Organisational Structures Flashcards
All 17 cards in this deck
What is a hierarchical organisational structure?
A structure with many levels of hierarchy, a long chain of command and narrow spans of control.
What is a flat organisational structure?
A structure with few levels of hierarchy and a short chain of command, so each manager has a wide span of control.
What is the span of control?
The number of employees a manager is directly responsible for.
What is the chain of command?
The line of authority along which instructions and information pass from the top of the business down to the bottom.
What is delayering?
Removing one or more levels of hierarchy, usually middle managers, to make the structure flatter.
True or false? A business with a tall hierarchical structure passes messages from directors to shop-floor staff more quickly than a flat business.
False. A long chain of command means messages take longer to travel and are more easily distorted.
What is the difference between centralised and decentralised decision making?
Centralised: decisions are made by senior managers at the top/head office. Decentralised: authority to decide is passed down to branches or lower levels.
Give one advantage to a business of decentralised decision making.
Local managers can make faster decisions that suit local customers, and staff feel trusted so are more motivated.
Give one effect of insufficient communication in a business.
Staff are unclear what to do, so mistakes are made and efficiency falls, and they feel left out so motivation drops.
True or false? The more messages a business sends its employees, the more efficient it becomes.
False. Excessive communication causes information overload, so time is wasted and important messages are missed.
Give two barriers to effective communication.
Any two: using the wrong medium, jargon or technical language, too long a chain of command, language or cultural differences, faulty technology.
What is the difference between a full-time and a part-time employee?
A full-time employee works a full working week (around 35+ hours); a part-time employee works fewer hours than this.
What are flexible hours (flexitime)?
A working arrangement where employees can vary when they work, choosing start and finish times around agreed core hours.
What is the difference between a permanent and a temporary contract?
A permanent contract has no end date; a temporary contract runs for a fixed period or task, e.g. maternity cover or seasonal work.
What is a freelance worker?
A self-employed person hired to do a specific piece of work, paid per job rather than employed by the business.
Give one way technology has changed ways of working.
It allows remote working — staff work from home using email and video calls, saving travel time and office costs.
True or false? In a flat structure managers usually have a wider span of control than in a tall hierarchical structure.
True. With fewer levels, each manager supervises more subordinates.