Unit 3 - 3.2 - Organisational Structures And Diffrent Ways Of Working Flashcards
What are the two types of organisational structures?
‘Tall’ and ‘flat’
These structures describe the hierarchy and layers of management within an organization.
Describe a tall organisational structure.
Has many layers of staff from top to bottom
In a tall structure, there are multiple levels of management, which can lead to a more controlled environment but may also slow down decision-making.
What is at the top of a tall organisational structure?
The board of directors
The board of directors is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organization.
What is at the bottom of a tall organisational structure?
Shop-floor workers
These are the employees who perform the day-to-day operations and tasks in an organization.
How many layers are typically in a tall organisational structure?
Eight layers
This includes various levels of management and staff, from senior executives to operational workers.
What is organisation structure?
How people and departments are arranged within a business.
What are flat organisational structures characterized by?
A few layers, possibly as little as two or three
What is the highest level in a flat organisational structure?
Board of directors
In a flat organisational structure, what typically comes after the board of directors?
One layer of managers
What is the role of shop floor workers in a flat organisational structure?
They are the operational level of the structure
True or False: Flat organisational structures have many management layers.
False
What is a key advantage of a tall organizational structure?
There are clear lines of communication from the people at the top to the people at the bottom of the organisation.
What is another advantage of a tall organizational structure?
Managers tend to have only a few people that they are responsible for.
How does a tall structure affect employee motivation?
There will be opportunities for people to gain promotion within the organisation, which can be good for motivation.
What is a disadvantage of a tall organizational structure?
Subordinates may feel they are too controlled by their line manager, which can stifle motivation and creativity.
What is another disadvantage of a tall organizational structure?
Workers may only talk to immediate colleagues and may be less sympathetic or supportive to workers in other areas of the business.
What type of organizations are tall structures suitable for?
Tall structures suit large organisations, such as a large hospital.
What type of business tasks are tall structures suited for?
Tall structures suit non-creative businesses where workers perform limited, clear tasks, for example, a building company.
What is a key advantage of a flat structure in an organization?
Managers tend to delegate responsibilities to the workers they have responsibility for, which is good for motivation.
How does a flat structure benefit communication among workers?
Workers are likely to talk to a wider range of colleagues, so structure is good for generating ideas.
What is a disadvantage of a flat organizational structure?
There are not always clear lines of communication and some workers may miss out on information which would help them and the business.
What challenge might managers face in a flat structure?
Managers may have a large number of workers to oversee.
How can a flat structure impact promotion opportunities for workers?
Promotion opportunities may be few and may be unclear to workers, which may reduce motivation.
What type of businesses are flat structures suitable for?
Creative businesses, such as computer game design.
Why are flat structures beneficial for smaller businesses?
They can help workers feel valued.
What is an organisation chart?
A diagram that shows how the workers are organised in a business and who is in charge of whom.
What is the term for the power that one person has to make decisions and give instructions?
Authority
Authority is essential for effective management and leadership.
Who is a line manager?
A person who is in charge of other workers
Line managers typically have direct reports and are responsible for their performance.
What are subordinates?
Workers that a line manager is responsible for
Subordinates are those who report directly to a manager.
Define delegation in a management context.
A process where a manager gives a subordinate responsibility to make certain decisions, for which the manager remains ultimately responsible
Delegation helps in distributing workload and empowering employees.
What does ‘chain of command’ refer to?
The link in authority from those at the top (who have most authority) to those at the bottom (who have the least)
A clear chain of command is important for organizational structure.
What is meant by ‘span of control’?
The number of subordinates that a manager has authority over
A wider span of control can lead to less supervision but more empowerment.
Different organisational structures
Why is effective communication important in businesses?
It helps organize the structure for the best communication between workers
Effective communication is essential for decision-making and coordination among different functions in a business
How might a business organize its workers by product?
By putting all workers connected with a particular product in one department
This allows for consideration of different but connected functions such as marketing, production, and finance
What is an example of specialization in production?
Grouping all workers for one function together, such as marketing experts helping each other
This enhances expertise and collaboration within a specific area
What type of organization structure suits large businesses with clearly defined tasks?
Tall organization structures
Tall structures are characterized by many levels of hierarchy and defined roles
What type of organization structure is better for creative businesses?
Flat organization structures
Flat structures facilitate communication and idea sharing among workers
Fill in the blank: A business that operates in different parts of the world may organize its workers by _______.
[place or area]
This organization method eases communication in global operations
What do flat organizations enable workers to do?
Communicate with a range of different workers and share ideas
This flexibility fosters creativity and innovation
What is flexible working?
The practice of people working partly at their place of work and partly elsewhere, perhaps at home or while mobile, and possibly at times that suit them.
Flexible working accommodates individual schedules and locations.
Define full-time working.
When a person works 35 hours or more per week.
Full-time positions typically come with benefits such as health insurance and paid time off.
What is part-time working?
When a person works fewer than 35 hours per week.
Part-time jobs may offer flexibility but often lack benefits associated with full-time positions.
What does self-employment mean?
When people work in their own business, selling their work to buyers who may be consumers or other businesses.
Self-employed individuals manage their own business operations and finances.
Define temporary working.
When a person only works for a short period of time for an employer, sometimes on a short-term contract or sometimes on a day-to-day basis.
Temporary work can be a way to gain experience or fill in for permanent staff.
What is meant by working from home?
When a person completes work for a business (or themselves if they are self-employed) in their home.
Working from home has become increasingly popular due to advancements in technology.
What does working while mobile entail?
When people work while they are on the move, travelling or on holiday.
Mobile working allows for greater flexibility and can enhance work-life balance.
What is a key advantage of full-time working for a business?
The worker is permanently available for the business.
What is the benefit of part-time working for a business?
The worker can be asked to work at specific times needed by the business.
How does flexible working benefit businesses?
The business may benefit from motivated workers who like the flexibility of when they will work.
What is a primary advantage of temporary working for businesses?
The business only needs to employ workers for the length of time they need them, for example, at harvesting time.
How does working from home help businesses?
The business may save costs by not having to provide office space.
What is one productivity benefit of mobile working for a business?
The business benefits from the increased productivity of the worker.
Why do businesses often prefer self-employment?
Businesses only need them for a specific job and do not need to pay national insurance or pension contributions.
What is a disadvantage of paying workers when no work needs to be done?
The business may have to pay a worker at a time when no work needs to be done.
What is a challenge associated with training more workers?
The business may have to train many more workers than if it employed only full-time workers.
What issue might arise if a worker is not available when needed?
The worker may not be available to work when needed by the business.
What difficulty might a business face in recruiting?
The business may find it difficult to recruit enough workers at times when they are needed.
How can poor communication affect workers?
Workers may not communicate with each other very well, reducing their efficiency.
What is a concern regarding monitoring self-employed workers?
The business may not be able to monitor that the worker is working as much as he or she should.
What is a potential issue with self-employed workers’ methods?
The self-employed person may not work in the way that the business’ own employees are trained to.
What is the advantage of full-time working for the worker?
The worker is paid for a full working week.
Full-time work typically provides a stable income and benefits.
What is the primary benefit of part-time working?
The worker only works a portion of the standard hours.
This arrangement allows for more personal time or other commitments.
What does flexible working allow the worker to do?
Work at times that suit them, like four long days with a fifth day off.
Flexibility can enhance work-life balance.
What is a key advantage of temporary work for a worker?
The worker can earn for a period and then take time off for other activities.
This can include long holidays or personal projects.
What is an advantage of working from home?
The worker saves time and money by not having to travel to work.
This can lead to increased productivity and lower commuting costs.
What is a benefit of working while mobile?
The worker can make full use of their time, even while travelling.
This can lead to increased efficiency and flexibility.
What is a key characteristic of self-employment?
The worker can work when it suits them, such as during school hours.
Self-employment offers high flexibility but also requires self-discipline.
What is a disadvantage of full-time working for the worker?
The worker is tied to working a full working week throughout the year.
This may limit personal time and flexibility.
What financial disadvantage may part-time workers face?
The worker will only get paid for the hours they work, which may mean less money than needed.
This may require the worker to seek additional employment.
What challenge might a temporary worker encounter?
The worker may not be offered as much work as they want.
This can lead to income instability.
What is a potential issue for workers who work from home?
The worker may find distractions at home, such as noisy children.
This can affect productivity and focus.
What is a disadvantage of flexible working?
The worker may feel under pressure to work a lot, even while on holiday.
This can lead to burnout and decreased job satisfaction.
True or False: Self-employed workers have less job security.
True.
There may be times when there is no work, leading to no income.
Fill in the blank: The worker may like being in control and may be highly motivated because their earnings depend on how much they ______.
produce.
This can lead to a strong work ethic but also stress.
