Organisational Structures

Question 1

What is the difference between Public and Private sector organisations?

Answer 1

Government owned and/ or run agencies are described as being in the Public sector. All other are in the Private sector.

Question 2

What does an organisation’s Vision describe?

Answer 2

The Vision describes the desired future state of the organisation - generally vague and timeless.

Question 3

What does an organisation’s Mission describe?

Answer 3

The Mission is an expression of overall purpose and the scope of the organisation, in line with values and expectations of stakeholders. ‘What sort of business do we want to be?’

Purpose
Strategy
Policies and behaviours
Values

Question 4

What are the purpose of business goals / objectives?

Answer 4

Objectives should be derived from the mission. They should be set on how the organisation will use its resources to create value. They should be SMART and consider

Planning (what?)
Responsibility (who?)
Integrate (consistency)
Motivate (staff)
Evaluate (performance)

Question 5

Potential configurations identified by Mintzberg (six; each based on a different dominant component of Mintzberg’s structure)

Answer 5

Simple Structure - Strategic Apex

Divisionalised - Middle Line

Professional Bureaucracy - Operating Core

Machine Bureaucracy - Technostructure

Adhocracy - Support Staff

Missionary - no dominant component

Question 6

What are the three key types of boundaryless organisation?

Answer 6

Virtual organisation - geographically dispersed, no physical premises

Modular organisation - break manufacturing process into modules (each module either in-house or outsourced)

Hollow organisation - split activities into core and non-core. Core kept in-house and non-core are outsourced.

Question 7

Other types of new organisation:

Flatter structure

Horizontal structure

Chunked / Unglued

Output-focused

Jobless Structures

Answer 7

Other types of new organisation:

Flatter structure - less layers

Horizontal structure - multi skilling (flexibility)

Chunked / Unglued - small, flexible units

Output-focused - results not process focused

Jobless Structures - employees on open market

Question 8

How is a Shamrock Organisation defines?

Answer 8

A core of essential workers and executives, supported by contractors and part-time help.

Services are bought in as needed, reducing overheads.

Question 9

Scalar Chain and Span of Control…

Answer 9

The Scalar Chain = Number of levels in the organisation

Span of Control = Number of employees managed

Question 10

Feedback Control Sys and Feed Forward Control Sys

Answer 10

Feedback Control Systems - system output is fed back as an input

Feed Forward Control Systems - monitor the environment and take corrective action to ensure performance aligns to forecast

Question 11

A Shamrock Organisation, known as the flexible form, is made up of what?

Answer 11

Self employed Contingent

  Professional core           Consumers