18: Competitive organisational stuctures

Question 1

Centralisation:

Answer 1

Where the decision making authority is concentrated amongst a small number of senior managers at the top/centre of organisational structure.

Question 2

Decentralisation:

Answer 2

Where the authority for decision-making is delegated to subordinates in the organisational structure.

Question 3

Delayering:

Answer 3

Removing levels in the organisational structure.

Question 4

Peripheral workers:

Answer 4

part-time, temporary and self employed workers brought into the business and when needed.

Question 5

Flexible workforce:

Answer 5

Where a significant percentage of employees are on part-time and temporary contracts rather than the vast majority being on permanent, full-time contracts, and/or where employees are multi skilled and work wherever needed in the organisation.

Question 6

Core workers:

Answer 6

Full time, permanent employees, with business-specific skills and knowledge, performing tasks key to the success of the business, often rewarded with high salaries and excellent working conditions.

Question 7

Outsourcing:

Answer 7

Where business functions are provided by external specialist organisations rather than provided in house.

Question 8

Homeworking:

Answer 8

Where employees can perform their job from home, increasingly linked to their employer via internet.