Unit 7 - HRM

Question 1

Define organisational structure

Answer 1

The way the business is arranged to carry out its activities

Question 2

Define authority

Answer 2

The power a person has over decisions, situations, and actions of others

Question 2

Define responsibility

Answer 2

The duties a person has to complete and they have to be accountable of their actions

Question 3

What does an organisational structure show?

Answer 3

1. The way communication is passed through
2. Authority and responsibility of people
3. Roles and titles of people
4. To whom employees are accountable and responsible

Question 4

Define flexible organisational structure

Answer 4

• workers can easily adapt to customers’ needs
• workers can be more efficient
• decisions can be made when necessary

Question 5

State characteristics of flexible organisational structure

Answer 5

• more focus on customers’ needs
• consultants or part-time workers can be used to provide specialist skills or work at peak times
• subject to constant and evolving change

Question 6

Factors that determine organisational structures

Answer 6

• Size of the business
• Type of product the business supplies
• Business objectives

Question 7

What is a tall/narrow structure?

Answer 7

• more number of layers
• significant number of people from the top of the structure to the bottom

Question 8

What is a wide/flat structure?

Answer 8

Fewer levels of authority in structure

Question 8

Define intrapreneurship

Answer 8

When individuals come up with new ideas within the business’s teams/departments and goes through with it

Question 9

Define empowerment

Answer 9

Actions designed to give employees more power over their working life

Question 10

Define levels/layers of hierarchy

Answer 10

Number of levels of authority within the business and exists between the CEO and shop-floor employees

Question 11

Define delayering

Answer 11

The reduction in number of layers within the organisation

Question 12

Define chain of command

Answer 12

• The line of communication and authority in business
• Shows how messages are passed between layers
• Shows how many layers messages are passed through from top to bottom (vice versa)

Question 13

Define span of control

Answer 13

The number of subordinates that directly report to the manager

Question 14

Define delegation

Answer 14

When you give people more power/authority which leads to a wider span of control

Question 15

Define accountability

Answer 15

Where an employee is held accountable/responsible for the actions they’ve done

Question 16

Define centralisation

Answer 16

This is where managers hold the greatest decision-making power within organisation

Question 17

Define decentralisation

Answer 17

This is where the organisation gives greater decision-making power to the employees down the organisational structure