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1、Chapter 3: Fundamentals of Organization StructureOrganization Structure 3 components:1. Organization structure designates formal reporting relationships, including the number of levels in the hierarchy and the span of control of managers and supervisors2. Organization structure identifies the groupi
2、ng together of individuals into departments and of departments into the total organization3. Organization structure includes the design of systems to ensure effective communication, coordination, and integration of efforts across departmentsInformation-Processing Perspective on Structure Peter Senge
3、 (Learning Org.)Vertical Information Linkages Communication and coordination activities connecting the top and bottom of an organization Organizations may use any variety of structural devices to achieve vertical linkage, such as:o Hierarchical referral If a problem arises that employees dont know h
4、ow to solve, it can be referred up to the next level in the hierarchy When its solved, the answer is passed back to lower levelso Rules and plans To the extent that problems and decisions are repetitious, a rule or procedure can be established so employees know how to respond without communicating d
5、irectly with their manager Rules provide a standard info source enabling employees to be coordinated without actually communicating about every tasko Vertical information systems The periodic reports, written info, and computer-based communication distributed to managers Makes communication up and d
6、own more efficientHorizontal Information Linkages The amount of communication and coordination that occurs horizontally across organizational departments The following devices are structural alternatives that can improve horizontal coordination and information flowo Information systems Computerized
7、info systems can enable managers or frontline workers throughout the organization to routinely exchange information about problems, opportunities, activities, or decisions Some organizations also encourage employees to use the companys info systems to build relationships all across the organization,
8、 aiming to support and enhance ongoing horizontal coordination across projects and geographical boundarieso Direct contact One way to promote direct contact is to create a special liaison role A liaison role is the function of a person located in one department who is responsible for communicating a
9、nd achieving coordination with another department)o Task forces When linkage involves several departments, a more complex device such as a task force is required A task forceis a temporary committee composed of representatives from each organizational unit affected by a problem Effective for tempora
10、ry issueso Full-time integrator The creation of a full-time position or department solely for the purpose of coordination Does not report to one of the functional departments being coordinated, they are outside of the departments and has the responsibly for coordinating several departments Can also
11、be responsible for an innovation or change project, such as coordinating design, financing, and marketing of a new product Project manager location in the structure:o Teams Permanent task forces and are often used in conjunction with a full-time integrator When activities among departments require s
12、trong coordination over a long period of time, a cross-functional team is often the solution Special project teams may be used when organizations have a large-scale project, a major innovation, or a new product line A virtual team is made up of organizationally or geographically dispersed members wh
13、o are linked through advanced info and communications technologies. Members frequently use the Internet and collaborative software to work together, rather than meeting face-to-face Ladder of Mechanisms for Horizontal Linkage and Coordination:Organization Design AlternativesRequired Work Activities
14、Departments are created to perform tasks considered strategically important to the company For example, in a typical manufacturing company, work activities fall into a range of functions that help the organization accomplish its goals, such as a HR department to recruit and train employees, a purcha
15、sing department to obtain supplies and raw materials, a production department to build products, a sales department to sell products, and so forthReporting Relationships Once required work activities and departments are defined, the next question is how these activities and departments should fit together in the organizational hierarchy Reporting relationships (chain of command) are represented by vertical lines on an organizational chart The chain of command should be an unbroken line of authority that links all the persons in an organization and shows who reports to whomDepartmen
