$4.$ Factors Shaping Structure

Cisco Systems uses a differentiation strategy. It offers its customers the latest in routers and switches. Cisco products may cost a bit more, but customers believe they are worth every penny. Cisco Systems will be more effective if it has structure. Which of the following reasons explain this? Check all that apply.

Decentralized decision making allows for greater flexibility in meeting customer needs.

Narrower spans of management and centralized decision making offer improved product control.

Vertical communication flows ensure that decisions are standardized throughout the company.

Shorter chains of command and horizontal communication allow for increased innovation.

Your great$-$great$-$grandmother left you her recipe book. It contains amazing, delicious cake recipes, and you are certain you can make a fortune with them if you just set up your bakery right. You are considering three possible designs for your bakery:

Design $1$

Design $2$

Design $3$

A factory in which assembly$-$line workers create low$-$cost$,$ standardized cakes to be sold in grocery stores A factory in which all cakes are created by machines; technology will enable you to shift from cake to cake as customer needs change A personalized wedding cake business in which you will create custom delicacies for your clients

According to Joan Woodward, is classified as a continuous process production company.

According to Joan Woodward, which of the following conclusions is most likely to be true?

A bakery using a continuous process production design will require small numbers of highly trained employees.

A bakery that places an emphasis on teamwork will operate most effectively with a mass production design.

Continuous process production designs are particularly effective when a bakery is operating in a stable environment.

Bakeries that want to compete on the basis of cost should choose a small$-$batch production design.