Leader as a Structural Architect Flashcards
(30 cards)
What are the six elements of structure?
Work specialization Chain of command Span of Control Centralization Formalization Departmentalization
To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs?
Work Specialization:
division of labor was thought to increase efficiency and productivity by creating expertise.
To whom do individuals and groups report?
Chain of command:
unbroken line of authority that extends from the top to bottom
How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct?
Span of Control
Where does decision making authority lie?
Centralization and decentralization
To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers?
Formalization
On what basis will jobs be grouped together?
Departmentalization
groups organized by common tasks
What is a simple structure?
low departmentalization
wide spans of control
authority centralized in a single person
little formalization
benefits: inexpensive, flexible
costs: costs: inefficient, dependent on owner
What is a bureaucracy?
functional departments, standardized tasks, high formalizations and centralization.
benefits of bureacracy
perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner, low labor costs
costs of bureacracy
coordination problems, rule bound
What is a matrix structure?
functional and product departmentation
two bosses
benefits of matrix?
coordination across multiple products/projects
efficient allocation of specialists/professors
cons of matrix?
confusion, power struggles
- leadership skills - stress
5 Organizations Designs
Simple, Bureacracy, Matrix, Virtual, Boundaryless
Virtual Organization
highly centralized with little to no departmentalization
Boundaryless Organization
eliminating vertical and horizontal boundaries and break down external barriers between the company and its customers and suppliers
eliminate chain of command, have limitless spans of control, replace departments with teams
Mechanistic Model:
highly standardized process for work, high formalization, and more managerial hierarchy
Organic Model:
boundaryless organization, flat, less formal procedures for making decisions, flexibility.
Since structure is a means to achieve objectives, where do these objectives derive from?
Strategy
Innovation strategy
achieve meaningful and unique innovations
Cost-Minimization strategy
tightly controls cost, refrains from incurring unnecessary expenses, cuts prices
pursue fewer policies meant to develop commitment among workforce
Imitation Strategy
minimize risk and maximize opportunity for profit by moving new products or entering new markets only after innovators have done it first.
What external factors affect the structure?
Organization size, technology, environment
