Chapter 1: Introduction to Organisation Flashcards
What is the key success of a company
Flexibility, organisation, responsiveness
They need to adapt and influence changing environment and need to provide a structure, give leadership and coordinate activities
What are the current organisational challenges
Globalisation
Ethics and Green Movement
Intense Competition
Speed and Responsiveness
Big Data and Digitalisation
What should we take away from the challenges
They help us explain what happened in the past, what may happen in the future. This helps to manage the organisation more effectively
What is an Organisation
It is a social entity that is goal-oriented linked to the external environment. Organisations tend to be physical, have members, have permanence and have structures
What is the definition of a Social Entity
Collective group of people who interact, collaborate in order to achieve shared goals and objectives
What is the definition of goal-directed
activities influenced by goals
What are the different types of organisations and their specificities
Multi-Corporations: Big size and profit orientation
Global Non-Profit Organisations: Big size, non-profit orientation
SMEs: Small size, profit orientation
Regional Initiatives: Small size, non-profit orientation
What is the open system of an organisation
Inputs -> Transformation Process -> Outputs
What are the purposes of an organisation
Facilitate innovation
Adapt and Influence rapidly changing environment
Produce efficiently
Accommodate challenges in diversity, ethics and coordination
What are the different dimensions of an organisation design
Structural Dimension: Formalisation, Specialization, Hierarchy of Authority, Centralisation, Professionalism, Personnel Ratios
Organisational Dimension: Size, Technology, Environment, Goals and Strategy, Culture
Describe the Structural Dimension of Organisation Design
Formalisation: the larger the organisation the higher the degree of formalisation
Specialization: organisational tasks subdivided into separate jobs
Hierarchy of Authority: span of control of the managers
Centralisation: if centralisation is low, freedom to take decisions is high
Professionalism: level of formal education
Personnel Ratios: number of people in different departments
Describe the Organisational Dimension of Organisation Design
Size: number of employees
Technology: tools, techniques, actions to transform inputs -> outputs
Environment: Stakeholders, Government
Goals and Strategy: Purpose and Competitive techniques
Culture: beliefs, values, norms, understandings
What is Organisational Culture
The observable symbols, underlying values of the organisation
What are the 2 culture functions in organisation
1) Internal Integration: collective identity, know how to work together
2) External Adaptation: how organisation meets its goals and deals with outsiders
What are the Characteristics of Culture
Stability, team orientation, people orientation, innovation and risk taking
Does Culture replace Formalisation
The 2 have different roads to reach a common destination
Define Creating and Sustaining a Culture
Creating: The founders have a vision of what the organisation should be
Sustaining: The employees with good “company fit” and the managers are the role models
What is a Systems Theory
The study of society as a complex arrangement of elements, including the individuals and their beliefs
What is Cybernetics
If you change one element or aspect in the system, it affects the whole system
What is Mckinsey’s 7S Model
Strategy, Skills, Staff, Style, Systems, Structure, Superordinate goals
What is the difference between Efficiency and Effectiveness
Efficiency: “Doing the thing right”
Effectiveness: “Doing the right thing”
Define Stakeholders
Any group within or outside the organisation that impacts the organisation’s performance
What are Historical Perspectives
A way to provide insight into how the organisation design and management practices have varied over time
What are the 3 different Historical Perspectives Theories
19th Century: Classical Theories
20th Century: NeoClassical theories
21st Century: Modern Theories
What are the Classical Theories
The organisations as machines
Focus: Productivity and Efficiency of internal processes
Theory: Bureaucracy, scientific management, administrative approach
What are the NoeClassical Theories
The organisations as social systems
Focus: Employee Motivation and Relations
Theory: Human Relations approach, incentive theory, motivation
What are the Modern Theories
The organisations as open systems
Focus: Effectiveness in the environment
Theory: Contingency, Chaos, systems theory, ethics
What is the Contingency Thoery
Internal: company size, offerings, goals/services, technology used
External: competition intensity, customer structure
What is the Needs Theory
Humans have an in built desire to grow and develop => Self-Actualisation
Physicological -> Saffety -> Belonging -> Self-esteem -> Self-Actualisation
What is an Organic System Design
Looser, Free-Flowing, Adaptative
What is a Mechanic System Design
Machine-like standard rules and procedures with clear authority
What are the different levels of analysis in organisations
Individual level
Group level
Organisation level
External Environment
