2.2 Organisation and management Flashcards
What is an organisational chart?
A diagram that shows a company’s structure and who reports to whom.
What is hierarchy?
Different levels of authority in a business.
What is a chain of command?
The path orders take from top managers to workers.
What is a span of control?
The number of workers one manager supervises.
What is delegation?
Giving responsibility to someone else to do a task.
Advantage of delegation (for manager)?
Saves time – manager can focus on important work
Less stress – not doing everything alone
Builds trust – shows the manager trusts their workers
Work is done faster – more people helping
Helps workers learn – so they can do more in the future
Advantage of delegation (for employee)?
Learns new skills – gets better at the job
Feels trusted – boosts confidence
Gets more responsibility – can grow in the company
Can be promoted – shows they can handle more work
Feels more motivated – job is more interesting
Disadvantage of delegation?
Overload – the employee might feel overwhelmed with the extra tasks.
Miscommunication – if the instructions are unclear, mistakes can happen.
Quality may drop – if the employee isn’t experienced enough.
Loss of control – the manager might feel like they are losing control over the work.
Lack of trust – if not done properly, the employee might feel untrusted.
What is a director?
A person elected by shareholders to make big decisions.
What is a manager?
A person who controls part of the business and staff.
What is a supervisor?
Someone who oversees small tasks and reports to managers.
What is a worker/operative?
Someone who does the basic tasks or jobs in a business.
What is a subordinate?
An employee who reports to someone higher up.
What is leadership?
The ability to guide and influence others.
What is autocratic leadership?
The leader makes all decisions without asking others.
Advantage of autocratic leadership?
Quick decision-making – decisions are made fast since only the leader has the authority.
Clear direction – the leader provides clear and specific instructions to the team.
Strong control – the leader maintains control over the group, reducing confusion.
Efficient in emergencies – works well when quick, decisive action is needed.
Consistency – decisions are uniform as they come from one source.
Disadvantage of autocratic leadership?
Low employee morale – employees may feel disempowered or undervalued.
Limited creativity – with only one person making decisions, ideas from employees may not be considered.
Dependence on the leader – employees rely heavily on the leader, which can reduce their own initiative.
High turnover – employees may leave due to lack of autonomy or dissatisfaction.
Conflict – strict control can lead to tension between the leader and the team.
What is democratic leadership?
The leader includes others in decision-making.
Advantage of democratic leadership?
Employee satisfaction – employees feel valued and respected when their opinions are considered.
Encourages creativity – with input from everyone, more innovative ideas can emerge.
Better decision-making – decisions benefit from diverse perspectives, leading to more thoughtful outcomes.
Motivation – employees are more likely to be motivated and committed to the organization when they have a say.
Teamwork – fosters a sense of cooperation and collaboration among employees.
Disadvantage of democratic leadership?
Time-consuming – decision-making can take longer as it involves gathering input from everyone.
Lack of direction – without a clear leader making quick decisions, the team may become confused or lack focus.
Possible conflicts – differing opinions can lead to disagreements and slow down progress.
Not effective in emergencies – in urgent situations, this leadership style may not be fast enough to act.
Leaders may lose authority – too much involvement from employees might undermine the leader’s role or authority.
What is laissez-faire leadership?
The leader gives little guidance; workers decide for themselves.
Advantage of laissez-faire leadership?
Encourages independence – employees have the freedom to make their own decisions, which can boost creativity and innovation.
Builds trust – shows confidence in employees’ abilities, helping to foster a sense of responsibility.
Empowers employees – gives them control over their work, leading to higher motivation and satisfaction.
Flexible environment – works well in environments where employees are highly skilled and need little supervision.
Focuses on personal growth – encourages self-directed learning and development, allowing employees to take ownership of their roles.
Disadvantage of laissez-faire leadership?
Lack of direction – without clear guidance, employees may struggle to prioritize tasks or make decisions effectively.
Poor communication – leaders may not provide enough feedback, which can lead to misunderstandings or confusion.
Low accountability – with minimal oversight, some employees might not meet expectations or take responsibility for their work.
Inefficiency – in some cases, the lack of structure can cause delays or disorganization within the team.
Risk of disengagement – employees might feel unsupported or disconnected if there is too much freedom and no clear direction.
Why is good communication important?
It avoids mistakes and improves efficiency.
What is two-way communication?
When both people can talk and listen.
What is internal communication?
Messages sent inside the business.
What is external communication?
Messages sent outside the business.
What is vertical communication?
Messages going up or down the chain of command.
What is horizontal communication?
Messages between people at the same level.
What is formal communication?
Official way of sharing info (e.g., emails, reports).
What is informal communication?
Casual talk (e.g., chatting at lunch).
One barrier to communication?
Language problems or noise.
Another barrier to communication?
Wrong channel used (e.g., texting something important).
Third barrier to communication?
Not paying attention.
