Lesson 3.10.1.2

3.10.1.2 Flexible organisations, information and barriers to change Quiz: AQA Business, Unit 10

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.10.1.2, Flexible organisations, information and barriers to change: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Business (7132), Unit 10: Managing strategic change, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What is the main structural outcome of delayering an organisation?

    • Increased span of control
    • Fewer hierarchy levels
    • Longer communication chains
    • Higher administrative costs

  2. Which type of contract allows a firm to quickly adjust staffing levels to meet demand?

    • Salaried permanent contract
    • Executive director contract
    • Permanent full-time contract
    • Zero-hours contract

  3. Which characteristic is typical of an organic organisational structure?

    • Centralised decision-making
    • Rigid hierarchy
    • Informal communication
    • Fixed job descriptions

  4. Which feature is most characteristic of a mechanistic organisational structure?

    • Formal rigid hierarchy
    • Decentralised decision-making
    • Informal communication
    • Flexible job roles

  5. What is the primary purpose of knowledge management during business restructuring?

    • Retaining key expertise
    • Eliminating trade unions
    • Cutting labour costs
    • Fast-tracking recruitment

  6. According to Kotter and Schlesinger, which factor causes employee resistance to change?

    • Functional overload
    • Strategic alignment
    • Parochial self-interest
    • High emotional intelligence

  7. Which reason for resistance to change occurs when employees perceive costs and benefits differently?

    • Misunderstanding
    • Low tolerance
    • Self-interest
    • Different assessments

  8. Which method for overcoming resistance involves employees directly in designing the change process?

    • Explicit coercion
    • Education and communication
    • Facilitation and support
    • Participation and involvement

  9. What is the main disadvantage of using explicit coercion to overcome resistance to change?

    • High financial cost
    • Lack of compliance
    • Slow implementation speed
    • Lasting employee resentment

  10. A business widens its span of control from 8 to 12 for 120 staff. How many managers are needed before and after, assuming all staff are managed directly?

    • 15 before and 10 after
    • 8 before and 12 after
    • 12 before and 8 after
    • 10 before and 15 after

  11. What is the primary benefit to a business of having a flexible organisation?

    • Slower decision making
    • Faster market adaptation
    • Reduced employee turnover
    • Higher fixed overheads

  12. Which structural feature of a business acts as a major barrier to change?

    • Poor market research
    • High staff turnover
    • Strong leadership
    • Rigid hierarchy

  13. Compared to participation, what is the main advantage of using coercion to manage change?

    • Faster implementation speed
    • Improved staff morale
    • Greater staff commitment
    • Higher long-term trust

  14. What is a major consequence of poor information sharing between managers during change?

    • Lower tax liabilities
    • Higher scale economies
    • Slower decision-making
    • Increased staff turnover

  15. Why does departmental restructuring often trigger resistance from affected employees?

    • Threat to status
    • Lower working hours
    • Increased profit sharing
    • Reduced job responsibilities

  16. Which method for overcoming resistance best suits employees with a low tolerance for change?

    • Manipulation and co-optation
    • Facilitation and support
    • Negotiation and agreement
    • Explicit coercion

  17. Which action is an example of using education and communication to overcome resistance?

    • Threatening job losses
    • Explaining change reasons
    • Distorting central facts
    • Offering financial incentives

  18. A firm uses negotiation with a trade union to agree a change in working hours. Which way of overcoming resistance is this?

    • Negotiation and agreement
    • Manipulation and co-option
    • Education and communication
    • Explicit coercion

  19. What is the main risk of using manipulation to overcome resistance to change?

    • Loss of trust
    • High financial costs
    • Slow decision-making
    • Immediate staff unionisation

  20. In which business environment is a rigid organisational structure usually most effective?

    • High-growth industries
    • Stable markets
    • Fast-changing markets
    • Dynamic tech sectors

All AQA Business quizzes