Appex Origins
Who was recruited in 1988 to bring structure and control to Appex?
A. Brian Boyle
B. Ted Baker
C. Shikhar Ghosh
D. Paul Gudonis
Shikhar Ghosh
Which customer service issue hurt Appex's reputation?
A. High prices
B. Slow response times
C. Poor technology
D. Lack of sales staff
Slow response times
Which organizational structure did Ghosh try first?
A. Functional
B. Divisional
C. Circular
D. Matrix
Circular
Who proposed the introduction of product teams?
A. Brian Boyle
B. Ted Baker
C. Paul Gudonis
D. Mark Finance Manager
Paul Gudonis
According to Miles & Snow, HR systems should be aligned with:
A. Employee preferences
B. Business strategy
C. Industry regulations only
D. Technology only
Business strategy
Which company exemplifies a Defender strategy?
A. Hewlett-Packard
B. Texas Instruments
C. Lincoln Electric
D. IBM
Lincoln Electric
Which company is used as an example of an Analyzer?
A. HP
B. Lincoln Electric
C. Texas Instruments
D. Canadian Pacific
Texas Instruments
What was Appex's approximate revenue when Ghosh joined?
A. $500,000
B. $2 Million
C. $10 Million
D. $16 Million
$2 Million
What management style dominated Appex before formal structures were introduced?
A. Bureaucratic
B. Military-style
C. Crisis-driven firefighting
D. Matrix management
Crisis-driven firefighting
Why did employees struggle with the circular structure?
A. Too many meetings
B. Unclear authority and reporting relationships
C. Lack of technology
D. High costs
Unclear authority and reporting relationships
What problem were product teams intended to solve?
A. Payroll issues
B. Product coordination and planning
C. Office space shortages
D. Customer complaints only
Product coordination and planning
Which strategic type focuses primarily on efficiency?
A. Prospector
B. Reactor
C. Defender
D. Matrix
Defender
Which company is cited as a Prospector?
A. Lincoln Electric
B. Canadian Pacific
C. Hewlett-Packard
D. GM
Hewlett-Packard
Analyzer organizations typically combine:
A. Functional and Matrix Structures
B. Agency and Functional Structures
C. Divisional Only
D. Geographic Structures
Agency and Functional Structures
Appex primarily served which industry?
A. Banking
B. Airlines
C. Cellular Telecommunications
D. Retail
Cellular Telecommunications
What happened as Appex grew rapidly?
A. Communication improved
B. Coordination became difficult
C. Projects decreased
D. Customers reduced
Coordination became difficult
Which structure was implemented in February 1989?
A. Matrix Structure
B. Functional Structure
C. Divisional Structure
D. Geographic Structure
Functional Structure
Why did product teams create conflict?
A. Too few products
B. Unclear authority and decision rights
C. Lack of meetings
D. Excessive hierarchy
Unclear authority and decision rights
Which strategic type constantly searches for new opportunities?
A. Defender
B. Prospector
C. Reactor
D. Bureaucrat
Prospector
Defenders generally prefer:
A. Innovation first
B. Efficiency and cost control
C. Market disruption
D. Frequent restructuring
Efficiency and cost control
What is the main HR challenge in Analyzer organizations?
A. Downsizing
B. Talent allocation across stable and innovative businesses
C. Payroll management
D. Union negotiations
Talent allocation across stable and innovative businesses
What was Appex known for before its growth challenges emerged?
A. Strict hierarchy
B. Entrepreneurial culture and innovation
C. Government contracts only
D. International operations
Entrepreneurial culture and innovation
What major planning issue existed at Appex?
A. Overplanning
B. No financial planning or forecasting discipline
C. Excessive budgeting
D. Too many planners
No financial planning or forecasting discipline
What was the biggest advantage of the functional structure?
A. Increased international sales
B. Improved accountability and specialization
C. Reduced staffing needs
D. Eliminated politics
Improved accountability and specialization
What was Ghosh's solution to product-team authority conflicts?
A. Remove managers
B. Create business teams
C. Outsource decisions
D. Eliminate products
Create business teams
Which strategic type balances stability and innovation?
A. Defender
B. Reactor
C. Analyzer
D. Functional
Analyzer
Prospectors usually grow through:
A. Cost reduction only
B. Product and market development
C. Downsizing
D. Acquisitions only
Product and market development
Which role should HR increasingly perform according to the article?
A. Payroll Administrator
B. Strategic Consultant
C. Legal Officer
D. Recruiter Only
Strategic Consultant
Name the consulting firm where Shikhar Ghosh worked before joining Appex.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Approximately how many employees did Appex actually have by the end of 1989?
103
What organizational structure did Ghosh implement in August 1990?
Divisional Structure
According to Ghosh, after how much growth should a company reconsider its structure?
Approximately 50% growth
Which strategy type generally performs worst due to poor alignment?
Reactor
What HR strategy supports Defender organizations?
Building Human Resources
What HR strategy supports Analyzer organizations?
Allocating Human Resources
Which publication ranked Appex as the fastest-growing high-tech company in the U.S. in 1990?
Business Week
What term did Ghosh use to describe the company's daily mode of operation before restructuring?
Fire-fighting
Name the two major business divisions created under the divisional structure.
ICS (Intercarrier Services) and IS (Cellular Management Information Systems)
What phrase did Ghosh use to describe employees' certainty about organizational change?
"Whatever you're sure of will change."
Name the three successful Miles & Snow strategic types.
Defender, Prospector, Analyzer
What HR strategy supports Prospector organizations?
Acquiring Human Resources
According to the article, what should HR professionals understand in addition to HR practices?
Strategic Planning and Business Strategy