2.5.1 Organisational structures

Question 1

What are the two organisational structures?

Answer 1

Hierarchal
Flat

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a hierarchical structure?

Answer 2

Have lots of levels of authority
Can motivate staff to strive for the next level of promotion due to their many management levels
Can be expensive (salary’s)
Communication can be slow and disorted due to numerous levels of authority
Examples: NHS, Police force, Government

Question 3

What are the characteristics of flat structures?

Answer 3

Few levels of authority
Are responsive to change
May leave staff feeling overwhelmed if few levels of management for support
Examples: small family businesses, creative industries

Question 4

What is being centralised?

Answer 4

Big decisions being made by senior management

Question 5

Characteristics of centralisation?

Answer 5

All branches or stores of a business will have the same policies, prices and look
Can slow communication between the shopfloor and senior management

Question 6

What is being decentralised?

Answer 6

Businesses make decisions at a local level

Question 7

Characteristics of decentralisation?

Answer 7

Local managers who know what their customers needs are and can quickly respond to them without having to refer to head office

Question 8

What poor communication cause?

Answer 8

Mistakes
Staff feeling ignored or stressed
Wastage
Loss of time
Poor motivation levels

Question 9

What does too much communication cause?

Answer 9

Staff feeling overwhelmed from emails or too many meetings

Question 10

What other reasons cause poor communication?

Answer 10

Uses too much Jargon
Uses wrong language, which cause misinterpretation
May be biased or untruthful
may not seek feedback from staff or customers

Question 11

What are all the different ways of working?

Answer 11

Full-time
Part-time
Flexible hours
Permanent or temporary contracts
Freelance contracts
Remote working

Question 12

What is full-time?

Answer 12

Staff work for around 35 hours per week (no more than 48 hours)

Question 13

What is part-time?

Answer 13

Staff gain the same benefits as full-time staff but work for less than 35 hours a week

Question 14

What are flexible hours?

Answer 14

When someone will work the number of hours they are contracted to but with more choice over when they work

Question 15

What are freelance contracts?

Answer 15

When someone is self-employed and they choose to work for different businesses on a contract-by-contract basis