organisational structure Flashcards
what is a tall heirarchal structure
tall heirarchail structures have a small span of control and a large chain of command
there is lots of layers of managment which decisons pass through
managers look closely over workers in below levels- monitor, small amount high focus on workers
what is a flat heirarchial structure
this has a smaller chain of command and a wide span of control
there isnt lots of middle management instead managers manage lots of workers less control and focus on what they are doing
less layers that decison making must go through
what is a matrix heirarchial structure
this is where each department of a business is divided to complete part of a project, 2 managers, managers of the depeartment and managers of the project they are taking part in
enables specialists to work together in project teams
each team will have own responsibility as part of the project
all work togther to achieve a specific objective
advantages and disadvantages of a tall heirarchail structure
+ higher focus on workers as managers have less workers to focus on, more direct guidence and support
+ lots of levels of managment may motivate workers as there is a chance for career progression and advancment
+ control is at the centre, senior managemnt understand who does what and what their responsibilities are
+ paths of commmunication and responsibility clearly defined
+ workers understand their ro;es and responsibiles limiting confusion
+ has to go through many levels of agreement and managers to make a decison ensuring that no poor decison sare made
+ managers and employees focus ona specific task and develop expertise .
disadvantages
- communication may become distorted or misunderstood as it messages are passed through many chains of command
- managers may only recieve messages when they are out of date leading to ineffieicneys
- managers and workers may feel demotivated as they feel they arent noticed by higher management
- slow decision making as it must pass through multiple layers which isnt effieicnet if working in a fast paced market where things chnage quickly and need to adapt to changes
- may feel less motivated as have less responsibility as senior managment dont need to delegate responsibility to workers
- feel less empowered voices and ideas not heard by senior management
advantages and disadvantages of a flat heirarchail structure
+ managers may feel more noticed as they are closer in communication to senior mamanegment
+ communication likely to be relitevely good as not large chain of command, info less distorted
+ workers feel more empowered and recognised increasing motivation
+ able to adapt to change quicker
+ managers may feel mmore motivated as they have more resposnibility as tasks from senior managemnt are delegated
disadvantages:
- may feel demotivated if feel arent recognised as much by managers
- may be more confusion of their role as there is less of a set responsibility, harder to see where they stand, may lead to inefficinecys
-less oversight of employees work, could lead to inconsistent work quality
- managers have a higher workload may feel burnt out
- employees may feel much harder to recieve a higher role in senior managment
works better in smaller businesses but will become inefficient as business grows
advantages and disadvantages of a matrix heirarhcial structure
+ encourages collaboration and knowlege sharing, good communication
+ project better coordinated
+ helps ideas and innovation spread through business
+ able to gain skills in multiple areas, increase skill development, carrer opp’s
+ brings experts from different areas together leading to better decision making
disadvanatges:
- may struggle from different demands from different managers
-may lead to clash of cultures as different departments my operate differently
- slows decison making as have to report to 2 managers
- may cause confusion when there is 2 magaers can report to
centralisation v decentralisation
centralisation- decision making kept to top level of organisation, small amounts of delegation ( tall strucutre, narrow span of control )
decentralisation- decision making spread through organisation , taks are delegated to lower levels of heirarchy, flat strucutre fewer layers and wider span of control
factors whiich determine the type of srcuture
- management style, democratic ( flatter )or autocratic ( taller)
- industry, retail, banking- tall ( car manufactuers, supermarkers )
- new tech start ups, new e- commerce start ups, SME’s - flatter
- matrix, media, engineering, pharmicatical
- skills of workforce
more skilled less need for supervision, flatter
what does span of control depend on
- personality
- skills
- management
- experience
- centralisaed or decentralised
