UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT
MGT3360 MIDTERM EXAM OVERVIEW
1.
20 Multiple Choice Questions................................ 20 x 1........................ 20
2.
3 Essay Questions from choice of 5..................... 3 x 15........................ 45
65
Space available for each essay will be one side of one page. Think through your answers
ahead of time and be concise. Group discussion of questions is encouraged, but the formulation
of answers must be an individual effort. The objective of this method of testing is to encourage
you to give more sustained thought to the application of a conceptual framework than might
normally be the case in a standard time-limited exam. Be sure that your answers strive to apply
and illustrate the theories we have discussed.
Numbers in parentheses following each question give a breakdown of marks where applicable
This is not an “open book” exam. No papers will be permitted into the exam. Time available
for the exam: 75 minutes.
The five essay questions you will see on your exam (from which you must choose three) will be
taken from the following eight:
Essay Questions
1.
The President of your firm has just read an article in Canadian Business magazine about
how all the best companies are adopting matrix structures to maximize both customer orientation
and technical specialization. She is concerned that the business has been showing poor earnings
and wants to move to a matrix structure to remedy the situation. The firm is large and was
founded as a functional structure. In the 20 years since it came into being, the company has
moved to a position where more than 75% of the firm’s sales are in highly customized products.
This percentage has been increasing every year as the firm adapts to customer needs. Tell me
what you think of each of these options (functional and matrix). Is either one a good fit? If not,
recommend a more appropriate structure.
(5+5+5)
2.
(a) Describe how the Faculty of Management at UofL might operate as a Defender in
Miles and Snow’s generic strategy framework. (b) Describe how the Faculty might operate as a
Prospector. (c) Is either one a good description of reality? If not, what is?
(6+6+3)
3.
The culture of universities is built on the notion of individual achievement and
assessment but the reality of the emerging organizational workplace is that collaboration and
team outcomes are increasingly the norm. Considering the materials on each side of Ex. 5-3 one
at a time, would you say that the relationship between the university and its students is primarily
adversarial, primarily a partnership, or about half and half?
(15)
4.
Your firm has been very successful domestically with its product, Trivial Pursuit, but you
are ready to take on the world. (1) As you grow internationally, what global challenges will your
product and company face? (2) How will you use global coordinating mechanisms to address
these challenges? (3) Will this product be easy or difficult to take international? Note: It is
important that you make the effort to apply the theory from the text to this particular product and
its industry segment.
(6+6+3)
5.
For each of the five organizational phenomena below, tell me which of the perspectives
from the Interorganizational Relationships Framework (Ex. 5.2) you feel would be most suited to
understand it and why.
(3 x 5)
1. While most people read the Lethbridge Herald, Leroy wonders if a newspaper just for
the Blood tribe would be a success.
2. With the Olympics coming to town and the organizers looking for a company to handle
all of the driving of athletes from venue to venue, Joe (of Joe’s Taxi) starts calling up all
of the other independent taxi operators to talk about making a joint bid for the business.
3. Mr. Smith, President of Redpath Sugar Company is on the Board of Directors of
Vachon Cakes & Pies Inc.
4. I don’t really understand how fund-raising works, but if I set up a fund-raising office
like the one at Queen’s I think I’ll be headed in the right direction.
5. The Hibernia offshore oil field is owned jointly by ExxonMobil Canada (33.125%), Chevron
Canada Resources (26.875%), Petro-Canada (20%), Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation
(8.5%), Murphy Oil (6.5%) and Norsk Hydro (5%).
6.
Choose any two real organizations (not used in the text) that you believe typify the
mechanistic and organic structural types. Use actual aspects of these two organizations to
illustrate the 5 differences between the two types. Note: your chances of getting full marks on
this question increase with real details from organizations that you have been a part of yourself.
(5 x 3)
7.
Your text argues that the degree of environmental uncertainty faced by an organization
has a large impact on its structure. Categorize, with supporting argument, the environmental
uncertainty faced by each of the following organizations.
(3 x 5)
(1) Bob’s Feedlot Inc.
(4) Air Canada
(2) University of Lethbridge
(5) Molson’s
(3) Tommy Hilfiger
8.
You own and operate a local car dealership. Think about what you want to be known for
in this community and come up with a short mission statement.
Given your mission statement, tell me how you plan to evaluate the effectiveness of your
organization by developing 5 measures of effectiveness as follows:
(a) 1 measurement based on the Resource-based approach
(3)
(b) 2 measurements based on the Internal process approach
(6)
(c) 2 measurements based on the Goal approach
(6)
Your measurements should relate specifically to the automotive retail industry and be clearly
linked to the achievement of your organizational mission.