Organisation and management Flashcards
What is an organizational structure?
Organizational structure refers to the levels of management and division of responsibilities within a business. They can be represented on organizational charts (left).
What are the two types of organisational charts?(briefly explain)
This is often displayed in the form of an organisational chart. The 2 common type of charts are
1)Tall organisational charts –These have a long chain of command and a
small span of control
2)Flat organisational charts –Short chain of command, wide span of control
Give 3 advantages of organisational charts
Advantages:
1) All employees are aware of which communication channel is used to reach them with messages
2) Everyone knows their position in the business. They know who they are accountable to and who they are accountable for- Lines of communication are clear
3) It shows the links and relationship between the different departments
4) Gives everyone a sense of belonging as they appear on the organizational chart-Motivational
What is the span of control?
The span of control is the number of subordinates working directly under a manager in the organizational structure.
What is chain of command?
Chain of Command –is how the power and authority is passed down from the top of the organisation (managers) to lower employees
The wider the span of control the shorter the ___________
chain of command
State 2 advantages of short chain command
Advantages of short chain of command
1) Faster communication– Communication is quicker and more accurate since it is passed on by fewer people.
2)Stronger relationship between high-level managers and employees –This
is because there are fewer levels between managers and employees.
3)Each manager is responsible for more employees –This encourages them
to delegate (pass down) more work to employees.
What is delayering?
De-layering – removing an entire row of management
What is delegation of authorithy?
Delegation is giving a subordinate the authority to perform some tasks.
State the 5 roles of management
- Planning
- Organising
- Coordinating
- Commanding
- Controlling
Describe the role of planning
Planning: [1] setting aims and targets for the organisations/department to achieve. It will give the department/firm and it’s employees a clear sense of purpose and direction[2]. Managers should also plan for resources required to achieve these targets – the number of people required, the finance needed etc.[3]
Describe the role of Organising
Organising of people and resources so that the business operates efficiently [1] (Managers can’t do everything, they must delegate tasks to other employees.[2]
Describe the role of Co-ordinating
Making sure all departments are working together to achieve the overall objectives and plans of the organisation.[1]This will involve effective communication between departments and managers and decision making.[2]
Describe the role of Commanding
Commanding: managers need to guide, lead and supervise their employees in the tasks they do and make sure they are keeping to their deadlines and achieving targets.
Describe the role of Controlling
Controlling: managers must try to assess and evaluate the performance of each of their employees to ensure that objectives will be met.
Advantages to managers of delegation [2]
Advantages to managers:
- managers cannot do all work by themselves
- managers can measure the efficiency and effectiveness of their subordinates’ work
Advantages to subordinates of delegation
[2-3]
Advantages to subordinates:
- the work becomes more interesting and rewarding- increased job satisfaction
- employees feel more important and feel trusted– increasing loyalty to firm
- can act as a method of training and opportunities for promotions, if they do a good job.
What are leadership styles?
and state the 3 types
Leaderships styles refer to the different approaches used when dealing with people when in a position of authority. There are mainly three styles you need to learn: the autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire styles.
Describe the autocratic leadership style
Autocratic style is where the managers expects to be in charge of the business and have their orders followed. They do all the decision-making, not involving employees at all.[1] Communication is thus, mainly one way- from top to bottom.[2] This is standard in police and armed forces organizations.
Describe the democratic leadership style
Democratic style is where managers involve employees in the decision-making and communication is two-way from top to bottom as well as bottom to top.[2] Information about future plans is openly communicated and discussed with employees and a final decision is made by the manager.
what are staff managers?
Staff Managers are specialists who provide support, information and assistance to line managers. The IT department manager in most organisations act as staff managers.
Describe the Laisez-faire leadership style
Laissez-faire (French phrase for ‘leave to do) style makes the broad objectives of the business known to employees and leaves them to do their own decision-making and organize tasks.[1] Communication is rather difficult since a clear direction is not given. The manger has a very limited role to play.[2]
What does leadership style depend on? state 2 factors
Leadership style may be dependent on various factors. e.g.
Type of business (creative or supply driven)
Nature of task (requires cooperation?)
What is atrade union?
A trade union is a group of workers who have joined together to ensure their interest are protected.
Why join a trade union?
atleast 4 reasons
- Improved conditions of employment
- Improved work environment
- Improved benefits
- Improved job satisfaction
- Advice/financial support
- Strenght in number (many employees will join)
what is de-centralisation?
It refers to a business delegating important decisions to lower divisions in the firm.
what is a centralised structure?
A centralised structure is where business decisions are made at the top of the business or in a head office and distributed down the chain of command .
What are advantages of a decentralised structure?
atleast 3
1-decisions can be made by managers who are closer to the action
2-Mangers ffeel more trusted and get more job satisfaction due to delegation.
3-decisions can be made more quickly
4-the firm can adapt to change much more quickly
what are disadvantages of a decentralised structure?
state atleast 2
1-may lead to the problem of co-ordination at the level of an entreprise as the decision making authority isn’t concentrated.
2-may be lead to incosistencies(e.g absense of uniformity_
3-it is costly as it raises administrative expenses on account of requirement of trained personnel to accept authority at lower levels.
what are the functions of trade unions?
[5]
1) Defending their members’ rights and jobs- e.g unfair dismissal
2) Negotiate for improvements in working conditions
3) Ensure better health and safety regulations for the members
4) They negotiate for better wages on behalf of their members
5) They influence government decision to favour their members
What are the 5 types of trade union actions?
Industrial Action
Strike
Work to rule
Go slow
picketing
explain the four types of trade unions?
Types of Trade Unions
General Unions: people from many different occupations and industries e.g. commercial workers
Industrial Unions: people from the same industry e.g.
telecommunications
Craft Unions: people with the same skills across
different industries e.g. artists
Non-manual Unions: people with professional
occupations e.g. doctors
what are the benefits to workers of joining a trade union?
atleast 4
Benefits to workers of joining a trade union:
1) strength in number- a sense of belonging and unity
2) improved conditions of employment, for example, better pay, holidays, hours of work etc
3) improved working conditions, foe example, health and safety
4) improved benefits for workers who are not working, because they’re sick, retired or made redundant (dismissed not because of any fault of their own)
5) financial support if a member thinks he/she has been unfairly dismissed or treated
6) benefits that have been negotiated for union member such as discounts on firm’s products, provision of health services.
what are disadvantages to workers of joining a trade unions?
atleast 2
Disadvantages to workers of joining a trade unions:
1) costs money to be member- a membership fee will be required
2) may be asked to take industrial action even if they don’t agree with the union- they may not get paid during a strike, for example.
3) Workers might get lesser wages or none if they go on strike – as the output and profits of the firm falls and they refuse to pay.
what are advantages to firms of trade unions?
atleast 2
Advantages to firms:
1)Time is saved in negotiating with a union when compared to negotiating with individuals workers.
2) When making changes in work schedules and practices, a trade union’s cooperation can help organise workers efficiently.
3) Mutual respect and good relationships between unions and firms are good for business morale and increases productivity.
what are some disadvantages of trade unions to firms?
atleast 2
1) Decision making may be long as there will be need of lengthy discussions with trade unions in major business decisions.
2) Trade unions may make demands that the firm may not be able to meet – they will have to choose between profitability and workers’ interests.
3) Higher wages bargained by trade unions will reduce the firm’s profitability.
4) Businesses will have high costs and low output if unions organise agitations. Their revenue and profits will go down and they will enter a loss. They may also lose a lot of customers to competing firms.
what is an advantage to the economy of trade unions?
Advantages to the economy:
Ensures that the labour force in the economy is not abused and that their interests are being represented.
State Disadvantages to the economy of trade unions
atleast 2
Disadvantages to the economy:
1) Can negatively impact total output of the economy.
2) Firms may decide to substitute labour for capital if they can’t meet trade unions’ expensive demands, and so unemployment may rise.
3) Higher wages resulting from trade union activity can make the nation’s exports expensive and thus less competitive in the international market
What is likely to influence the success of trade unions?
atleast 4
1) size of membership
2) proportion of membership in particular industries
3) skills of workers
4) financial strength of unions
5) support from the general public
6) degree of influence on employers and on government
7) quality of negotiating skills
