Organisational Structures And Roles

Question 1

What is a tall structure?

Answer 1

This is a structure that separates the senior managers from the staff at the bottom of the structure.

Question 2

What is the matrix structure?

Answer 2

This is a structure that allows the business to operate across different levels of authority and different levels of functions

Question 3

How many levels are there is the flat structure?

Answer 3

There is usually 2 but never more than 3

Question 4

How many levels are there in the tall structure?

Answer 4

There tend to be 3 or more levels in this structure

Question 5

What are the characteristics of the flat structure?

Answer 5

• Likely to be small
• Communications are likely to be very good because the manager is directly involved with the staff
• Management is friends and less formal
• Management falls mainly on one person

Question 6

What are the characteristics of the tall/hierarchical structure?

Answer 6

• The business is likely to be large
• Communication from the top of the structure to the bottom can be very poor
• There is usually a very clear route for promotion
• The cost of management maybe expensive
• Control and decision making is going to very formal
• There is a clear set out of responsibilities and authority
• Each person in the organisation will have a distinctive role

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the matrix structure?

Answer 7

• Decisions may take longer to be reached
• Work is often carried out in teams with members jointly making decisions
• Staff maybe more motivated to work harder because all members of staff are involved

Question 8

What is a flat structure?

Answer 8

This is where there are very few levels in the way the business is structured so the senior managers are pretty close to the members of staff at the bottom