1.4.3 organisational design Flashcards
(15 cards)
what is organisational structure
how staff and roles are organised in a business
whats a subordinate
a staff member under your direct control
what is the chain of command
the people / roles tasks or information pass through
what is the span of control
number of subordinates under your control
what is a hierarchy
who / what are the layers of power
explain the hierarchical structure
there is a longer chain of command than there is a span of control
explain the wide structure
here is a wider span of control than there is chain of command
explain the matrix structure
no clear hierarchy and subordinates move through the departments (all about moving through the stages)
advantages of hierarchical structure
each level has defined roles so clear authority
employees can specialise so increased efficiency
management can maintain close control
disadvantages of hierarchical structure
can slow down decision making and responsiveness to change
information may take longer to flow up and down
staff feel less empowered so lower employee morale
advantages of wide structure
fewer layers means faster decision making and response to change
information flows more freely for improved communication
employees have more autonomy and feel empowered
disadvantages of wide structure
potential overlap in duties so role confusion
managers may be overburdened
fewer opportunities for promotion
advantages of the matrix structure
employees can be assigned to different tasks (flexibility)
cross functional teams promote collaboration and innovation
efficient use of resources
disadvantages of the matrix structure
employees may have multiple managers (confusion of authority)
can be complicated to manage
potential for conflict and can create tension
hinder productivity
why create a structure ?
easier to delegate tasks
set clear aims and objectives
avoid duplicate work
reduced manager workloads
improve efficiency and productivity
