent with organizational objectives.
C. It can give top-level managers the means to bring about needed major organizational changes.
D. It permits greater flexibility.

D. It permits greater flexibility.

Centralization:

A. gives top management time to focus on critical issues by delegating more routine issues to lower-level managers.
B. can give top-level managers the means to bring about needed major organizational changes by concentrating power and authority in one individual or a management team.
C. permits greater flexibility because decisions do not have to be "referred up the hierarchy" unless they are exceptional in nature.
D. can be used to establish relatively autonomous, self-contained subunits within an organization.

B. can give top-level managers the means to bring about needed major organizational changes by concentrating power and authority in one individual or a management team.

A firm that needs greater flexibility should choose _____ for its decision-making.

A. horizontal differentiation
B. decentralization
C. localization strategy
D. control systems

Centralization and decentralization differ because:

A. centralization hinders coordination, while decentralization facilitates coordination.
B. centralization prevents top-level managers from making required organizational changes, while decentralization gives top-level managers greater power to make organizational changes.
C. centralization ensures that decisions are consistent with organizational objectives, while decentralization can result in decisions at variance with organizational goals.
D. centralization promotes flexibility, while decentralization reduces flexibility.

C. centralization ensures that decisions are consistent with organizational objectives, while decentralization can result in decisions at variance with organizational goals.

Which of the following decisions is typically centralized at a firm's headquarters?

A. Production decisions
B. Human resource management
C. Marketing decisions
D. Overall firm strategy

The emphasis on local responsiveness in firms pursuing a localization strategy creates strong pressures for:

A. centralizing all decisions regarding marketing, R&D, and human resource management.
B. decentralizing operating decisions to foreign subsidiaries.
C. centralizing all operating decisions.
D. global learning.

B. decentralizing operating decisions to foreign subsidiaries.

Global learning based on the multidirectional transfer of skills between subsidiaries and the corporate center is a central feature of a firm pursuing a(n) _____ strategy.

A. localization
B. global standardization
C. transnational
D. international

Which of the following would be a typical responsibility of a product division in a worldwide product divisional structure?

A. Operating decisions
B. Overall strategic development of the firm
C. Financial control of the various divisions
D. Decisions regarding legal issues

Which of the following statements is true about a product divisional structure?

A. In a product divisional structure, the responsibility for the financial control of the firm is typically decentralized.
B. A product divisional structure tends to be organized on geography.
C. In a product divisional structure, each product division is set up as a self-contained, largely autonomous entity with its own functions.
D. In a product divisional structure, the responsibility for operating decisions is typically centralized.

C. In a product divisional structure, each product division is set up as a self-contained, largely autonomous entity with its own functions.

Regardless of a firm's domestic structure, its international division tends to be organized on _____.

A. product
B. geography
C. people
D. economy

Which of the following is a problem that arises due to an international division structure?

A. In an international division structure, a firm's international division tends to be organized on products.
B. The heads of domestic functions are presumed to be able to represent the interests of all countries to headquarters.
C. The heads of foreign subsidiaries are not given as much voice in the organization as the heads of domestic functions or divisions.
D. The dual-hierarchy structure can lead to conflict and perpetual power struggles between the areas and the product divisions.

C. The heads of foreign subsidiaries are not given as much voice in the organization as the heads of domestic functions or divisions.

In which of the following organizational structures are the domestic operations and foreign operations isolated from each other leading to coordination problems?

A. Global matrix structure
B. International division structure
C. Worldwide product division structure
D. Worldwide area structure

B. International division structure

Which of the following is true regarding a worldwide area structure?

A. It tends to be favored by firms with a high degree of diversification.
B. It inhibits local responsiveness.
C. It tends to be favored by firms with a domestic structure based on functions.
D. Decision-making responsibilities are centralized.

C. It tends to be favored by firms with a domestic structure based on functions.

A _____ encourages fragmentation of the organization into highly autonomous entities.

A. worldwide area structure
B. global matrix structure
C. worldwide product structure
D. global network structure

A. worldwide area structure

A(n) _____ tends to be adopted by firms that are reasonably diversified.

A. worldwide area structure
B. international division structure
C. worldwide product division structure
D. global matrix structure

C. worldwide product division structure

The worldwide product division structure:

A. is weak in local responsiveness.
B. inhibits the realization of location economies.
C. inhibits the realization of experience curve economies.
D. limits the transfer of core competencies between areas.

A. is weak in local responsiveness.

In the classic global matrix structure, horizontal differentiation proceeds along two dimensions. These dimensions are:

A. hierarchy and overall strategy.
B. target returns and sales potential.
C. marketing strategy and sales potential.
D. product division and geographic area.

D. product division and geographic area.

In practice, the dual-hierarchy in a global matrix structure:

A. lessens all forms of conflict.
B. makes it easy to ascertain accountability.
C. results in extremely quick decision making.
D. can lead to perpetual power struggles.

D. can lead to perpetual power struggles.

The need for coordination between subunits is lowest in firms pursuing a(n) _____.

A. localization strategy
B. international strategy
C. global strategy
D. transnational strategy

The need for coordination between subunits is highest in firms pursuing a(n) _____.

A. localization strategy
B. international strategy
C. global strategy
D. transnational strategy

D. transnational strategy

_____ refers to giving a person in each subunit responsibility for coordinating with another subunit on a regular basis.

A. Global learning
B. Liaison roles
C. Knowledge network
D. Matrix Structures

A(n) _____ is valuable because it can be used as a nonbureaucratic conduit for information flows within a multinational enterprise.

A. liaison network
B. matrix structure
C. organizational structure
D. knowledge network

Which control system is most widely used by small firms?

A. Personal
B. Output
C. Bureaucratic
D. Cultural

Control through a system of rules and procedures that directs the actions of subunits is _____.

A. personal control
B. bureaucratic control
C. output control
D. cultural control

_____ control is achieved by comparing actual performance against targets and intervening selectively to take corrective action.

A. Personal
B. Output
C. Bureaucratic
D. Cultural

There is low interdependence, performance ambiguity, and costs of control in firms pursuing a(n) _____.

A. localization strategy
B. international strategy
C. transnational strategy
D. global strategy

Which of the following is true of a strong corporate culture?

A. Almost all managers share a relatively consistent set of values and norms that have a clear impact on the way work is performed.
B. A strong culture leads to high performance.
C. Outsiders see firms with a strong culture as being autocratic and inflexible.
D. A strong culture is always a good culture.

A. Almost all managers share a relatively consistent set of values and norms that have a clear impact on the way work is performed.

Firms pursuing a(n) _____ attempt to create value by transferring core competencies from home to foreign subsidiaries.

A. localization strategy
B. international strategy
C. transnational strategy
D. global strategy

B. international strategy

Firms pursuing a global standardization strategy:

A. have low performance ambiguity.
B. attempt to create value by transferring core competencies from home to foreign subsidiaries.
C. are less centralized than enterprises pursuing a localization or international strategy.
D. have a high need for coordination and cultural controls.

D. have a high need for coordination and cultural controls.

A firm that operates with matrix-type structures in which both product divisions and geographic areas have significant influence would use which of the following strategies?

A. International strategy
B. Transnational strategy
C. Global strategy
D. Localization strategy

B. Transnational strategy

Firms pursuing a transnational strategy:

A. have a low need for coordination.
B. require very few integrating mechanisms.
C. have a very high need for cultural controls.
D. operate with a worldwide product division structure.

C. have a very high need for cultural controls.

Which of the following is an effective strategy for implementing organizational change?

A. Physically move the organization to a new state.
B. Keep the organizational structure.
C. Refreeze the organizational structure.
D. Slowly, through incremental changes, rearrange the organizational structure.

C. Refreeze the organizational structure.

_____ refers to the location of decision-making responsibilities within a structure.

A. Vertical differentiation
B. Integrating mechanisms
C. Horizontal integration
D. Horizontal differentiation

A. Vertical differentiation

What type of control system uses a system of rules and procedures that directs the actions of subunits?

A. Personal controls
B. Bureaucratic controls
C. Cultural controls
D. Output controls
Bureaucratic control is control through a system of rules and procedures that directs the actions of subunits. The most important bureaucratic controls in subunits within multinational firms are budgets and capital spending rules.

Which of the following is a potential drawback of the worldwide area structure?

A. This structure discourages division of the organization into autonomous entities.
B. This structure makes it difficult to decentralize decisions regarding operations authority.
C. This structure makes it difficult to realize location and experience curve economies.
D. This structure reduced local responsiveness.

C. This structure makes it difficult to realize location and experience curve economies.

The establishment of integrating mechanisms that coordinate subunits is a dimension of _____.

A. horizontal differentiation
B. organizational culture
C. vertical differentiation
D. organizational structure

D. organizational structure

In Firm A, each division is a self-contained, largely autonomous entity with full responsibility for its own value creation activities. What type of structure does Firm A employ?

A. Worldwide product division structure
B. Global matrix structure
C. Worldwide area structure
D. Knowledge network structure

A. Worldwide product division structure

In the _____, the philosophy is that responsibility for operating decisions pertaining to a particular product should be shared by the product division and the various areas of the firm.

A. worldwide product division structure
B. classic global matrix structure
C. worldwide area structure
D. knowledge network structure

B. classic global matrix structure

When the need for integration is very high, firms may:

A. use direct contact between subunit managers.
B. give a person in each subunit responsibility for coordinating with another subunit on a regular basis.
C. institute a matrix structure, in which all roles are viewed as integrating roles.
D. use temporary or permanent teams composed of individuals from the subunits that need to achieve coordination.

C. institute a matrix structure, in which all roles are viewed as integrating roles.

_____ is achieved by comparing actual performance against targets and intervening selectively to take corrective action.

A. Personal control
B. Cultural control
C. Bureaucratic control
D. Output control

_____ exists when the causes of a subunit's poor performance are not clear.

A. Performance ambiguity
B. Vertical differentiation
C. Output controls
D. Horizontal differentiation

_____ are the metrics used to measure the performance of subunits and make judgments about how well managers are running those subunits.

A. Cultural controls
B. Control systems
C. Output controls
D. Incentives

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a worldwide area structure?

A. Firms that use this structure tend to have a high degree of diversification.
B. Decision-making is centralized and subsidiaries cannot customize to local marketing needs.
C. The fragmentation of the organization that makes it difficult to realize location and experience curve economies.
D. It does not facilitate local responsiveness.

C. The fragmentation of the organization that makes it difficult to realize location and experience curve economies.

Do firms pursuing a localization strategy tend to operate with an array of formal and informal integrating mechanisms?

Firms pursuing a localization strategy tend to operate with an array of formal and informal integrating mechanisms. National regulations including local content rules and policies pertaining to layoffs might act as a source of inertia.

Which control system is most widely used by small firms?

Personal Controls It is the most widely used type of control mechanism in small firms for providing direct supervision of operational and employee management. Personal control is used to construct relationship processes between managers at different levels of employees in multinational companies.

Which refers to the locational of decision

Centralization refers to the process in which activities involving planning and decision-making within an organization are concentrated to a specific leader or location.

What is a disadvantage of the localization strategy?

Social Problems – centralising a business in a certain region may create industrial slums and unhealthy living conditions. Criminal activities arise and may cause bigger problems for the business.