Lesson 10 Flashcards
How to Determine if Organizations Are Fit for Purpose?
Organizations are fit for purpose if they effectively align structure, processes, and resources with their goals, environment, and strategy. Key indicators include efficiency, adaptability, employee engagement, and achieving desired outcomes.
What is the role of experts in bureaucracies?
Experts contribute to rationality, supporting structured, efficient decision-making.
Name three types of experts based on their structure.
- Independent (collegiate structure)
- Organizational (centralized bureaucracy)
- Entrepreneurial (decentralized networks)
What are the design principles of organizational structure?
Division of labor:
Departments, divisions, roles and job specialization
Coordination: span of control, chain of command, centralization.
Define span of control.
The number of people whose work a manager is responsible for coordinating.
How does job specialization benefit an organization?
It allows employees to develop expertise, improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Name 3 contingencies in organizational structure
- Technology
- Environment
- Strategy
How does technology influence organizational structure?
The type of technology an organization uses influences how structured it needs to be.
Routinized technology leads to structured authority relations.
What is the difference between mechanistic and organic structures?
Mechanistic structures suit stable environments, while organic structures adapt to dynamic ones.
Name three types of strategy that determine structure.
- Cost minimization
- Innovation
- Imitation
What are the five structural types defined by Mintzberg?
- Simple structure
- Machine bureaucracy
- Professional bureaucracy
- Divisionalized form
- Adhocracy
Describe the adhocracy structure.
Specialized but informal roles with collaboration and decentralized decision-making, suited for complex, dynamic environments.
What are feminist organizations characterized by?
Reduced hierarchy and a greater focus on collective effort.
How can identity constrain organizational strategy?
Organizational identity shapes strategies and influences the form the organization takes.
Name three challenges organizations face when becoming more flexible.
- Removing hierarchy barriers
- Promoting trust and sharing
- Encouraging innovation and learning
What is the impact of functional divisions on knowledge-sharing?
They hamper knowledge-sharing, restricting innovation and collaboration.
How does organizational structure influence HRM practices?
- pay practices
- the alignment of HR with organizational goals.
What is the multidivisional form used for?
Provides control with independence, commonly used by multinational corporations (MNCs).
How does a matrix structure function?
It integrates employees from different functions into individual projects.
What are the benefits of team or project-based structures?
Higher levels of innovation and collaboration within teams.
How do alternative structures impact employee motivation?
Flexible structures can increase empowerment, ownership, and engagement.
Why are team-based structures increasingly popular?
They align with innovation-focused strategies and enhance collaboration across functions.
What is centralization in organizational structure?
The degree to which authority and decision-making are concentrated at the top levels.
Why is division of labor important in organizational design?
It allows grouping jobs into departments, improving efficiency and focus.
Name two ways to promote innovation in organizational structure.
- Removing hierarchical barriers
- Encouraging team-based collaboration
Organizational Design Principles
Alignment: Structure should match strategy and goals.
Differentiation: Clear roles and responsibilities to avoid overlap.
Integration: Effective coordination and communication between parts.
Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changes in the environment.
Accountability: Clear authority and responsibility at all levels.
