Organizational Structure

Chain of Command
The vertical line of authority in an organization Clarifies who reports to whomUnity of command.

Delegation of Authority
The assignment of direct authority and responsibility to a subordinate to complete tasks for which the manager is normally responsible.

How to be a More Effective Delegator

1. Trust your staff to be a good job
2. Avoid seeing perfection
3. Give effective job instructions
4. Know your true interests
5. Follow up on progress.
6. Praise the efforts of your staff.
7. Don’t wait to the last minute to delegate.
8. Ask questions, expect answers, assist employees.
9. Provide the resources you would provide if doing the assignment yourself.
10. Delegate to the lowest possible level.

Degree of Centralization

• Centralization of authority primary authority is held by upper management
• Decentralization significant authority is found in lower levels of the organization
• Standardization solving problems by applying rules, procedures, and processes.

Job Specialization

• A job that is a small part of a larger task or process
• Jobs are simple, easy to learn, and economical
• Can lead to low satisfaction, high absenteeism, & employee turnover

Job Rotation, Enlargement, and Enrichment
Job Rotation
periodically moving workers from one specialized job to another

Job Enlargement
increasing the number of tasks performed
by a worker

Job Enrichment
adding more tasks and authority to an employee’s job.

Job Characteristics Model
A job redesign approach that seeks to increase employee motivation.

Emphasizes internal motivation

• experience work as meaningful
• experience responsibility for work outcomes
• knowledge of results

Job Redesign Techniques

• Combining Tasks
• Forming Natural Work Units
• Establishing Client Relationships
• Vertically Loading the Job
• Opening Feedback Channels.

Reengineering

• The fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes
• Intended to achieve dramatic improvements in performance
• Change the orientation from vertical to horizontal
• Changes task interdependence.

Do the Right Thing
Don’t Scavenge That Office If Somebody Is Still in It
It’s roadkill in the animal kingdom:

• coworkers scavenge for office leftovers…often before an employee leaves
• Do the right thing by maintaining the dignity of departing coworkers: wait until the office is empty.

Modular Organizations
Advantages:

• can cost less to run than traditional organizations
• lets organizations focus on core competencies

Disadvantages

• loss of control from outsourcing
• may reduce their competitive advantage.

Virtual Organizations
Advantages:
let companies share costs fast and flexible
being the “best” should
provide better products

Disadvantages:
difficult to control the quality of partners
requires tremendous management skills.