Management Chapter 6: Organisational Structure

Which type of authority is associated with an individual's position in the hierarchy?

What characterizes a decentralised decision-making policy?

Which of the following is not considered a structural type in the Mintzberg framework?

Which recent trend in organizational structure involves reducing hierarchical levels?

What is a defining feature of a team-based organization?

What does the organising process in an organisation primarily involve?

What is meant by 'spans of control' in an organisational structure?

Which type of departmentalisation groups employees based on the products they create?

What does 'hierarchical levels' refer to in an organisation?

What is a key characteristic of structural configuration in an organisation?

Chapter Six: Organisation Structure

Organising Process: Dividing tasks among individuals/groups, coordinating activities for achieving organizational goals. Establishes reporting and authority relationships.
Structural Configuration: Size and shape of the organizational structure, including:
- Division of Labor (wide vs. narrow): Extent of specialization.
- Span of Control (how many report to a manager; wide/narrow): Impact on efficiency.
- Hierarchical Levels (number of levels): Extent of hierarchy.
- Reporting Relationships.
- Departmentalisation (types): Functional, product, geographic, mixed.
Structural Operation: Processes of the structure, including:
- Formalisation (rules and regulations): High = standardized, low = flexible.
- Decision Making (centralized/decentralized): Impacts where decisions are made.
- Responsibility (delegation): Authority given to lower levels.
- Authority: Legitimate power within a social context (e.g., position), expert power associated with knowledge.
Mintzberg Framework: Common structural types in organizations: Simple structure, machine bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, divisional structure, adhocracy.
Recent Trends in Organization Structure: Changes include:
- Reduced hierarchical levels.
- Wider division of labour (changes in job design).
- Increased use of teams.
- Authority pushed down to lower levels (away from bureaucracy).
- New Organizational Forms (e.g., matrix, team-based, virtual).

Explore the key elements of organisational structure in this quiz from Chapter 6. Understand how to effectively divide tasks, coordinate activities, and navigate reporting relationships. Test your knowledge on concepts such as division of labor, span of control, and departmentalisation.