Elements of
CHAPTER :
Organizational Structure
What Is Organizational Structure?
Organizational Structure
– How job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and
coordinated
– Key Elements:
1. Work specialization
2. Departmentalization
3. Chain of command
4. Span of control
5. Centralization and decentralization
6. Formalization
1. Work Specialization
The degree to which tasks in the organization are
subdivided into separate jobs.
Breaking jobs into small standardized tasks, which
could be performed over & over again.
Division of Labor
– Makes efficient use of employee skills
– Increases employee skills through repetition
– Less between-job downtime increases productivity
– Specialized training is more efficient
– Allows use of specialized equipment
Can create greater economies and efficiencies – but not
always…
Work Specialization Economies and Diseconomies
Specialization can reach a point of diminishing returns
Then job enlargement gives greater efficiencies than
does specialization
Advantages and Disadvantages of Work Specialization
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
1. Increases work efficiency 1. Causes boredom
and productivity 2. Causes fatigue and stress
2. Repetitive performance 3. Increases absenteeism
increases employee skills 4. Increases employee
3. Less time is spent in turnover
changing tasks.
4. It is easier and costs less
2. Departmentalization
The basis by which jobs are grouped together
Grouping Activities by:
– Function
– Product
– Geography
– Process
– Customer
16-5
3. Chain of Command
Authority
– The rights inherent in a managerial position to give orders
and to expect the orders to be obeyed
Chain of Command
– The unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of
the organization to the lowest level and clarifies who
reports to whom
Unity of Command
– A subordinate should have only one superior to whom he or
she is directly responsible
4. Span of Control
How many employees can a manager efficiently & effectively
manage. It determines the number of levels & managers
an organization has.
– Wider spans of management
increase organizational
efficiency
– Narrow span drawbacks:
• Expense of additional layers of
management
• Increased complexity of vertical
communication
• Encouragement of overly tight
supervision and discouragement
of employee autonomy
16-9
5. Centralization and Decentralization
Centralization
– The degree to which decision making is concentrated at a
single point in the organization. Lower level carry out top
management’s directives.
Decentralization
– The degree to which decision making is spread throughout
the organization. More lower level personnel , provide input
or are actually given discretion to make decisions.
6. Formalization
The degree to which jobs within the organization are
standardized.
– High formalization
• Minimum worker discretion in over what is to be done, when it
is to be done & how to get the job done
• Many rules and procedures to follow
– Low formalization
• Job behaviors are non-programmed
• Employees have great freedom to exercise discretion in work.
