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Devon is an accountant who is a member of the product development team for the latest version of the firm's consumer gadget. It is most likely that Devon works in a ________structure.

a) matrix
b) functional
c) divisional
d) product

User Xantium
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Final answer:

Devon, an accountant on a product development team, most likely works in a matrix organizational structure, which allows cross-functional collaboration for complex projects such as new product development.

Step-by-step explanation:

Devon is an accountant who is a member of the product development team for the latest version of the firm's consumer gadget. It is most likely that Devon works in a matrix structure. In a matrix organization, employees are usually part of cross-functional teams that allow for more fluid communication and resource allocation between different departments. This structure is advantageous for complex projects such as the development of a new product where expertise from various functional areas, including accounting, is required to contribute to the product's success.

In contrast, a functional structure organizes the company based on specialties, with separate departments for marketing, finance, human resources, and so on. In a divisional structure, the business is divided into semi-autonomous units that are each responsible for their own products or market segments. A product structure is a type of divisional structure where each product category is handled by a dedicated team, focusing solely on that product.

Given the context that Devon is actively part of a product development team and contributing to areas beyond traditional accounting tasks, a matrix structure is highly plausible as organizations typically adopt this design to promote collaboration among different functional areas to achieve a shared objective, such as launching a new product.

User John Korchok
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