1.4.3 ORGANISATIONAL DESIGN Flashcards
what is organisational structure
how staff and roles are organised in a business
whats a subordinate
a staff member under your direct control
what is the chain of command
the people / roles tasks or information pass through
what is the span of control
number of subordinates under your control
what is a hierarchy
who / what are the layers of power
explain the hierarchal structure
there is a longer chain of command than there is a span of control
explain the wide structure
there is a wider span of control than there is chain of command
explain the matrix structure
no clear hierarchy and subordinates move through the departments (all about moving through the stages)
advantages of hierarchal structure
- each level has defined roles so clear authority
- employees can specialise so increased efficiency
- management can maintain close control
disadvantages of hierarchal structure
- can slow down decision making and responsiveness to change
- information may take longer to flow up and down
- staff feel less empowered so lower employee morale
advantages of wide structure
- fewer layers means faster decision making and response to change
- information flows more freely for improved communication
- employees have more autonomy and feel empowered
disadvantages of wide structure
- potential overlap in duties so role confusion
- managers may be overburdened
- fewer opportunities for promotion
advantages of the matrix structure
- employees can be assigned to different tasks (flexibility)
- cross functional teams promote collaboration and innovation
- efficient use of resources
disadvantages of the matrix structure
- employees may have multiple managers (confusion of authority)
- can be complicated to manage
- potential for conflict and can create tension
- hinder productivity
why create a structure ?
- easier to delegate tasks
- set clear aims and objectives
- avoid duplicate work
- reduced manager workloads
- improve efficiency and productivity
