Week 7 - Mintzbergs Theories

Question 1

Summarise Mintzberg’s design

Answer 1

Organisational structure should achieve internal harmony in the context of the org’s situation. Ie: consider internal & external environments.

Mintzberg discusses 4 flows

parts

mechanisms of co-ordination

design parametres

contingncy factors.

Question 2

List & draw Mintzberg’s 5 parts of an org

Answer 2

Strategic apex: top-level executives in organisation

Middle line: managers who connect the strategic apex to the operation core (middle managers, forepersons, supervisors)

Operating core: employees who do the work in producing the organisation’s products/services

Techno-structure: organisation specialists responsible for standardising various aspects of the organisation’s activities. (accountants, schedulers, planners).

Support staff: employees and departments which provide indirect support services to the organisation.

(It, payroll).

Question 3

List Mintzbergs mechanisms of co-ordination

SS(WOS)M

Answer 3

2. Mechanisms of co-ordination - How various tasks can be coordinated to achieve organisation objectives efficiently:
3. supervision
4. standardisaton of work – work procedures
5. standardisation of outputs – performance measures
6. standardisation of skills – professionals or skilled trade
7. mutual adjustment – employees coordinate own work usually through information communication

Question 4

List Mintzbergs design parametres

SFCGAL

Answer 4

Design parameters – vary according to different configurations of the parts

Specialisation

Formalisation

Centalisation

Group / size

Action plan & performance

Liaison

Question 5

List Mintzbergs contingency factors

ASTEP

Answer 5

Contingency factors – external environmental influences

Age

Size

Tehcnical systems

Environment

Power

Question 6

What are Mintzbergs typologies?

Answer 6

According to Mintzberg each part of an org exerts a pull, in the right conditions typical types of organisations are made

Question 7

Discuss the simple structure

SoSCY

Answer 7

Simple Structure

Part – strategic apex

Co-ordinates – supervision

Design – centralised

Seen in – smaller / younger orgs or those in crisis

Question 8

Discuss the machine bureaucracy

ToWFoL

Answer 8

Machine Bureaucracy

Part – technostructure

Co-ordinates – standardisation of work practices

Design – formal, centralised, limited horizontal decentralisation

Seen in – older, larger, stable orgs.

Question 9

Discuss the professional bureacracy

OSDoC

Answer 9

Professional Bureaucracy

Part – operating core

Co-ordinates – standardisation of skills through training & design

Design – decentralised

Seen in – complex & stable environments

Question 10

Discuss the divisionalised form

MOMoLM

Answer 10

Divisionalised form

Part – middle line (balkanise)

Co-ordinate – standardiseing of outputs & performance controls

Design – market based units with independent authority

Seen in – larger mature orgs in diversified markets

Question 11

Discuss the adhocracy

SMoDoC

Answer 11

Adhocracy

Part – support staff

Co-ordinate – mutual adjustment, open collaboration based on skills

Design – decentralised, small units in matrix structure, highly organic

Seen in – complex, dynamic orgs. Sophisticated & automated