MG4031 week 7 lecture 1

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of organising within an organisation?

To set monetary goals for the organisation

To divide tasks and coordinate them to achieve goals (correct)

To increase the job satisfaction of all employees

To establish a hierarchical structure without task division

Which element is NOT considered a component of an organisational structure?

Managerial hierarchy

Company culture (correct)

Authority relationships

Task relationships

What is the effect of a narrow division of labor in an organisation?

Increased employee expertise and standardisation (correct)

Higher levels of employee motivation

More job satisfaction for employees

Fewer levels in the hierarchy

How do spans of control impact managerial oversight?

Optimal spans provide a balance of freedom and guidance Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes flat organisational structures?

They result from wide spans of control Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about departmentalisation is correct?

It coordinates various organizational activities effectively Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a potential consequence of a narrow job specification?

Higher job enrichment opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by a tall organisational structure?

A narrow span of control with multiple hierarchy levels Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant disadvantage of a functional structure in a company?

High coordination costs between departments. Signup and view all the answers

Which disadvantage is most associated with structuring a company by product?

Duplication of functional services across products. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following advantages is typically seen in a geographical structure?

Enhanced logistic efficiency tailored to local markets. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus when implementing a mixed organizational structure?

Combining advantages of multiple structures. Signup and view all the answers

A disadvantage of a geographical organization is that top management loses what?

Control over operational decisions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential drawback of employees focusing more on departmental goals?

Decreased alignment with the organization's overall objectives. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of managerial development, what is a noted benefit of a product-based structure?

Development of skills across various product lines. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of all organizational structures mentioned?

Coordination difficulties among different units. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Organizing

The process of dividing tasks to achieve organizational goals
Reflect on plans and objectives
Establish major tasks
Divide major tasks into subtasks and allocate resources
Evaluate outcomes and make changes

Organizational Structure

The pattern of how activities are divided and coordinated
Shows task, reporting and authority relationships within an organization
Components include structural configuration and structural operation

Structural Configuration

The size and shape of the structure
Focuses on hierarchy size, spans of control, division of labor, and coordination methods (departmentalization)
Shown on an organizational chart

Division of Labor

Extent to which work is broken down into tasks
Narrow job specifications can improve efficiency, but reduce job satisfaction and motivation
Can progress from task specialization to job enlargement to job enrichment to socio-technical systems

Spans of Control

Number of employees reporting directly to a manager
Narrow spans lead to close supervision
Wide spans give greater freedom and discretion
Optimal span varies by business

Hierarchy

Outlines reporting relationships within a business
From top-down, few levels=flat structure, many levels=tall structure
Narrow spans of control usually correlate with more levels

Departmentalization

Coordinating organizational activities
Functional: Organizes units by function like manufacturing, marketing etc.
- Advantages: Emphasis on individual roles, allows specialization
- Disadvantages: Large departments difficult to manage
Product/Service: Structures by products/services
- Advantages: Products evaluated individually, easy expansion
- Disadvantages: Co-ordination between different products can be problematic, duplication of services
Geographical: Organizes by location
- Advantages: Adaptability to local market conditions, minimized cultural differences
- Disadvantages: Large number of managers needed, top management loses some oversight
Mixed: Combination of above

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Description

Test your knowledge on the principles of organizing, organizational structure, and division of labor. This quiz covers key concepts such as spans of control and structural configuration. Get ready to evaluate your understanding of effective organizational practices and theories.