Question

Effectively assess Different organisational structures that may be used to effectively apply specialisation of work. Use relevant theory and examples

Answer 1

One of the major factors of organization structures is the specialization of work. Several job are there in an organization along their workers. As every worker do the same work again and again in the organization, he or she gets well trained and specialized in the work in that particular field. Every worker becomes a specialist in the job he or she is doing and could become more efficient and accurate as he will continue to work in that particular department for long.

Departmentalization:

Through departmentalization only different jobs are divided into specialize work and they perform the tasks as groups.

1. Customer Departmentalization: organization’s employees are ready to respond to and interact with specific customers or customer groups.
2. Geographical Departmentalization: Grouping of activities and hence labors as per the territory they belong to.
3. Functional Departmentalization: Grouping of workers as per the functions they perform in daily work schedule.
4. Product Departmentalization: Grouping of workers so as to produce same kind of products.
5. Process Departmentalization: Grouping of workers as per the process they handle in the organization.

Chain of Command:

Chain of command is the responsibility and proper line of authority in the organization. Classical theory explains hierarchy or structure that who reports to whom, and clarifies the position. It tells about the duties and responsibilities of given tasks in organization. There are two types:

1. Tall and Narrow: Here the supervisor manages less number of sub-ordinated of same department for conducting more efficient works.
2. Flat and Wide: In this the supervisor handles many subordinated who may belong to various departments.

Advantages:

• Multi-function working, co-operation, and inter-disciplinary working has been supported
• Specialization of the product/project structure benefits has been combined
• Tolerance of flexibility is high