When you finish studying the material in this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Describe the four characteristics common to all organizations, and explain the difference between closed and open systems.
   
   
2. Define the term learning organization.
   
   
3. Describe horizontal, hourglass, and virtual organizations.
   
   
4. Describe the four generic organizational effectiveness criteria, and discuss how managers can prevent organizational decline.
   
   
5. Explain what the contingency approach to organization design involves.
   
   
6. Describe the relationship between differentiation and integration in effective organizations.
   
   
7. Discuss Burns and Stalker's findings regarding mechanistic and organic organizations.
   
   
8. Define and briefly explain the practical significance of centralization and decentralization.
   
   
9. Discuss the effective management of organizational size.