chapter 6 decision making year/managent concepts and strategies... · chapter 6 decision making 1....

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Mrs V.Jayalakshmi, Asst.Prof.(S.G) Dept of Computer Applications, RGCET, Puducherry.

CHAPTER 6 DECISION MAKING

1. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY DECISION MAKING? WHAT ARE THE TOOLS USED

FOR DECISION MAKING? EXPLAIN IN DETAIL.

OR

EXPLAIN ABOUT DECISION MAKING PROCESS IN DETAIL

OR

EXPLAIN ABOUT CHARACTERISTICS OF DECISION MAKING

Decision making is defined as selection of a course of action from among alternatives: it is at the core of

planning. A plan cannot be said to exist unless a decision-a commitment of resources, direction, or

reputation-has been made.

THE IMPORTANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF RATIONAL DECISION MAKING

Decision might be thought of as

1. Premising

2. Identifying Alternatives

3. Evaluating Alternatives In Terms Of The Goal Sought

4. choosing an alternative, that is, making a decision

Rationality in Decision Making:

It is frequently said that effective decision making must be rational. But what is rationality? When is a

person thinking or deciding rationally?

People acting or deciding rationally are attempting to reach some goal that cannot be attained without

action. They must have a clear understanding of alternative courses by which a goal can be reached under

existing circumstances and limitations.

Limited or “Bounded” Rationality:

Limitations of information, time, and certainty limit rationality even though a manager tries earnestly to

be completely rational. Since managers cannot be completely rational in practice, they sometimes allow

their dislike of risk-the desire to “play it safe”-to interfere with their desire to reach the best solution under

the circumstances.

The Principle of the Limiting Factor

Assuming that we know what our goals are and agree on clear planning premises, the first step of decision

making is to develop alternatives. There are almost always alternatives to any course of action; indeed, of

there seems to be only one way of doing a thing, that way is probably wrong. If we can think of only one

course of action, clearly we have not though hard enough.

The ability to develop alternatives is as important as being able to select correctly from among them. On

the other hand, ingenuity, research, and common sense will often unearth so many choices that all of them

cannot be adequately evaluated. The manager needs help in this situation, and this help as well as

assistance in choosing the best alternative, is found in the concept of the limiting or strategic factor.

A limiting factor is something that stands in the way of accomplishing a desired objective.

The principle of the limiting factor is as follows: by recognizing and overcoming those factors that

stand critically in the way of a goal, the best alternative course of action can be selected.

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EVALUATIONS OF ALTERNATIVES

Once appropriate alternatives have been found, the next step in planning is to evaluate them and select the

one that will best contribute to the goal. This is the point of ultimate decision making, although decisions

must also be made in the other steps of planning-in selecting goals, in choosing critical premises, and

even in selecting alternatives.

Quantitative and Qualitative Factors:

In comparing alternative plans for achieving an objective, people are likely to think exclusively of

quantitative factors. These are factors that can be measured in numerical terms, such as time or various

fixed and operating costs. No one would question the importance of this type of analysis, but the success

of the venture would, be endangered if intangible, or qualitative, factors were ignored. Qualitative, or

intangible, factors are those that are difficult to measure numerically, such as the quality of labor

relations, the risk of technological change, or the international political climate.

Marginal Analysis

Evaluating alternatives may involve utilizing the techniques of marginal analysis to compare additional

revenues arising from additional costs. Where the objective is to maximize profits, this goal will be

reached, as elementary economics teaches, when the additional revenues and additional costs are equal.

In other words, if the additional revenues of a larger quantity are greater than its additional costs, more

profits can be made by producing more. However, if the additional revenues of the larger quantity

Are less than its additional costs, a larger profit can be made by producing less.

Marginal analysis can be used in comparing factors other than costs and revenues. For example, to find

the best output of a machine, inputs could be varied against outputs until the additional input equals the

additional output.

Cost effectiveness Analysis

An improvement on, or variation of, traditional marginal analysis is cost effectiveness, or cost benefit,

analysis. Cost effectiveness analysis seeks the best ratio of benefits and costs; this means, for example,

finding the least costly way of reaching an objective or getting the greatest value for given expenditures.

In its simplest terms, cost effectiveness analysis is a technique for choosing the best plan when the

objectives are less specific then sales, costs, or profits.

The major features of cost effectiveness analysis are that it focuses on the results of a program, helps

weigh the potential benefits of each alternative against its potential cost, and involves a comparison of the

alternatives in terms of the overall advantages.

1. Objectives are normally oriented to output or end result and are usually not precise.

2. Alternatives ordinarily represent total systems, programs, or strategies for meeting objectives.

3. The measures of effectiveness must be relevant to objectives and set in terms as precise as possible,

although some may not be subject to quantification

4. Cost estimates may include nonmonetary as well as monetary costs.

5. Decision standards, while definite but not usually as specific as cost or profit may include achieving a

given objective at least cost, achieving it with resources available, or providing for a trade-off of cost for

effectiveness, particularly in the light of the claims of other programs.

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SELECTING AN ALTERNATIVE: THREE APPROACHES

Experience

To some extent, experience is the best teacher. The fact that managers have reached their position

appears to justify their past decisions. Moreover, the process of thinking problems through, making

decisions, and seeing programs succeed or fail does make for a degree of good judgment (at times

bordering on intuition). Many people, however, do not profit by their errors, and there are managers who

seem never to gain the seasoned judgment required by modern enterprise.

Experimentation

An obvious way to decide among alternatives is to try one of them and see what happens.

Experimentation is often used in scientific inquiry. People often argue that it should be employed more

often in managing and that the only way a manager can make sure some plans are right-especially in view

of the intangible factors-is to try the various alternatives and see which is best.

The experimental technique is likely to be the most expensive of all techniques, especially if a program

requires heavy expenditures in capital and personnel and if the firm cannot afford to vigorously attempt

several alternatives. Besides, after an experiment has been tried, there may still be doubt about what it

proved, since the future may not duplicate the present. This technique, therefore, should be used only

after considering other alternatives.

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Research and Analysis

One of the most effective techniques of selecting from alternatives when major decisions are involved is

research and analysis. This approach means solving a problem by first comprehending it. It thus involves

a search for relationships among the more critical of the variables, constraints, and premises that bear

upon the goal sought. It is the pencil-and-paper approach to decision making.

Solving a planning problem requires breaking it into its components parts and studying the various

quantitative and qualitative factors. Study and analysis are likely to be far cheaper than experimentation.

Hours of time and reams of paper used for analyses usually cost much less than trying the various

alternatives. In manufacturing airplanes, for example, if careful research has not preceded the building

and testing of the prototype airplane and its parts. The resulting costs would be enormous.

DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN PROGRAMMED AND NON-PROGRAMMING

DECISIONS

PROGRAMMED AND NONPROGRAMMED DECISIONS

A programmed decision, as show in figure 6.2, is applied to structured or routine problems. Lathe

operators have specifications and rules that tell them whether the part they made is acceptable, has to be

discarded, or should be reworked.

Non-programmed decisions are used for unstructured, novel, and ill defined situations of a nonrecurring

nature. Examples are the introduction of the Macintosh computer by apple computer, Inc.,

DESCRIBE THE TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF DECISION

MAKING UNDER THE NORMAL CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY

DECISION MAKING UNDER CERTAINTY, UNCERTAINTY, AND RISK

In a situation involving certainty, people are reasonably sure above what will happen when they make a

decision. The information is available and is considered to be reliable, and the cause and effect

relationships are known.

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In a situation of uncertainty, on the other hand, people have only a meager data base they do not know

whether or not the data are reliable, and they are very unsure about whether or not the situation may

change.

In a risk situation, factual information may exist, but it may be incomplete. To improve decision making,

one may estimate the objective probabilities of an outcome by using, for example, mathematical models.

MODERN APPROACHES TO DECISION MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY

Risk Analysis

All intelligent decision makers dealing with uncertainty like to know the size and nature of the risk they

are taking in choosing a course of action.

Decision Trees

Decision trees depict, in the form of a “tree,” the decision points, chance events, and probabilities

involved in various courses that might be undertaken. A common problem occurs in business when a new

product is introduced. Managers must decide whether to install expensive permanent equipment to ensure

production at the lowest possible cost or to undertake cheaper, temporary tooling that will involve a

higher manufacturing cost but lower capital investments and will result in lower losses if the product does

not sell as well as estimated. In its simplest form, a tree showing the decisions a manager faces in this

situation might be similar to

that in figure 6.3

Preference Theory

Preference, or utility, theory is based on the notion that individual attitudes toward risk will vary: some

individuals are willing to take only smaller risks than those indicated by probabilities(“risk averters”) and

others are willing to take greater risks(“gamblers”). While referred to here as “preference theory”, this

technique is more classically called “utility theory.

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Personal Risk or Preference Curves

While not much is known about personal attitudes toward risk, two things are certain: Some people are

risk averters in some situations and gamblers in others, and some people have by nature a high aversion to

risk and others have a low one. Typical personal risk or preference curves may be drawn as in figure 6.4

this graph shows both risk averter’s and gambler’s curves, as well as what is referred to as a “personal”

curve. The later, of course, implies that most of us are gamblers when small stakes are involved but that

we soon become risk

averters when the stakes

rise.

2. WHAT IS DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM? COMPARE AND CONTRAST BETWEEN

MIS AND DSS.

Decision support systems (DSSs) use computers to facilitate the decision making process of semi

structured tasks. These systems are designed not to replace managerial judgment but to support it and to

make the decision process more effective. Decision support systems also help managers react quickly to

changing needs. It is clear, them that the design of an effective system requires a thorough knowledge of

how managers make decisions.

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COMPARISONS BETWEEN MIS AND DSS

MIS DSS

Focus on structured tasks and routine decision Focus on semi structured tasks, requiring

(e.g., use of procedures, use of decision rules) managerial judgment

Emphasis on data storage Emphasis on data manipulation

Often only indirect access to data by managers Direct data access by managers

Reliance on computer expert Reliance on managers own judgment

Access to data possibly requiring a wait Direct access to computer and data

for manager’s turn

MIS manager not completely understanding Manager knowing decision

the nature of the decision environment.

Emphasis on efficiency Emphasis on effectiveness

3. DISCUSS ABOUT THE SYSTEMS APPROACH AND DECISION MAKING

THE SYSTEMS APPROACH AND DECISION MAKING

Decisions cannot be made in a closed-system environment.

Many elements of the environment of Planning lie outside the enterprise.

In addition, every department or section of an enterprise is a subsystem of the entire enterprise;

managers of these organizational units must be responsive to the policies and programs of other

organizational units and of the total enterprise.

Moreover, people within an enterprise are a part o f the social system, and their thinking and

attitudes must be taken into account whenever a manager makes a decision.

Even when managers construct a closed-system model, they do so simply to have a workable

program to solve. But in doing so, they make certain assumptions as to environmental forces that

heavily influence their decision, they enter inputs into their calculations as they appear to be at any

given time, and they change the construction of their model when forces and developments

beyond its boundaries so require.

MAJOR PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES OF PLANNING

THE PURPOSE AND NATURE OF PLANNING

The purpose and nature of planning maybe summarized by reference to the following principles.

Principle of contribution to objectives: The purpose of every plan and all supporting plans is to promote

the accomplishment of the enterprise objective.

Principle of objectives If objectives are to be meaningful to people, they must be clear, attainable, and

verifiable.

Principle of primacy of planning: Planning logically precedes all other managerial functions.

Principle of efficiency of plans The efficiency of a plan is measured by the amount it contributes to

purpose and objectives as offset by the costs required to formulate and operate it and by unsought

consequences.

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THE

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STRUCTURE OF PLANS

Two major principles dealing with the structure of plans can go far in tying plans together, making

supporting plans contribute to major plans and ensuring that plans in one department harmonize with

those in another.

Principle of planning premises

The more thoroughly the individuals who are charged with planning understand and agree to utilize

consistent planning premises, the more coordinated enterprise planning will be.

Principle of the strategy and policy framework The more strategies and policies are clearly understood

and implemented in practice, the more consistent and effective will be the framework of enterprise plans.

THE PROCESS OF PLANNING

Within the process of planning, there are four principles that help in the development of practical science

of planning.

Principle of the limiting factor

In choosing among alternatives, the more accurately individuals can recognize and solve for those factors

which are limiting or critical to the attainment of the desired goal, the more easily and accurately they can

select the most favorable alternative.

The commitment principle

Logical planning should cover a period of time in the future necessary to foresee as well as possible,

through a series of actions, the fulfillment of commitments involved in a decision made today.

Principle of flexibility

Building flexibility into plans will lessen the danger of losses incurred through unexpected events, but the

cost of flexibility should be weighed against its advantages.

Principle of navigational change

The more that planning decisions commit individuals to a future path, the more important it is to check on

events and expectations periodically and redraw plans as necessary to maintain a couse toward a desired

goal.

The commitment principle and the principles of flexibility and navigational change are aimed at a

contingency approach to planning. Although it makes sense to forecast and draw plans far enough into the

future to make reasonably sure of meeting commitments, often it is impossible to do so rot he future is so

uncertain that it is too risky to fulfill those commitments.

The principle of flexibility deals with that ability to change which is built into plans. The principle of

navigational change, on the other hand, implies reviewing plans from time to time and redrawing them if

this is requires by changed events and expectations. Unless plans have built-in flexibility, navigational

change may be difficult or costly.

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CHAPTER 7 THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF ORGANIZING

4. DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN FORMAL AND INFORMAL ORGA NIZATIONS?

For an organizational role to exist and be meaningful to people, it must incorporate

Verifiable objectives

A clear idea of the major duties or activities involved;

An understood area of discretion or authority

Organizing as,

The identification and classification of required activities

The grouping of activities necessary to attain objectives

The assignment of each grouping to a manager with the authority necessary to supervise it.

The provision for co-ordination horizontally and vertically in the organization structure.

An organization structure should be designed to clarify who is to do what tasks and who is responsible for

what results, to remove obstacles to performance caused by confusion and uncertainty of assignment, and

to furnish decision-making and communications networks reflecting and supporting enterprise objectives

FORMAL AND INFORMAL ORGANISATION:

5. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS AND THE SPAN OF

MANAGEMENT

Organization levels exist because there is a limit to the number of persons a manager can supervise

effectively; even though this limit varies depending on situations. The relationships between the span of

management and the organizational levels are shown. A wide span of management is associated with few

organizational levels; a narrow span, with many levels.

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ORGANIZATION WITH NARROW SPAN

ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES

Close supervision * Superiors tend to get too involved in subordinates work

Close control * Many levels of management

Fast communication between * High costs due to many levels

subordinates and superiors * Excessive distance between lowest level and top level

ORGANIZATION WITH WIDE SPAN

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Superiors are forced to delegate * Tendency of overloaded superiors to become decision

Clear policies must be made bottlenecks

Subordinates must be carefully * Danger of superiors loss of control

selected * Requires exceptional quality of Managers

Problems with Organizational Levels:

In the first place, levels are expensive. As they increase more and more effort and money are

devoted to managing, because of the additional managers, the staffs to assist them,

and the necessity of coordinating departmental activities, plus the costs of facilities for the

personnel. Accountants refer to such costs as “overhead,” or “burden,” or “general and

administrative,” in contrast to so-called direct costs. Real production is accomplished by factory,

engineering, or sales employees who are, or could logically be accounted for as, “direct labor.”

Levels above the “firing line” are predominantly staffed with managers whose cost it would be

desirable to eliminate, if that were possible.

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In the second place, departmental levels complicate communication. An enterprise with many

levels has greater difficulty communicating objectives, plans, and policies downward through the

organization structure than does a firm in which the top manager communicates directly with

employees.

Finally, numerous departments and levels complicate planning and control. A plan that may be

definite and complete at the top level loses coordination and clarity as it is subdivided at lower

levels.

6. WHAT ARE THE FACTORS DETERMINING AN EFFECTIVE SPAN:

The number of subordinates a manager can effectively manage depends on the impact of underlying

factors.

Subordinate Training:

The better the training of subordinates, the fewer the number of necessary superior-subordinate

relationships.

Well-trained subordinates require not only less of their managers time but also less contact with

their managers.

Clarity of Delegation of Authority

Although training enables managers to reduce the frequency and extensiveness of time consuming

contacts, the principal cause of the heavy time burdens of superior-subordinate relationships is to

be found in poorly conceived and confused organization.

The most serious symptom of poor organization affecting the span of Management is inadequate

or unclear authority of delegation

Clarity of Plans

Much of the character of a subordinate’s job is defined by the plans to be put into effect. If these

plans are well defined, if they are workable, if the authority to undertake them has been delegated,

and if the subordinate understands what is expected, little of supervisor’s time will be required.

Use of Objective Standards

A manager must find out, either by personal observation or through use of objective standards,

whether subordinates are following plans.

Obviously, good objective standards, revealing with ease any deviations from plans, enable

managers to avoid many time-consuming contacts and do direct attention to exceptions at points

critical to the successful execution of plans.

Rate of Change

The rate of change is an important determinant of the degree to which policies can be formulated

and the stability of policies are maintained.

It explains the organizational structures of companies and also wide span and narrow span of

management.

Communication Techniques

The effectiveness with which communication techniques are used also influences the span of

Management.

Objective standards of control are a kind of Communication device, but many other techniques

reduce the time spent with subordinates.

An ability to communicate plans and instructions clearly and concisely also tends to increase a

manager’s span.

A manager’s casual style may please subordinates, but when this easiness degenerates into

confusion and wasted time, it sharply reduces the effective span of Management and often lowers

morale as well.

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Amount of Personal Contacts Needed

In many instances, face-to-face meetings are necessary. Many situations cannot be completely

handled with written reports, memorandums, policy statements, planning documents, or other

communications that do not involve personal contact.

Variation by Organizational Level

Several research projects have found that the size of the most effective span differs by

organizational level.

The researchers developed and tested a model to take this variable into account and found that the

degree of specialization by individuals was the most important variable affecting span.

Other Factors

Besides all the other factors, there are others that affect the span of Management.

Simple tasks may allow for a wider span than tasks that are complex and include a great variety of

activities.

There are still other factors that favor a wider span of Management, such as their willingness to

take reasonable risks.

The Need for Balance

Despite the desirability of a flat Organization structure, the span of Management is limited by real

and important restrictions.

Managers may have more subordinates than they can manage effectively, even though they

delegate authority, carry on training, formulate plans and policies.

7. CONTRAST BETWEEN SPANS OF MANAGEMENT

Narrow span (a great deal of time spent with Wide span(very little time spent with

Subordinates) related to subordinates) related to:-

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Little or no training Through subordinate training

Inadequate or unclear authority delegation Clear delegation to undertake well defined tasks

Unclear plans for non repetitive operations Well-defined plans for repetitive operations

Non verifiable objectives and standards Verifiable objectives used as standards

Fast changes in internal & external environment Slow changes in internal & external environment

Use of poor or inappropriate communication Use of appropriate techniques, such as proper

techniques including vague instructions org. structure written & oral communication

Ineffective interaction bet superior & Subordinate Effective interaction bet superior & subordinate

Ineffective meetings Effective meetings

Greater no of specialists at lower & middle Levels No of specialists at upper level

Incompetent & untrained manager Competent & Trained manager

Complex task Simple task

Subordinate’s unwillingness to assume Subordinate’s willingness to assume responsibility&

responsibility & reasonable risks reasonable risks

Immature subordinates Mature subordinates

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8. DISCUSS THE STRUCTURE AND PROCESS OF ORGANIZING IN BRIEFLY

Looking at organizing as a process requires that several fundamentals be considered.

In the first place, the structure must reflect objectives and plans, because activities derive from

them.

In the second place, it must reflect the authority available to an enterprise’s management.

Authority in a given organization is a socially determined right to exercise discretion; as such, it is

subject to change.

In the third place, organization structure, like any plan, must reflect its environment. Just as the

premises of a plan may be economic, technological, political, social, or ethical, so may be those of

an organization structure.

In the fourth place, since the organization is staffed with people, the groupings of activities and the

authority relationships of an organization structure must take into account people’s limitations and

customs.

THE LOGIC OF ORGANIZING:

There is a fundamental logic to organizing, as shown. Although steps 1 and 2 are actually part of

planning, the organizing process consists of the following six steps,

Establishing enterprise objectives

Formulating supporting objectives, policies, and plans

Identifying and classifying the activities necessary to accomplish these

Grouping these activities in the light of the human and material resources available and the best

way, under the circumstances, of using them.

Delegating to the head of each group the authority necessary to perform the activities.

Tying the groups together horizontally and vertically, through authority relationships and

information flows.

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CHAPTER 8 BASICDEPARTMENTATION

9. EXPLAIN WHAT IS DEPARTMENTATION?

BASIC DEPARTMENTATION

The limitation on the number of subordinates that can be directly managed would restrict the size of

enterprises if it were not for the device of departmentation

DEPARTMENTATION BY SIMPLE NUMBERS

It was once an important method in the organization of tribes, clans, and armies.

The simple-numbers method of departmentizing is achieved by tolling off persons who are to

perform the same duties and putting them under the supervision of a manager.

For one thing, technology has advanced, demanding more specialized and different skills.

A second reason for the decline of departmentizing purely by number is that groups composed of

specialized personnel are frequently more efficient than those based merely on numbers.

A third and long-standing reason for the decline of departmentation by numbers is that it is useful

only at the lowest level of the organizational structure.

DEPARTMENTATION BY TIME

One of the oldest forms of departmentation generally used at lower levels of the organization, is grouping

activities on the basis of time. The use of shifts is common in many enterprises where for economic,

technological, or other reasons the normal workday will not suffice.

Advantages

First, services can be rendered that go beyond the typical 8 hr day often extending to 24 hrs a day.

Second, it is possible to use processes that cannot be interrupted, those that require a continuing

cycle.

Third, expensive capital equipment can be used more than more than 8 hrs a day when workers in

several shifts use the same machines.

Fourth, some people- students attending classes during the day, for instance- find it convenient to

work at night.

Disadvantages

First, supervision may be lacking during the night shift.

Second, there is the fatigue factor; it is difficult for most people to switch, for instance, from a day

shift to a night shift and vice versa.

Third, having several shifts may cause problems in coordination and communication.

Fourth, the payment of overtime rates can increase the cost of the product or service.

DEPARTMENTATION BY ENTERPRISE FUNCTION:

The Functional departmentation embodies what an enterprise typically do

The basic enterprise functions are Production, Selling, and Financing.

It has been logical to group these departments into such departments as engineering, production,

sales or marketing and finance.

A manufacturing enterprise employs the terms “production”, “sales”, and “finance”.

A wholesaler is concerned with such activities as “buying”, “selling” and “finance”.

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A reason for the variance of terms is that basic activities often differ in importance and also other

methods of departmentation have been deliberately selected.

Functional departmentation is the most widely employed basis for organizing activities and is

present in almost every enterprise at some level in the organization structure.

The Characteristics of the selling, production and finance functions of enterprises are so widely

recognized and thoroughly understood that they are not only basis of departmental organization, but

also most often of departmentation at the top level.

The coordination of activities may be achieved through rules and procedures, various aspects of

planning, the organizational hierarchy, personal contacts and sometimes liaison departments.

.

Advantages

Is logical reflection of functions

Maintains power and prestige of major

functions

Follows principle of occupational

specialization

Simplifies training

Furnishes means of light control at top

Disadvantages

Emphasis of overall company objectives

Overspecializes and narrows viewpoints of key

personnel

Reduces coordination between functions

Responsibility for profits is at the top only

Slow adaptation to changes in environment

Limits development of general managers

DEPARTMENTATION BY TERRITORY OR GEOGRAPHY

Departmentation based on territory is rather common in enterprises that operate over wide

geographic areas.

It is important in this case that the activities in a given area or territory be grouped and assigned

to a manager.

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Territorial departmentation is especially attractive to large-scale firms or other enterprises whose

activities are physically or geographically dispersed.

Many government agencies such as The Internal Revenue Service, The Federal Reserve Board,

The Federal Courts and others adopt this basis of Organization in their efforts to provide

services simultaneously across the nation.

Territorial Departmentation is most often used in sales and in production they reflect a primary

interest in customers is common in a variety of enterprises.

Customers are the key to the way activities are grouped when each of the different things an

enterprise does for them is managed by one department head.

Business owners and managers frequently arrange activities on this basis to cater to the

requirements of clearly defined customer groups

Advantages

• Places responsibility at a lower level

• Places emphasis on local markets and problems

• Improves coordination in a region

• Takes advantages of economies of local operation.

• Better face-to-face communication with local interests.

• Furnishes measurable training ground for general managers.

Disadvantages

• Requires more persons with general manager abilities.

• Tends to make maintenance of economical central services difficult and may require services

such as personnel or purchasing at the regional level.

• Increases problem of top management control.

Customer Departmentation

Grouping activities so that they reflect a primary interest in customers is common in a variety of

enterprises.

Customers are the key to the way activities are grouped when each of the different things an

enterprise does for them is managed by one department head.

Business owners and managers frequently arrange activities on this basis to cater to the

requirements of clearly defined customer groups.

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PROCESS OR EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENTATION

Manufacturing firms often group activities around a process or a type of equipment. Such a basis

of departmentation can be found in paint or electroplating process grouping or in the arrangement

in one plant area of punch presses or automatic screw machines.

In this kind of departmentation, people and materials are bought together in order to carry out a

particular operation.

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Advantages

* Achieves economic advantage

* Uses specialized technology

* Utilizes special skills

Disadvantages

*Coordination of departments is difficult

*Responsibility for profit is at the top

*Is unsuitable for developing general managers

DEPARTMENTATION BY PRODUCT

Grouping activities on the basis of products or product lines has been growing in

Importance in multiline, large-scale enterprises.

It can be seen as an evolutionary enterprises

Typically, companies and other enterprises adopting this form of departmentation were

organized by enterprise function.

This structure permits top management to delegate to a division executive extensive authority

over the manufacturing, sales, service, and engineering functions that relate to a product or

product line and to exact a considerable degree of profit responsibility from each of these

managers.

Advantages

*Places attention and effort on product line

*Facilitates use of specialized capital,

facilities, skills, and knowledge

*Permits growth and diversity of products

and services

*Improves coordination of functional activities

the division level

*Furnishes measurable training ground for

general managers

Disadvantages

*Requires more persons with general

manager abilities

*Tends to make maintenance of

economical central services difficult

*Presents increased problem of top

management control.

MATRIX ORGANIZATION:

Another kind of departmentation is matrix or grid organization or project or product management.

The essence of Matrix Organization is the combination of Functional and project or product

patterns of departmentation in the same organization structure.

In this structure there are functional managers in charge of engineering functions and an overlay of

project managers responsible for the end product.

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This kind of organization occurs frequently in construction, in aerospace, in marketing, in the

installation of an electronic data processing system, or in management consulting firms in which

professional experts work together on a project.

Advantages

• Is oriented toward end result

• Professional identification is maintained

• Pinpoints product-profit responsibility

Disadvantages

*Conflict in organization authority exists

*Possibility of disunity of command exists

*Requires manager effective in human action

Guidelines for Making Matrix Management Effective

1. Define the objectives of the project or task.

2. Clarify the roles, authority, and responsibilities of managers and team members.

3. Ensure that influence is based on knowledge and information, rather than on rank.

4. Balance the power of functional and project managers.

5. Select an experienced manager for the project who can provide leadership.

6. Undertake organization and team development.

7. Install appropriate cost, time, and quality controls that report deviations from standards in

a timely manner.

8. Reward project managers and team members fairly.

STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNITS (SBU)

Companies have been using an

organizational device generally referred to as a Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

SBUs are distinct little businesses set up as units in a larger company to ensure that a certain

product or product line is promoted and handled as though it were an independent business.

To be called an SBU, generally a business unit must meet specific criteria. An SBU must:

i. Have its own mission, distinct from the mission of other SBUs.

ii. Have definable groups of competitors.

iii. Prepare its own integrative plans, fairly distinct from those of other SBUs.

iv. Manage its resources in key areas.

v. Have a proper size-neither too large nor too small.

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For each SBU a manger is appointed with responsibility for guiding and promoting the product

from the research laboratory through product engineering, market research, production,

packaging, and marketing and with bottom line responsibility for its profitability.

The major benefit of utilizing an SBU organization is to provide assurance that a product will

not get “lost” among other products in a large company.

It is an organizational technique for preserving the entrepreneurial attention and drive the

characteristics of the small company.

CHAPTER: 9 LINE/STAFF AUTHORITY AND DECENTRALIZATION

10. EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF LINE, STAFF AND FUNCTION AUTHORITY

RELATIONSHIP.WHAT ARE THE MAJOR SOURCES OF CONFLICT BETWEEN

LINEE AND STAFF

OR

WRITE SHORT NOTES ON LINE AND STAFF ORGANIZATION

Without Authority- the power to exercise discretion in making decisions- properly placed In managers,

various dept cannot become smoothly working units harmonized for the accomplishment of enterprise

objectives.

AUTHORITY AND POWER

Power, a broader concept than authority, is the ability of individuals or groups to induce or influence the

beliefs or actions of other persons or groups. Authority in org is the right in a position to exercise

discretion in making decisions affecting others.

There are many different bases of power. Legitimate power arises from position and derives from our

cultural system of rights, obligations and duties.

Power may also come from the expertness of a person or a group. This is the power of knowledge. Power

may also exist as referent power i.e. influence which people or groups may exercise because people

believe in them or their ideas.

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Reward power allows individuals to grant or withhold high grades.

Coercive power is the power to punish by say firing a subordinate etc.

LINE AND STAFF CONCEPTS

It is an area of mgt that causes more difficulties, more friction, and more loss of time and effectiveness. It

is important as an organizational way of life.

Line functions are those that have a direct impact on the accomplishment of the objectives of the

enterprise. Staff functions are those that help the line persons work most effectively in accomplishing the

objectives.

The Nature of Line And Staff Relations

A more logical and precise concept of line and staff is that they deal with relationships. Line authority

gives a superior a line of authority over a subordinate. According to the Scalar principle

The clearer the line of authority from the ultimate mgt in an enterprise to every subordinate position ,

the clearer will be the responsibility for decision making and the more effective will be org

communication.

Hence, line authority allows a superior to exercise direct control over the subordinate. The nature of staff

relationship is advisory. Here the function of people is to investigate research and give advice to line

managers.

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Line And Staff Relationships Or Departmentation

Some managers regard line and staff as types of departments. Although a dept may stand in a

predominantly line or staff position with respect to other depts., it is still distinguished by authority

relationships.

In looking at an org structure as a whole, the general character of line and staff for the total org emerges

certain departmentts. may follow staff while others follow line.

FUNCTIONAL AUTHOURITY

It is right which is delegated to an individual or a department to control specified processes practices,

policies or other matter relating to activities under taken by persons in other departments. If principles of

unity where followed without exception, authority over these activities would excised only by their lying

superiors in cases such as lake of special knowledge etc. would not allowed managers to excised authority

it delegated by a manger in a another department.

Functional authority is not restricted to managers of a particular type of department, it may be excised by

line, staff departments head etc.

.

Delegation of Functional Authority

It is a small slice of the authority of a line superior. A corporation president for example has complete

authority to manage a corporation. Here advises on personal, accounting etc have no part of this line

authority, their duty is to offer counsel but when the president delegates to these advises the right to issue

instructions directly to line organization that right is called functional authority(9.2)

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Restricting the Area of Functional Authority

Functional authority should be carefully restricted. For eg, purchasing managers functional authority is

limited to setting the procedures for divisional purchasing.

BENEFITS OF STAFF

Staff advice is more critical for business, government and other enterprises. Operating managers are now

faced with making decisions that require expert knowledge in economic technical, political legal and

other social areas. Another major advantages of staff is that these specialists may be allowed the time to

think, to gather data, and to analysis whereas the superiors cannot do so. Staff analysis and advice are

becoming an urgent necessity.

LIMITATIONS OF STAFF

It leads to following problems.

1. Danger of Undermining Line Authority:-Operating managers often view staff personal with

skepticism. Here authority of department managers is undermined yet proposals will be accepted

as they will recognize the high tide of staff specialist prestige. A continuation of this situation

might harm or even destroy operating departments.

2. Lack of staff responsibility:-Advisory departments only propose a plan; others must make the

decision to adopt the plan and put it into operation. This created an ideal situation for shifting

blame for mistakes.

3. Thinking in a Vacuum:-Staff people do not implement what they recommend , hence it is possible

that staff may think in a vacuum. It may result in friction, loss of morale etc.

4. Managerial Problems:-It is not easy for a department head to be responsible to two or more

people; at the worker level, it may be disastrous to attempt multiple responsibility.

11. WHAT IS DECENTRALIZATION? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM

DELEGATION? DISCUSS THE FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE EXTEND OF

DECENTRALIZATION IN ENTERPRISE.

OR

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DELEGATION AND DECENTRALIZATION

OR

WRITE SHORT NOTES ON DECENTRALIZATION AND CENTRALIZATION.

DECENTRALIZATION OF AUTHORITY

The Nature of Decentralization

Org authority is conferred on people to use their judgment to make decisions and issue instruction.

Decentralization is the tendency to disperse decision-making authority in an organized structure. There

could be absolute centralization of authority in one person, but no subordinate managers and hence no

structured org. some decentralization though not absolute exists in all orgs. Centralization and

decentralization are tendencies (9.3).

Different kinds of Centralization

It has several meanings:

1. Centralization of performance – Pertains to geographic concentration.

2. Departmental Centralization- Concentration of specialized activities.

3. Centralization as an aspect of Management- Tendency to restrict delegation of decision making.

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DELEGA

TION OF

AUTHORITY

Delegation is necessary for an org to exists. No person in an org can do all the tasks necessary for

accomplishing a group purpose.

How authority is delegated:-

It is done when a superior gives a subordinate discretion to make decisions. Superiors can not delegate

authority they do not have.

Process of delegation involves:

1. Determining the results expected from a positions.

2. Assigning tasks to a position.

3. Delegating authority

4. Holding person in that position responsible for accomplishing tasks.

Splintered Authority

It exists where a problem cannot solved or a decision made without pooling the authority delegations of

two or more managers. It cannot be wholly avoided in making decisions. However, repeating decisions on

the matters indicate that authority delegations have not been properly made and that some reorganization

is required.

ART OF DELEGATION

Most failures in effectives delegation occur because of mangers are unable/ unwilling to apply it.

Personal Attitudes toward Delegation

It is as follows

1. Receptiveness- Attribute of managers while delegating authority is to give other people idea a

chance, helps others and complements them on their ingenuity.

2. Willingness to let go- A manager who will be effectively delegating authority must be willing to

release the right to make decisions to subordinates.

3. Willingness to let others make mistakes- Continual checking by mangers to ensure no mistakes

are made will make to delegation impossible. Since everyone makes mistakes a subordinate must

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be allowed to make sum and their costs must be considered and investments in personal

development.

4. Willingness to trust subordinate- Superiors have to alternative to trusts their subordinates for

delegation implies a trustful attitudes between them.

5. Willingness to establish and use broad controls- Superior should not delegate authority unless

they find ways of getting feedback. Controls cannot be establish and exercised unless goals

policies etc are used as basics standard for judging activities of subordinate.

Guides for Overcoming Weak Delegation-

It is as follows

1. Define assignments and delegates authority in the light of results expected.

2. Select the person in light of the job to be done.

3. Maintain open lines of communications ie they should be a free flow of information between

superior and subordinates.

4. Establish proper control.

5. Reward effective delegation and successful assumption of authority.

BALANCE THE KEY TO DECENTRALIZATION

TABLE 9.1 ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION

ADVANTAGES

1. Relieves top management of some burden of decision making & forces upper-level managers to let

go.

2. Encourages decision making & assumption of authority and responsibility

3. Gives manages more freedom & independence in decision making

4. Promotes establishment & use of broad controls which may increase motivation

5. Makes comparison of performance of different organizational units possible

6. Facilitates setting up of profit centers

7. Facilitates product diversification

8. Promotes development of general managers

9. Aids in adaptation to fast changing environment

DISADVANTAGES

1. Makes it more difficult to have a uniform policy

2. Increases complexity of coordination of decentralized organizational units

3. May result in loss of control by upper managers

4. May be limited by inadequate control techniques

5. Maybe constrained by inadequate planning and control systems

6. can be limited by the unavailability of qualified managers

7. Involves considerable expenses for training managers

8. Maybe limited by external forces

9. May not be favored by economies of scale of some operations

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CHAPTER 10 EFFECTIVE ORGANIZING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

12 WHAT IS MEAN BY THE TERM ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE? HOW DO

ORGANIZATIONS GO ABOUT MAINTAINING THEIR CULTURE? WHAT STEPS

ARE INVOLVED

Organizing involves developing an intentional structure of roles for effective performance. Organizing

requires a network of decision and communication centers for coordinating efforts toward group and

enterprise goals. To work, an organization structure must be understood, and principles must be put into

practice.

AVOIDING MISTAKES IN ORGANIZING BY PLANNING

Planning for the Ideal

The search for an ideal organization to reflect enterprise goals under given circumstances is the impetus to

planning. The search entails charting the main lines of organization, considering the organizational

philosophy of the enterprise managers and sketching out consequent authority relationships.

An organizer must always be careful not be blinded by popular notions in organizing, because what may

work in one company may not work in another.

Modification for the Human Factor

If available personnel do not fit into the ideal structure and cannot or should not be pushed aside, the only

choice is to modify the structure to fit individual capabilities, attitudes or limitations.

Thus, planning will reduce compromising the necessity for principle whenever changes occur in

personnel.

Advantages of Organizational Planning:

Planning the organization structure helps determine future personnel needs and required training

programs.

Organization planning can disclose weaknesses. Duplication of effort, unclear lines of authority, overlong

lines of communication, excessive red tape, and obsolete practices show up best when desirable and

actual organization structures are compared.

AVOIDING ORGANIZATIONAL INFLEXIBILITY

Many enterprises, especially those which have been in operation for many years, become too rigid to meet

the first test of effective organization structure: the ability to adapt to a changing environment and meet

new contingencies.

Signs of Inflexibility

An organization pattern that is no longer suited to the times, a district or regional organization that could

be either abolished or enlarged bcz of improved communications, or a structure that is too highly

centralized for a enlarged enterprise requiring decentralization.

Avoiding Inflexibility through Reorganization

Although reorganization is intended to respond to changes in the enterprise environment, there may be

other compelling reasons for reorganization. Those related to the business environment include changes in

operations caused by acquisition or sale of major properties, changes in product line.

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Personality clashes between managers also may be solved by reorganization. Staff-line conflicts may

develop to such a extent that they can be resolved only by reorganization.

The Need for Readjustment and Change

In addition to pressing reasons for reorganization, there is a certain need for moderate and continuing

readjustment merely to keep the structure from becoming stagnant. “Empire building “is not so attractive

when all those involved know that their positions are subject to change.

MAKING STAFF WORK EFFECTIVE

The line staff problem is not only one of the most difficult that organizations face but also the source of an

extraordinarily large amount of inefficiency. Solving these problems requires great managerial skill,

careful attention to principles, and patient teaching of personnel.

Understanding Authority Relationship

Managers must understand the nature of authority relationships if they want to solve the problems of line

and staff. As long as managers regard line and staff as groups of people as groupings of activities,

confusion will result. Line and staff are authority relationships and many jobs have elements of both.

Making Line Listen to Staff

If staff counsel and advice are justifiable at all, it is bcz of the need for assistance either from experts or

from those freed from more pressing duties to give such assistance.

Line managers should realize that competent staff assistants offer suggestions to aid and not to undermine

or criticize.

Line managers should be encouraged or required to consult with staff.

Keeping Staff Informed

Common criticism of staff are that specialists operate in vacuum, fail to appreciate the complexity of the

line manager’s job, or overlook important facts in making recommendations. Many criticism arise bcz

staff assistants are not kept informed on matters within their field. Even the best assistant cannot advise

properly in such cases.

Requiring Completed Staff Work

Many staff persons overlook the fact that in order to be most helpful, there recommendations should be

complete enough to make possible a simple positive or negative answer by a line manager. Staff

assistance should be problem solvers and not problem creators.

Making Staff Work as a Way of Organizational Life

Even under the best of circumstances, it is difficult to coordinate line and staff authority, for people must

be persuaded to co-operate. Staff persons must gain and hold the confidence of their fellow workers. They

must keep in close touch with operating departments, know their managers and staffs, and understand

their problems

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13. DISCUSS HOW TO AVOID CONFLICT BY CLARIFYING THE ORGANIZATION

STRUCTURE AND ENSURING THE UNDERSTANDING OF ORGANIZATION IN

BRIEFLY.

AVOID CONFLICT BY CLARIFICATION

A major reason for conflict in organizations is that people do not understand their assignments and those

of their coworkers.

chart merely indicates how departments are tied together along the principal lines of authority. It is

therefore somewhat surprising to find top managers occasionally taking pride in the fact that they do not

have an organization chart or, if they do have one, feeling that the chart should be kept secret.

Organization Charts

Every organization structure, even a poor one, can be charted, for a char merely indicates how

departments are tied together along the principal lines of authority. It is therefore somewhat surprising to

find top managers occasionally taking pride in the fact that they do not have an organization chart or, if

they do have one, feeling that the chart should be kept a secret.

Advantages: A prominent manufacturer once said that although he could see some use for an

organization chart for his factory, he had refused to chart the organization above the level of factory

superintendent. His argument was that charts tend to make people overly conscious of being superiors or

inferiors tend to destroy team feeling, and give persons occupying a box on the chart too great a feeling of

ownership.

Subordinate superior relationships exist not because of charting but, rather, because of essential reporting

relationships. As for a charts creating a too – comfortable feeling and causing a lack of drive on the part

of those who have arrived, these are matters of top leadership of reorganizing whenever the enterprise

environment demands, of developing a tradition of change and of making subordinate managers continue

to meet adequate and well understood standards of performance.

Since a chart map lines of decision making authority, sometimes merely charting on organizations can

show inconsistencies and complexities and lead to their correction. A chart also reveals to managers and

new personnel how they tie into the entire structure.

Limitations: In the first place a chart shows only formal authority relationships and omits the many

significant informal and informational relationships and omits the many significant informal and

informational relationships. Fig 10-1 shows many, but not nearly all, of the informal relationships found

in a typical organized enterprise. It shows also the major line, or formal, relationships. It does not show

how much authority exists at any point in the structure. While it would be interesting to chart an

organization with lines of different widths to denote formal authority of varying degrees, authority is not

subject to such measurement.

Many charts show structures as they are supposed to be or used to be, rather than as they really are.

Managers hesitate or neglect to redraft charts, forgetting that organization structures are dynamic and that

charts should not be followed to become obsolete.

Another difficulty with organization charts is that individuals may confuse authority relationships with

status. The staff officer reporting to the corporation president may be shown at the top of the organization

chart, while a regional line officer may be shown one or two levels lower.Although good charting

attempts to make levels on the chart conform to levels of enterprise importance, it cannot always do so.

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This problem can be handled by clearly spelling out authority relationships and by using that best

indicator of status salary bonus levels.

Position Descriptions

Every managerial position should be defined. A good position description informs everyone of the

incumbent’s responsibilities. That description also clarifies the authority in a position and states the

verifiable objectives for the end-result areas. Position descriptions have many benefits. As jobs are

analyzed, duties and responsibilities are brought into focus and areas of overlapping or neglected duties

come to light.

Forcing people to consider what should be done and who should do it is more than worth the effort.

Further benefits of job description include the guidance they provide in training new managers, in

drawing up candidate requirements, and in setting salary levels.

ENSURING UNDERSTANDING OF ORGANIZING

All the members of an enterprise must understand the structure of their organization in order for that

structure to work. This requires teaching. Also, since formal organization is supplemented by informal

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organization, members of an enterprise must understand the general working of informal as well as formal

organization.

Teaching the Nature of Organizing

Many soundly conceived organization plans fail because organization members do not understand them.

A well-written organization manual – containing a statement of organization philosophy, programs,

charts, and an outline of job descriptions goes far toward making organizing understandable. If an

organization structure is put into written words and charts, it has a better chance of being clear than if it is

not. However, because even the best-written words and charts do not always clearly convey the same

meaning to every reader, effective manager cannot stop with written clarification. They must teach those

in their operation the meaning of the organization structure, their position in it, and the relationships

involved.

Managers may do not this by individual coaching, by holding staff or special meetings, or by simply

watching how the structure works. If subordinates pass decisions up the line that they should be making

themselves, managers can take this opportunity to clarify authority. Too many group meetings or too

much committee work is a signal for managers to do some investigating. Thus, managers are obligated

continually to teach the fundamentals of organizing, for if they do not, their enterprise or department is

likely to fail.

Recognizing the importance of informal organization and the Grapevine

Another way of making the formal organization work effectively is to recognize and take full advantage

of informal organization. The nature of informal organizations and their distinction form formal

organizations were discussed. Many informal organizations arise from the formal organization in which

they operate. They include interrelationships that are not usually charted, such as the unwritten rules of

organizational conduct, the way to learn the ropes the people in an enterprise who have power not implied

by or coming from an organization position, and gossip.

The Grapevine Informal organization tends to exist when members of a formal organization know one

another well enough to pass on information sometimes only gossip that is in some way connected with the

enterprise. In the typical enterprise whose members spend many hours a day deriving material security

and status, as well as social satisfaction, form the grapevine the desire for information concerning the

organization and its people is strong enough that such information is rapidly transmitted between persons

who know and trust one another.

The grapevine, of course, thrives on information not openly available to the entire group, whether because

that information is regarded as confidential, or because formal lines of communications are inadequate to

spread it, or because it is of the kind, like much gossip, that would never be formally disclosed. Even

mangers who conscientiously inform employees through compay bulletins or newspapers never so

completely or quickly disclose all information of interest as to make the grapevine purposeless.

Since all forms of informal organization serve essential human communication needs, the grapevine is

inevitable and valuable. Indeed, an intelligent top manager would probably be wise to feed it accurate

information, since it is very effective for quick communication.

Benefits Informal organization brings a kind of cohesiveness to formal organization. It imparts to

members of a formal organization a sense of belonging, status, self-respect and satisfaction. Many

managers, understanding this fact, consciously use informal organizations as channels of communication

and molders of employee morale.

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PROMOTING AN APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATION CULTURE

The effectiveness of an organization is also influenced by the organization culture, which affects the way

the managerial functions of planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling or carried out.

Illustrations of organization culture are listed in table given below.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF ORGANIZATION CULTURE&MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Environment A Environment B

PLANNING

Goals are set in an autocratic manner. Goals are set with a great deal of participation.

Decision making is Centralized Decision making is Decentralized.

ORGANIZING

Authority is centralized. Authority is decentralized.

Authority is narrowly defined Authority is widely defined

STAFFING

People selected on the basis of friendship People selected on basis of performance

Training is in a narrowly defined specialty Training is in many functional areas

LEADING

Managers exercise directive leadership. They practice participative leadership

Communication flow is mainly top-down It is top-down, bottom-up, horizontal and diagonal

CONTROLLING

Superiors exercise strict control Individuals exercise great deal of self -control

Focus is on financial criteria Focus is on multiple criteria

Defining Organization Culture

As it relates to organizations, culture is the general pattern of behavior, shared beliefs, and values that

members have in common. Culture can be inferred from what people say, do, and think within an

organizational setting. It involves the learning and transmitting of knowledge, benefits, and patterns of

behavior over a period of time, which means that an organization culture is fairly stable and does not

change fast. It often sets the tone for the company and establishes implied rules for the way people should

behave. Many give a general idea of what a particular company stands for.

The Influence of the Leader on Organization Culture:

Managers, and especially top managers, create the climate for the enterprise. Their values influence the

direction of the firm. Although the term “value” is used differently, a value can be defined as a fairly

permanent belief about what is appropriate and what is not that guides the actions and behavior of

employees in fulfilling the organization’s aims.

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MAJOR PRINICIPLES, OR GUIDES, OF ORGANIZING

Although the science of organizing has not yet developed to the point at which its principles are infallible

laws, there is considerable agreement among management scholars and practitioners about a number of

them. These principles are truths of general applicability, although their application is not precise enough

to give them the exactness organizing.

The purpose of organizing

The purpose of organizing is to aid in making objectives meaningful and to contribute to organizational

efficiency.

Principle of unity of objectives An organization structure is effective if it enables individuals to

contribute to enterprise objectives.

Principle of organizational efficiency An organization is efficient if it is structured to aid the

accomplishment of enterprise objectives with a minimum of unsought consequences or costs.

The Cause of Organizing

The basic cause of organizing structure is the limitation of the span of management. If there were no such

limitation, an unorganized enterprise might have only one manager.

Span of management principle In each managerial position, there is a limit to the number of persons an

individual can effectively manage, but the exact number will depend on the impact of underlying

variables.

The Structure of Organization Authority

Authority is the cement of organization structure, the thread that makes it possible, the means by which

groups of activities can be placed under a manager and coordination of organizational units can be

promoted. It is the tool by which a manager is able to exercise discretion and to create an environment for

individual performance.

Scalar principle The Clearer the line of authority from the ultimate management position in an enterprise

to every subordinate position, the clearer will be the responsibility for decision making and the more

effective will be organization communication.

Principle of delegation by results expected Authority delegated to all individual managers should be

adequate enough to ensure their ability to accomplish the results expected.

Principle of absoluteness of responsibility The responsibility of subordinates to their superiors for

performance is absolute, and superior cannot escape responsibility for organization activities.

Principle of parity of authority and responsibility The responsibility for actions cannot be greater than

that implied by the authority delegated, nor should it be less.

Principle of unity of command The more complete an individual’s reporting relationships to a single

superior, the smaller the problem of conflicting instructions and the greater the feeling of personal

responsibility for results.

Authority level principle Maintenance of intended delegation requires that decisions within the authority

of individual managers should be made by them and not be referred upward in the organization structure.

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The Structure of organization: Departmentized Activities

Organization involves the design of a departmental framework. Although there are several principles in

this area, one is of major importance.

Principle of functional definition The more a position or a department has a clear definition of the

results expected, activities to be undertaken, and organization authority delegated and has an

understanding of authority and relationships with other positions.

The process of organizing

The various principles of authority delegation and of departmentation are fundamental truths about the

process of organizing. They deal with phases of the two primary aspects of organizing- authority and

activity groupings. There are other principle that deal with the process of organizing.

Principle of balance In every structure there is need for balance. The application of principle or

techniques must be balanced to ensure the overall effectiveness of the structure in meeting enterprise

objectives.

The principle of balance is common to all areas of science and to all functions of the manager. The

inefficiencies of broad spans of management must be balanced against the inefficiencies of along lines of

communication.

Principle of flexibility The more that provisions are made for building flexibility into an organization

structure, the more adequately an organization structure can fulfill its purpose.

Devices and techniques for anticipating and reacting to change must be built into every structure. Every

enterprise moves toward its goal in a changing environment, both external and internal.

Principle of leadership facilitation The more an organization structure and its delegations of authority

enable managers to design and maintain an environment for performance, the more they will help the

leadership abilities of those mangers.

Since manager ship depends to a great extent upon the quality of leader ship of those in managerial

positions, it is important for the organization structure to do its part in creating a situation in which a

manager can most effectively lead. The authority allocation and the structural arrangements create a

situation in which heads of departments tend to be looked upon as leaders and in which their task of

leadership is aided; organization structure has accomplished an essential task.

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