Chapter 15.1: Formal organizational structure

Question 1

What is meant by “organizations”?

Answer 1

Organizations are systems of human and physical elements created to achieve goals.
They are partly described by their structure - the form of relationships that bond their elements.

Question 2

What are the two kinds of structures that coexist in all organizations?

Answer 2

1) Formal structure
- the published one
- describes normative superior-subordinate relationships, chains of command, and subdivisions and groupings of elements

2) Informal structure
- the unpublished one
- consists of relationships that evolve through the interactions of people.

The formal structure prescribes how people are supposed to relate, the informal structure is how they actually do relate.

Question 3

What is project integration?

Answer 3

The way that individual functional groups, subunits, project phases, and work tasks are interlinked and coordinated to achieve project goals.

Question 4

True or False: Sometimes projects are conducted without any formal project organization.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

True or False: Most project organizations are “superimposed” on the existing organizational structure.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

The formal organizational structure is often publicized in a chart. What does such a chart typically show?

Answer 6

1) Range of activities in which the organization is involved.
2) Major subdivisions of organization.
3) Management hierarchy and reporting relationships.
4) Type of work and responsibility of the subdivisions.
5) Official lines of authority and communication

Question 7

What does a chart of the formal organizational structure typically not show?

Answer 7

Personal contacts