What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate tasks quizlet?

  1. Social Science
  2. Sociology
  3. Management

  • Flashcards

  • Learn

  • Test

  • Match

  • Flashcards

  • Learn

  • Test

  • Match

Terms in this set (25)

organizational structure (OS)

defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated

work specialization (OS)

division of labor, describes the degree to which activities in the organization are divided into separate jobs, "to what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs"

departmentalization (OS)

the basis by which jobs in an organization are grouped together, grouped by functions, product or service, geography, "on what basis will jobs be grouped together?"

chain of command (OS)

unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the organization to the lowest and clarifies who reports to whom; a person should only have one superior person that they report to; "to whom do individuals and groups report?"

span of control (OS)

describes the number of levels and managers an organization has; the wider or larger the span, the fewer levels, the more employees each level has, and the more efficient the organization in terms of cost;

a narrow span the manager can maintain close control, expensive because they add levels to management, vertical communication is more complex, encourage overly tight supervision and discourage employee autonomy

"how many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct?"

centralization and decentralization (OS)

Centralized: degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in the organization; top managers make all the decisions, better at avoiding bad choices

Decentralized: decision making is pushed down to the managers closet to the action or to workgroups, can act more quickly to solve problems, more people provide input into decisions, employees are less likely to feel alienated, better for avoiding lost opportunities, necessary for companies with offshore sites because localized decision making is need to respond to each region's profit opportunities

formalization (OS)

degree to which jobs within the organization are standardized; highly formalized-the employee has a minimal amount of discretion over what to do and when and how to do it

eliminates the possibility of employees engaging in alternative behaviors, it also removes the need to consider them

low formalization-job behaviors are relatively unprogrammed and employees have a great deal of freedom at work

to what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and managers

boundary spanning (OS)

when individuals form relationships outside their formally assigned groups and with other organizations

ex: HR executive who frequently engages with the IT group

Do individuals from different areas need to regularly interact

simple structure

an organizational structure characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization; fast, flexible, and inexpensive to operate, accountability is clear

bureaucracy

highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization, strictly formalized rules and regulations, tasks grouped into units, centralized authority, narrow spans of control, decision making that follows chain of command

ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner

functional structure

groups employees by their similar specialties, roles, or tasks; focused on one product or service; creates rigid, formal communications

divisional strucuture

groups employees into units by product, service, customer, or geographical market area; highly departmentalized

helpful when units are in different countries with very different markets

matrix structure

combines the functional and product structures we find in advertising agencies, aerospace firms, R&D laboratories

virtual structure

small, core organization that outsources its major business functions

highly centralized , with little departmentalization

minimizes bureaucratic overhead because there is no lasting organization to maintain, lessens long term risks and their costs

outsources all the primary functions of the business

team structure

seeks to eliminate the chain of command and replace departments with empowered teams; removes vertical and horizontal boundaries in addition to breaking down external barriers between the company and its customers suppliers

People can work at uniform mobile work stations, and project teams, not functions or departments; cross functional teams

circular structure

organizational structure in which executives are at the center, spreading their vision outward in rings grouped by functions (managers, specialists, then workers)

downsizing

systematic effort to make an organization leaner by closing locations, reducing staff, or selling off business units that don't add value

doesn't always have to mean physically shrinking the office

why downsize: direct all their efforts toward their core competencies, reduce bureaucracy and speed decision making

problem: effect of employees attitudes, lead to more voluntary turnover, stress in the workplace

mechanistic model (organization design)

structure characterized by extensive departmentalization, high formalization, a limited information network, and centralization

-high specialization
-rigid departmentalization
-clear chain of command
-narrow spans of control
-centralization
-high formalization

organic model (organization design)

structure that is flat, uses cross-hierarchical and cross-functional teams, low formalization, possesses a comprehensive information network, relies on participative decision making

-cross functional teams
-cross hierarchical teams
-free flow of information
-wide spans of control
-decentralization
-low formalization

innovation strategy (organization strategy)

strategy that emphasizes the introduction of major new products and services; use competitive pay and benefits to attract and motivate employees to take risks

organic organization structure
i.e. 3M, Apple

cost-minimization strategy (organization strategy)

strategy that emphasizes tight cost controls, avoidance of unnecessary innovation or marketing expenses, and price cutting; pursue fewer policies meant to develop commitment among their workplace

mechanistic organization structure
i.e. Walmart

imitation strategy (organization strategy)

strategy that seeks to move into new products or new markets only after their viability has already been proven; minimize risk and maximize opportunity for profit, moving new products or entering new markets only after innovators have proven their viability

follow smaller and more innovative competitors with superior products, but only after competitors have demonstrated the market is there

mechanistic and organic organization structure
i.e. Hewlett-Packard, Caterpillar

technology

describes the way an organization transfers inputs into outputs

environment

includes outside institutions or forces that can affect its structure

three dimensions:
capacity- degree to which the environment can support growth
volatility-degree of instability in the environment
complexity- degree of heterogeneity and concentration among environmental elements

scarce, dynamic, and complex environments face the greatest degree of uncertainty because they have high unpredictability, little room for error, and diverse set of elements to monitor constantly

institutions

cultural factors that lead many organizations to have similar structures, especially those factors that might not lead to adaptive consequences; cultural factors that act as guidelines for appropriate behavior

Sets with similar terms

Chapter 15: Foundations of Organization Structure

26 terms

ghostface_9

Organizational Behavior Chapter 15

42 terms

ballzier

OB Foundations of Organizational Structure

45 terms

Alsaihatif

MGT 325 Chapter 15

34 terms

koolskiier42

Other sets by this creator

Ch. 9 HR

19 terms

arbuckme

Ch. 8 HR

24 terms

arbuckme

HR Ch. 7

22 terms

arbuckme

HR Ch. 6

21 terms

arbuckme

Recommended textbook solutions

What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate tasks quizlet?

Human Resource Management

15th EditionJohn David Jackson, Patricia Meglich, Robert Mathis, Sean Valentine

249 solutions

What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate tasks quizlet?

Information Technology Project Management: Providing Measurable Organizational Value

5th EditionJack T. Marchewka

346 solutions

What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate tasks quizlet?

Service Management: Operations, Strategy, and Information Technology

7th EditionJames Fitzsimmons, Mona Fitzsimmons

103 solutions

What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate tasks quizlet?

Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management

12th EditionBarry Render, Chuck Munson, Jay Heizer

1,698 solutions

Other Quizlet sets

exam two soc

24 terms

kswayne11

USA Physiology Quiz 2

17 terms

katie_cunningham

CA Judges Bench Guide part 2, Case of Alberto Alva…

17 terms

rep2tango

Related questions

QUESTION

When a firm becomes over diversified through acquisitions, managers may rely too much on financial rather than strategic controls to evaluate the performance of business units, which can lead to poor outcomes.

2 answers

QUESTION

the concept of flexible plants, flexible processes, and flexible workers synergizing to more quickly match customers demands with manufacturing outputs (relates more to economies of scope)

2 answers

QUESTION

means through which encoded messages are sent from the originator or source to receivers is:

7 answers

QUESTION

T/F: Management By Objectives (MBO) is a systematic and organized approach that aims to increase organizational performance by aligning the subordinate objectives throughout the organizations with the overall goals set by top managers and other employees.

7 answers

What is used to describe the extent to which jobs in an organization are divided into separate?

Work specialization describes the degree to which activities in the organization are divided, and then subdivided, into separate jobs.

What kind of departmentalization happens when an organization is divided?

Answer and Explanation: Process departmentalization is a method or practice of conducting a process by separating related operations into different groups or specialized functional areas. When a business is separated into activities related to different products, this is referred to as process departmentalization.

What provides the total framework by which job tasks are divided grouped and coordinated quizlet?

What is organizational structure? -a skeleton in that it provides the total framework by which job tasks are divided, grouped, and coordinated within an organization.

Which term refers to the specification of jobs to be done within an organization?

The answer is E) Organizational structure.