Questions from Organization Theory and Design


Q: Larisa Harrison grimaced as she tossed her company’s latest quarterly earnings onto

Larisa Harrison grimaced as she tossed her company’s latest quarterly earnings onto the desk. When sales at Virginia- based Millier Machine Parts & Services surged past the $10 million mark some time...

See Answer

Q: NASCAR fans expect their drivers to be smart, crafty, and

NASCAR fans expect their drivers to be smart, crafty, and calculating and, if need be, playing just this side of the rule book—in the garage and on the track. Loyal fans “know” their drivers and can e...

See Answer

Q: Fabulous Footwear produces a line of women’s shoes that sell in the

Fabulous Footwear produces a line of women’s shoes that sell in the lower-price market for $27.99 to $29.99 per pair. Profits averaged 30 cents to 50 cents per pair 10 years ago, but...

See Answer

Q: Jim Malesckowski remembered the call of two weeks ago as if he

Jim Malesckowski remembered the call of two weeks ago as if he had just put down the telephone receiver: “I just read your analysis and I want you to get down to Mexico right away,” Jack Ripon, his bo...

See Answer

Q: Harmon Davidson stared dejectedly at the departing figure of his management survey

Harmon Davidson stared dejectedly at the departing figure of his management survey team leader. Their meeting had not gone well. Davidson had relayed to Al Pitcher complaints about his handling of the...

See Answer

Q: Hu-go. Hu-go. As Alissa Mason drove

Hu-go. Hu-go. As Alissa Mason drove up the mountain through the rain, she turned up the volume on the radio to clear her mind. However, even the steady rhythm of the truck’s windshield wipers steered...

See Answer

Q: The Daily Tribune is the only daily newspaper serving a six-

The Daily Tribune is the only daily newspaper serving a six-county region of eastern Tennessee. Even though its staff is small and it serves a region of mostly small towns and rural areas, the Tribune...

See Answer

Q: When Burton Lee took over as plant manager for the Burlington division

When Burton Lee took over as plant manager for the Burlington division of a large manufacturing company, he saw the opportunity to transform the lowest performing unit as a pathway to his promotion in...

See Answer

Q: As a manager, how would you create an organization with a

As a manager, how would you create an organization with a high degree of relational coordination?

See Answer

Q: Why do you think the pressure of scarce resources across product lines

Why do you think the pressure of scarce resources across product lines causes managers to consider a matrix structure?

See Answer