Topic 5: Structure

Question 1

tasks = smallest possible unit

Answer 1

welcoming customers
taking coats
pouring drinks
serving drinks
chopping vegetables

Question 2

task groups in a function

Answer 2

logical whole and well put together
cook: cutting vegetables, cooking, cleaning

Question 3

structuring organisations

Answer 3

creating relationships between staff enabling them to achieve desired goals

Question 4

division of labour

Answer 4

tasks
function
departments
organizational structure

Question 5

duty and responsibility

Answer 5

obligation and expectation to perform assigned duties

Question 6

work intrinsic factors - herzberg

Answer 6

task broadening
task rotation
task enrichment

Question 7

4 components of a function

Answer 7

labour content
working conditions
labour relations
employment conditions

Question 8

grouping functions into departments

Answer 8

• number?
• content?
  function
  product
  market
  geographic region
  process
  customer

Question 9

motives in the division of labour

Answer 9

cost motive
governance motive
social motive
legal motive

Question 10

cost motive:

Answer 10

efficient allocation of production and functioning

Question 11

governance motive:

Answer 11

division so that leading and supervision are enabled

Question 12

social motive:

Answer 12

variety, responsibility and decision making power

Question 13

legal motive:

Answer 13

legislation

Question 14

why use organizational charts

Answer 14

divides work to be done into specific jobs and departments
assigns tasks and responsibilities with jobs
coordinates diverse organizational tasks
clusters jobs into units
establishes relationships and formal lines of authority
allocates and deploys organizational resources

Question 15

chain of command

Answer 15

line of authority extending from upper organisational levels to the lowest levels which clarifies who reports to whom

Question 16

authority

Answer 16

the right inherent in a managerial position to tell people what to do and expect them to do it

Question 17

the nature of the leader:

Answer 17

depends on personality, expertise and time

Question 18

the nature of employee:

Answer 18

personality and competences skills

Question 19

the nature of the work:

Answer 19

how complex is the work

Question 20

the nature of the organisation:

Answer 20

organisational chart: lines of communication corporate culture degree of delegation, degree of planning, division of labour, same location or not, degree of formalisation , employee empowerment

Question 21

centralised

Answer 21

environment is stable
lower level managers are not as capable or experienced at making decisions as upper level
decisions are relatively minor
organization is facing a crisis or the risk of company failure
company is large

Question 22

decentralised

Answer 22

environment is complex, uncertain
lower level managers are capable and experienced at making decisions
low level managers want voice in decisions
decisions are significant
company is geographically dispersed

Question 23

mechanistic organizations

Answer 23

high specialization
rigid departmentalization
clear chain of command
narrow spans of control
centralization
high formalization

Question 24

organic organizations

Answer 24

cross functional teams
cross hierarchical teams
free flow of information
wide spans of control
decentralization
low formalization

Question 25

project structure

Answer 25

employees continuously work on projects

Question 26

virtual organisation

Answer 26

small core of FT employees which outsources its major business functions

Question 27

formal organisation how to chose

Answer 27

structure should follow the chosen strategy (porter) + facilitate goal achievement
size of the company affects the chosen structure
technology affects the structure (routine technology=mechanistic organisation, non routine technology = organic structure)

Question 28

if structure does not work

Answer 28

adapt it!

Question 29

informal organisation

Answer 29

unwritten structure
meeting social needs of the employee
<>formal structure

Question 30

trends in organisational development

Answer 30

flexibility
company structures such as
team structure
matrix and project structure
virtual organisations
telecommuting, work from home
compressed work weeds
flex time
job sharing
contingent workforce