Topic 19 - Improving Organisational Structures

Question 1

What is delegation?

Answer 1

Passing of authority of specific decision making down to a subordinate

Question 2

What is span of control?

Answer 2

A senior persons span of control over a number of subordinates.

Question 3

What organisational structure allows job roles, motivates people for promotion, spreads workloads and has slow communication and decision making/implementation?

Answer 3

Hierarchical structure

Question 4

What organisational structure is based around tasks and projects?

Who spreads the workload and coordinates tasks?

Answer 4

Matrix structure

Team leaders

Question 5

1 adv and 1 disadv of a matrix structure

Answer 5

Adv: allows team working of specialists and varied job roles

Disadv: workload may be shared unequally

Question 6

Describe an entrepreneurial structure

Answer 6

A small, core team of decision makers, supported by a few, necessary employees who have no power.

Question 7

Role of managers?

Answer 7

Appointed by directors, managers oversee and are responsible for a particular area of the business. Eg: must cater for resource management, stock management etc.

Question 8

Role of team leaders or supervisors?

Answer 8

Given delegation from managers, they facilitate the functioning of a group of lowly employees

Question 9

4 effects of a perfectly suited organisational structure to a firm?

Answer 9

Motivational delegation
Communication efficiency
Effective job allocation and fair distribution
Necessary levels of hierarchy

Question 10

What consists of chains of command and communication?

Answer 10

Levels of hierarchy