Final answer:
The statement is true. Henry Mintzberg described three interpersonal roles of managers as figurehead, leader, and liaison, which help define their subsequent information and decision actions within the organization. Large organizations can be collaborative despite potential centralized authority, by employing strategies to distribute decision-making and empower employees.
Step-by-step explanation:
True. In Henry Mintzberg's framework, three interpersonal roles played by managers include the figurehead, leader, and liaison. These roles are critical as they set the stage for the manager's information and decision roles by establishing their authority within an organization. As a figurehead, the manager symbolizes the organization and performs ceremonial duties. As a leader, the manager influences and directs people within the organization, setting a tone, fostering a culture, and motivating employees. Lastly, as a liaison, the manager interacts with peers and individuals outside the organization to gain information and build networks that can be used to the organization's advantage.
Michels' theory of the Iron Rule of Oligarchy raises concerns about centralized power within organizations. However, large organizations can still be collaborative through mechanisms like distributed decision-making, empowerment of lower-level employees, and fostering a culture of teamwork and participation. While some level of oligarchic leadership might be present due to hierarchies and executive roles, collaboration is feasible and increasingly common in modern organizations that value flat structures, inclusion, and shared governance.