chapter 10 designing adaptive organizations

Designing Adaptive Organizations

Chapte

r 10

Copyright © 2005 by South-Western, a division of Thomson Learning. All rights reserved.

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Organizing

Organization is the deployment of resources to

achieve strategic goals.

It is reflected in

– Division of labor into specific departments & jobs

– Formal lines of authority

– Mechanisms for coordinating diverse organizational

tasks

Manager’s Challenge: Nissan


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Designing Adaptive Organizations

Organizing Principles and Concepts

Organizing the Vertical Structure

Using Mechanisms for Horizontal

Coordination

Tailoring Various Elements of Structural

Design to Organizational Situations

Topics

Chapter 10


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Organization Structure

Defines how tasks are divided,

resources are deployed, and

departments are coordinated

●Set of formal tasks assigned

●Formal reporting relationships

• The design of systems to ensure

effective coordination of employees

across department


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The Organization Chart

“The Home Depot is the world's largest home

improvement retailer currently operating

1,363 stores.

Visual representation

Set of formal tasks

Formal reporting relationships

Framework for vertical control


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Work Specialization

Tasks are subdivided into individual jobs

Employees perform only the tasks relevant

to their specialized function

Jobs tend to be small, but they can be

performed efficiently

Division of labor concept


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Chain of Command

Unbroken line of authority that links all

persons in an organization

Shows who reports to whom

Associated with two underlying principles

Unity of Command

Scalar Principle


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Authority

Formal and legitimate right of a manager to

make decisions and issue orders

Allocate resources to achieve organizationally

desired outcomes

Authority is distinguished by three characteristics

Authority is vested in organizational positions, not

people

Authority is accepted by subordinates

Authority flows down the vertical hierarchy


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Responsibility

The duty to perform the task or activity

an employee has been assigned

Managers are assigned authority

commensurate with responsibility

Flip side of the authority coin


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Accountability

● Mechanism through which authority and

responsibility are brought into alignment

● People are subject to reporting and

justifying task outcomes to those above

them in the chain of command

● Can be built into the organization

structure


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Delegation

●Process managers use to transfer

authority and responsibility

●Organizations encourage

managers to delegate authority to

lowest possible level

Ethical Dilemma: A Matter of Delegation


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Techniques for Delegation

Give

thorough

instructions

Maintain

feedback

Evaluate and reward

performance

Delegate the

whole task

Select the right

person

Delegation

Ensure that

authority equals

responsibility


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Line and Staff Authority

Line Authority = individuals in management

positions have the formal power to direct and

control immediate subordinates

Staff Authority = granted to staff specialists in

their area of expertise


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Span of Management/Span of Control

Number of employees who report to a supervisor

– Traditional view = seven subordinates per manager

– Lean organizations today = 30+ subordinates

Supervisor Involvement

– must be closely involved with subordinates, the span

should be small

– need little involvement with subordinates, it can be

large


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Factors Associated With Less Supervisor Involvement

Work is stable and routine

Subordinates perform similar work tasks

Subordinates are concentrated in a single location

Subordinates are highly trained

Rules and procedure defining task activities are available

Support systems and personnel are available for the

manager

Little time is required in nonsupervisory activities

Managers’ preferences and styles favor a large span


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Tall versus Flat Structure

Span of Control used in an organization determines

whether the structure is tall or flat

Tall structure has a narrow span and more

hierarchical levels

Flat structure has a wide span, is horizontally

dispersed and fewer hierarchical levels

The trend has been toward wider spans of control


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Centralization versus Decentralization

Greater change and uncertainty in the

environment are usually associated with

decentralization

The amount of centralization or

decentralization should fit the firm’s

strategy

In times of crisis or risk of company failure,

authority may be centralized at the top


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DepartmentalizationThe basis on which individuals are grouped into departments

Vertical functional approach. People are grouped together in departments by common skills.

Divisional approach. Grouped together based on a common product, program, or geographical region.

Horizontal matrix approach. Functional and divisional chains of command. Some employees report to two bosses

Team-based approach. Created to accomplish specific tasks


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DepartmentalizationThe basis on which individuals are grouped into departments

Network approach. Small, central hub electronically connected to their other organizations that perform vital functions. Departments are independent, and can be located anywhere.

Virtual approach. Brings people together temporarily to exploit specific opportunities then disbands


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Five Approaches to Structural Design


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Five Approaches to Structural DesignSlide 2


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Vertical Functional Approach

Grouping of positions into departments based on similar skills, expertise, and resource use● Information flows up and down

● Chain of command converges at the top

● Managers and employees are compatible because of similar training and expertise

● Rules and procedures governing duties and responsibilities


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Divisional Structure Advantages

Efficient use of resources

Skill specialization development

Top management control

Excellent coordination

Quality technical problem solving


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Divisional Structure Disadvantages

Poor communications

Slow response to external changes

Decisions concentrated at top

Pin pointing responsibility is difficult

Limited view of organizational goals by

employees


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Horizontal Matrix Advantages

More efficient use of resources than single

hierarchy

Adaptable to changing environment

Development of both general and specialists

management skills

Expertise available to all divisions

Enlarged tasks for employees


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Dual Authority Structure in a Matrix Organization


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Horizontal Matrix Disadvantages

Dual chain of command

High conflict between two sides of matrix

Many meetings to coordinate activities

Need for human relations training

Power domination by one side of matrix


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Team Advantages

Same advantages as functional

structure

Reduced barriers among

departments

Quicker response time

Better morale

Reduced administrative overhead


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Team Disadvantages

Dual loyalties and conflict

Time and resources spent on

meetings

Unplanned decentralization


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Network Approach Advantages

Global competitiveness

Work force flexibility

Reduced administrative overhead


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Network Approach Disadvantages

No hands-on control

Loss of part of the organization severely

impacts remainder of organization

Employee loyalty weakened


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Task Forces, Teams, Project Management

Task Force = temporary team/committee

designed to solve a short-term problem

involving several departments

Project Manager = responsible for

coordinating activities of several departments

on a full-time basis for the completion of a

specific project


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Reengineering

Radical redesign of business processes to

achieve dramatic improvements in cost,

quality, service, and speed

Process = organized group of related tasks

and activities that work together to transform

inputs into outputs and create value


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Factors Shaping Structure

Structure

Follows Strategy

Reflects the Environment

Fits the Technology

Service Technology

Digital TechnologyExperiential Exercixe: Organic versus

Mechanistic Organization Structure

chapter 10 designing adaptive organizations

Leadership & Management

division of thomson

subordinates authority

authority commensurate

authority coincopyright

tasks relevant

delegationprocess managers

vertical controlcopyright

vertical hierarchycopyright