3.6.3 Making human resource decisions: improving organisational design and managing the human resource fow

Organisational structure

the way jobs, responsibilities and power within a business are organised

Levels of hierarchy

the number of layers of management and supervision existing in an organisation

Chain of command

the lines of authority within the business

Span of control

the number of subordinates one job/post holder is responsible for

Delegation

passing the authority to make specific decisions to somebody further down the organisational hierarchy.

Tall organisation

large number of managers with a narrow span of control

Flat organisation

few managers with a wide span of control

Centralisation

keeping major responsibilities at the centre of the organisation

Decentralisation

giving decision making power to different departments within an organisation

Job enrichment

giving employees more authority for decision making

Job rotation

movement between different jobs leading to multi-skilling

Redeployment

employees are offered a suitable alternative employment within the same business

Redundancy

employee is dismissed because a job no longer exists