12.5 Determining appropriate structures

Question 1

There is no one ideal s_______ that will definitely enable all o_________ to achieve their strategic objectives. It is important for every organisation to determine an optimal structure at a particular point in time, and to continually c______ and be aware of the need for evolution as needed.

Answer 1

structure
organisation
challenge

Question 2

Handy (1993) argues that structural form results from the competing pressures of __-_______ and __________.

Answer 2

Uniformity and diversity

Question 3

Mintzberg (1979) argues that there are 6 different types of organisational structure:
1 e\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
2 m\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
3 p\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
4 d\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
5 i\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
6 m\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 3

entrepreneurial
machine
professional
divisonalised
innovative
missionary

Question 4

Gold & Campbell (2002) proposed nine different tests to determine whether an organisational structure if optimal:
1 M_____ advantage - does the structure enable market focus?
2 P______ advantage - is the corporate centre adding value?
3 P______ - is the potential of employees maximised?
4 F________ - are all legal and regulatory expectations recognised
5 Specialised c______ - is the input of specialists recognised and allowed for?
6 Difficult l____ - how does the structure enable communication challenge?
7 Redundant h______ - are there too many layers of control?
8 A_______ - are the lines of acccountability clear and transparent
9 F______ - how is a change in strategic drivers recognised and challenged?

Answer 4

Market advantage
Parenting advantage
People
Feasibility
Specialised cultures
Difficult links
Redundant hierarchy
Accountability
Flexibility

Question 5

What three key questions should an organisation ask itself when determining the appropriate organisational structure?

Answer 5

What kind of organisation are we and we we want to be anything different?

Who are our influential stakeholders?

What is our purpose?

Question 6

What are Goold & Campbell’s (2002) 9 tests for considering the appropriate organisational structure?

Answer 6

1 Market advantage
2 Parenting advantage
3 People
4 Feasibility
5 Specialised cultures
6 Difficult links
7 Reundant hierarchy
8 Accountability
9 Flexibility