Unit 2: Chapter 7

Question 1

What is an organisational structure?

Answer 1

levels of management and division of responsibilities within an organisation presented in an organisation chart with many levels of hierarchy

Question 2

What is an organisation chart?

Answer 2

a diagram that outlines the internal management structure

Question 3

What are levels of hierarchy?

Answer 3

levels of management in an organisation from highest to lowest. the managers and supervisors and other employees who are given similar level of responsibility in an organisation

Question 4

What are the advantages of an organisational chart?

Answer 4

shows how everybody is linked together in an organisation, all employees known which communication channel is used, can see your position and identify who they are accountable to and have authority over, links relationships with departments in an organisation and has a sense of belonging in a department

Question 5

What is chain of command?

Answer 5

the structure in an organisation which allows instructions to be passed down from a senior management to lower levels management.

Question 6

Describe a tall structure and wide structure

Answer 6

tall structure: long chain of command, many layers of hierarchy and narrow span of control

wide structure: short chain of command, less levels of hierarchy and wide span of control

Question 7

What is delayering?

Answer 7

removing a level of management in order to make a wider structure

Question 8

What are the advantages of a short chain of command?

Answer 8

quick and accurate communication as less levels of hierarchy to pass through, the managers are not that much higher so can be in touch with everyone, wider spans of control so increases delegation as managers can’t do everything and there is less direct control of each worker so they can make more personal decisions and increase job satisfaction

Question 9

What are the roles of management?

Answer 9

planning, organising (delegation), coordinating, commanding, controlling

Question 10

What are the functions of management?

Answer 10

gives sense of control and direction, coordination between departments, control employees, organisation of resources

Question 11

What is delegation?

Answer 11

giving a subordinate the authority to perform particular tasks, if the subordinate does bad on the task the manager must take responsibility.

reduction in supervisors direct control as tasks delegates and increasing trust in workers

Question 12

What are the advantages of delegation for the manager?

Answer 12

can’t do everything themselves so by delegating you can focus on important tasks, less likely to make mistakes as they have less on their plate and can measure success of staff when performing delegated tasks

Question 13

What are the advantages of delegation for the subordinate?

Answer 13

work becomes more interesting and rewarding, employee feels recognised as manager trusts them, helps train them for future opportunities and make progress in the organisation

Question 14

Why might a manager not delegate?

Answer 14

reluctant to trust workers with tasks, want to control everything themselves, subordinates might do a better job than them and make them insecure

Question 15

What should a good manager do?

Answer 15

motivate, give guidance, inspire, manage resources, keep costs in control, increase business profitability

Question 16

What are leadership styles?

Answer 16

different approaches to dealing with people and making decisions when in position of authority

autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire

Question 17

What is autocratic leadership and its pros and cons?

Answer 17

where managers expect to be in charge of the business and have orders followed

quick decision makes, especially in crisis

no employee input, can be demotivating to employees

Question 18

What is democratic leadership and its pros and cons?

Answer 18

gets other employees involved in the decision making process

better decisions when employees consulted and motivates them

some decisions may not be suitable to consult employees (e.g. redundancy and dismissal)

Question 19

What is laissez-faire leadership and its pros and cons?

Answer 19

makes broad objectives to employees and leave them to organise their own work

encourages employees to use creativity and responsibility

organisations need clear structures, employees may slack and not be productive

Question 20

What is a trade union?

Answer 20

a group of employees who have joined together to ensure their interests are protected. improves aspects of their work environment, it is a type of pressure group

Question 21

What is a closed shop?

Answer 21

when all employees must be part of the same trade union

Question 22

What is industrial action?

Answer 22

when workers disrupt production and put pressure on managers to agree with their demands

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of employees being union members?

Answer 23

costs money to be member, workers may be required to take industrial actions even when they don’t agree

Question 24

What are strikes?

Answer 24

trade unions organise strikes, where everyone refuses to work if they don’t receive the conditions they demand

Question 25

What are the effects of employees being union members?

Answer 25

strength in numbers when negotiating with employees, improve conditions of employment, improve work environment, improve benefits when sick tired and redundant, improve job satisfaction, advice/financial support when unfairly treated, fringe benefits, influence policies for benefit of workers when they meet with government officials, more secure employment when it’s a closed shop