When you finish studying the material in this chapter, you should be able to:
- Describe the four characteristics common to all organizations, and explain the difference between closed and open systems.
- Define the term learning organization.
- Describe horizontal, hourglass, and virtual organizations.
- Describe the four generic organizational effectiveness criteria, and discuss how managers can prevent organizational decline.
- Explain what the contingency approach to organization design involves.
- Describe the relationship between differentiation and integration in effective organizations.
- Discuss Burns and Stalker's findings regarding mechanistic and organic organizations.
- Define and briefly explain the practical significance of centralization and decentralization.
- Discuss the effective management of organizational size.
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