Final answer:
For a firm starting with only a few employees, the organizational structure typically adopted is a simple structure, characterized by minimal bureaucracy and agility in decision-making. Option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student asked which type of organizational structure is typically adopted by firms that start with only a few employees. The choices included geographic divisional structure, simple structure, product divisional structure, and matrix structure.
When a firm is in its initial stages, typically with a minimal number of employees, it is less likely to have complex and formalized structures, such as a geographic or product divisional structure. It is even less likely to adopt a matrix structure due to its intricate nature of dual-reporting relationships. Instead, it would usually adopt a simple structure, which is characterized by low bureaucracy and a central figure that makes key decisions.
This allows for quick decision-making and agility in the early stages of a company's growth. Hence, the correct option is option (b) simple structure.