1B4 Chapter 8 Management Structures and Organization

1st Class Power Engineering

What are the typical types of organizational structures?

Scalar, Functional, Tall/Flat, and Matrix.

What is a scalar organization?

An organizational structure where duties, authority, and responsibility are scaled into distinct levels.

What is the primary benefit of a scalar organization?

It ensures effective delegation of work from managers to employees.

What is a functional organization?

An organizational structure that emphasizes different functions needed to maintain the business.

What is a key advantage of a functional organization?

It allows for easy sharing of resources such as trained staff and tools between different locations.

What is a disadvantage of a functional organization?

Employees and managers may struggle to gain knowledge about all locations, limiting effectiveness.

What does the term 'span of management' refer to?

The number of people for whom a supervisor or manager is responsible.

What are the advantages of a tall organizational structure?

Accessibility of supervisors, high support for subordinates, and better control over daily activities.

What is a flat organizational structure?

An organizational structure with fewer levels of management, leading to shorter and less complex reporting relationships.

What is a major benefit of a flat organizational structure?

Faster and easier communication, leading to better-informed employees and quicker decision-making.

What is a disadvantage of a flat organizational structure?

Supervisors have more employees reporting to them, which can reduce the quality of supervision and training.

What is a matrix organization?

An organizational structure where activities are organized into projects, allowing flexibility and diverse skills.

What is a key feature of a matrix organization?

Employees report to multiple supervisors based on project assignments.

What is the significance of organizational culture?

It shapes the values, beliefs, and behaviors within an organization, influencing overall performance.

What is the significance of team-based organizational structures?

They promote collaboration and enhance teamwork among employees.

What are supervised work teams?

Teams that operate under the guidance of a supervisor who provides direction and support.

What are self-directed work teams?

Teams that operate independently, managing their own tasks and responsibilities without direct supervision.

What are the characteristics of a successful work team?

Clear goals, open communication, trust among members, and effective conflict resolution.

What is the significance of cross-functional work teams?

They bring together members from different departments to collaborate on projects, enhancing innovation and problem-solving.

What are the limitations of supervised work teams?

They may rely too heavily on the supervisor, which can stifle creativity and initiative among team members.

What are the benefits of self-directed work teams?

Increased autonomy, higher motivation, and greater flexibility in decision-making.

What is the primary focus of a functional organizational structure?

To maintain efficiency by organizing departments based on specific functions.

How does a tall organizational structure impact communication?

It can complicate communication due to multiple layers, potentially leading to delays in decision-making.

What is the impact of flattening an organizational structure?

It can improve performance and reduce costs by decreasing the number of management levels.

What is the role of delegation in a scalar organization?

It allows managers to assign tasks and responsibilities to subordinates, facilitating effective workflow.

What is a potential conflict in a matrix organization?

Employees may face conflicting expectations from multiple supervisors.

What is the relationship between organizational structure and employee motivation?

An optimal structure can enhance motivation by providing clear roles and reducing unnecessary supervision.

What is organizational culture?

The shared understanding and values that employees experience within an organization.

How does organizational culture affect employees?

It influences the ways in which employees work, interact, and perceive their environment.

What are the ten characteristics used to define organizational culture?

• Member identity

• Group emphasis

• People focus

• Unit integration

• Control

• Risk tolerance

• Reward criteria

• Conflict tolerance

• Means-end orientation

• Open-system focus

What is member identity in organizational culture?

The degree to which employees identify themselves primarily as members of the organization.

What does group emphasis refer to in an organization?

The degree to which the organization is structured for group activities.

What is meant by people focus in organizational culture?

The degree to which employees' needs are considered in organizational decision making.

What does unit integration indicate in an organization?

The degree to which work groups or units work together or independently.

How is control defined in the context of organizational culture?

The degree to which rules and supervision are used to control the work.

What does risk tolerance mean in an organizational setting?

The degree of innovation allowed and encouraged.

What are reward criteria in an organization?

Whether pay and rewards are based on performance or on other criteria.

What does conflict tolerance refer to in organizational culture?

The amount of openness in conflict resolution.

What is means-end orientation in an organization?

Whether results or methods are most important.

What does open-system focus mean in organizational culture?

The degree of attentiveness to the environment outside the organization.

How can organizational culture be classified?

As strong or weak, depending on its impact on employee behavior and adherence.

What is a power culture according to Charles B. Handy?

A culture based around powerful central individuals with authority, typical of small family or entrepreneurial businesses.

What characterizes a role culture?

It is based on functional roles with clear boundaries and mainly downward communication, typical of bureaucracies.

What defines a task culture?

A culture based on work divided into projects, emphasizing results and flexibility.

What is a person culture?

A culture based on individuals' needs rather than organizational needs, typical of families or social clubs.

What are the three levels of organizational culture according to J. Steven Ott?

1. Artifacts 2. Value system 3. Assumptions or philosophies.

What are artifacts in organizational culture?

Tangible evidence of culture such as language, office layout, dress code, and material symbols of authority.

What does the value system in an organization include?

Communication methods, ethical standards, and commonly held beliefs.

What are the assumptions in organizational culture?

The underlying philosophies that give rise to the elements of the other levels.

What is the significance of change in organizational culture?

Cultural elements can be entrenched, making change difficult and often met with resistance.

What conditions facilitate cultural change in an organization?

1. A profound organizational crisis 2. New leadership 3. A weak culture 4. A small or newly formed organization.

What is a team in a work environment?

A group of co-workers who work together to complete interdependent and collective tasks.

How does supervision differ in a team-based environment?

Supervisors act as partners and coaches rather than traditional bosses.

What skills are critical for supervisors in a team-based structure?

Interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.

What are the advantages of using work teams?

Work teams can enhance collaboration, improve problem-solving, and increase productivity.

What are some advantages of using work teams?

Increased morale, quality of work, responsibility, and self-discipline.

How do work teams affect employee motivation?

They shift motivation towards self-actualization.

What impact do work teams have on decision making?

Decision making is enhanced and sped up by reducing organizational levels.

What is a key characteristic of a successful team-based structure?

A supportive environment that encourages teamwork and minimizes management control.

What is required for skills and role clarity in a team?

Team members must have the necessary skills and a clear understanding of their roles.

What are superordinate goals in a team context?

Goals that are team-based and collectively set to ensure cooperation and integration.

Why are team rewards important?

They help develop a team identity and encourage performance.

What is social loafing?

When an individual team member fails to perform to the team's standards.

What is the free rider tendency?

The phenomenon where individuals relax their standards, assuming others will compensate.

What conditions can disrupt teamwork?

Excessive turnover and lack of decision-making or conflict resolution skills among members.

What is the role of team building activities?

To build trust, communication, and cooperation among team members.

What types of activities are included in team building?

Social events, facilitated games, wilderness exercises, and work-related group activities.

How does the physical environment affect teamwork?

Team members need to be in the same location, on similar schedules, and share resources.

What is the challenge for supervisors in a team environment?

Adjusting to a team environment and enhancing skills like conflict resolution.

What is the best work environment for team-based structures?

Workplaces with inherent flexibility, such as laboratories.

In what type of work environment is a team-based structure difficult to implement?

Manufacturing assembly lines where tasks must be closely defined and monitored.

What should companies do if they are performing poorly?

Consider switching to a team-based structure to facilitate improvements.

What happens to companies that are already performing well if they switch to teams?

Their performance may be reduced.

What is the importance of training in a team-based structure?

Significant investment in training is often needed for teamwork skills like communication.

What is unit integration in a team context?

The degree to which various teams work together and integrate their efforts.

What is the role of management in a team-based organization?

To create a culture supportive of teamwork and to engineer work processes to facilitate collaboration.

What is the significance of performance-based rewards?

They motivate teams and align efforts towards collective goals.

What is the impact of team size on individual productivity?

Larger teams may lead to decreased individual accountability and increased social loafing.

What is the relationship between team structure and employee retention?

Organizations must focus on retaining employees to maintain effective teams.

What is the role of conflict resolution in team dynamics?

It is essential for maintaining cooperation and addressing issues within the team.

What is the benefit of allowing teams to select their own members?

It can enhance team cohesion and accountability.

What is a potential downside of a team-based structure?

The risk of decreased individual accountability and performance.

What is a common challenge for supervisors in team environments?

Supervisors often struggle to let go of traditional responsibilities and allow teams to take collective responsibility.

What is a key skill for supervisors of teams?

Knowing when to intervene and when to let the team operate independently.

What role can supervisors assume to enhance team effectiveness?

A coaching or advisory role without traditional supervisory responsibilities.

What are self-directed teams responsible for?

Tasks such as recruiting, performance management, scheduling, setting objectives, and progressive discipline.

Why do self-directed teams require more training than supervised teams?

They take on additional supervisory tasks and responsibilities.

What is a potential downside of self-directed teams?

They may experience higher absenteeism and turnover compared to supervised teams.

What is one characteristic of successful work teams?

Clear goals that are well understood by team members.

Why is mutual trust important in a team environment?

It allows individuals to work closely together and support each other in tasks and personal development.

What behaviors can supervisors encourage to develop mutual trust?

Open communication, supportive leadership, respect, fairness, consistency, and modeling required skills.

What does unified commitment in a team lead to?

Increased team loyalty and commitment to the team's goals.

What is essential for effective communication within a team?

An atmosphere of open, honest communication and the technical skills to convey information.

What skills are crucial for team members in a flexible team environment?

Negotiating skills to adapt to changing roles and tasks.

What type of leadership is most effective for teams?

Supportive leadership that facilitates processes rather than controlling them.

What is required for teams to succeed internally?

A supportive atmosphere among members, including commitment to assist each other.

What external support is necessary for team success?

Physical, financial, technical, and leadership resources from the organization.

What issue can arise when operations and maintenance staff are organized separately?

Conflicts may arise due to competition for resources and lack of integration.

What is a potential benefit of having all staff needed for a section of the plant on the same team?

Improved cooperation and integration of work among team members.

What can disrupt teamwork in self-directed teams?

Workplace situations like employee layoffs that damage trust.