Organization Structure – Who Reports to Whom?
Suggested Grade Level and Course: This activity is intended for 9 -12 graders enrolled in an Entrepreneurship or Introduction to Business course. NBEA Content and Focus Area Used for this Activity: Management: Business Organization: Management Levels NBEA Achievement and Performance Standards addressed in this activity: Achievement Standard: Analyze the organization of a business Level 3 Performance Expectations: Describe the interaction between management levels. Differentiate between tall and flat organizational structures Thomas Temple – Spring 2004 Introduction to the Learning Activity: Most students understand who is in charge at their school. For instance, the teachers are in charge of the individual classrooms. As far as authority goes, who is in the next level of authority? Assistant or vice principals. Who do vice principal’s report to? They report to the principal. Who does the principal report to? They report to the superintendent. Again most of us know this already. Imagine though you are an exchange student coming from another country. Could it be difficult to remember the “chain of command?” Ah ha! Thus the need for organization charts!
Once you leave high school you might enter the job force or become active members of an organization. Most organizations diagram the flow of management responsibility in the form of an
organization chart. Typically an organization chart will reflect the power structure of an organization. Understanding how to read an organization chart will enable you to understand the various avenues you will need to take in order to accomplish your goals. In this exercise you will create your own organization chart and answer some basic questions on organization structure.
Teachers: Please note - some links may have expired or moved, teachers should check the links before having students complete this activity. Student Directions: Open MS Word to a blank document. Place your name, grade, class period, date and Organization Structure Exercise at the top of the document. Save the document as Organization Structure Worksheet in your folder on the network. Remember to save your work often. Place the number of each question and state the question on the document, below the question put your answer in a complete and coherent sentence, free of spelling errors. Remember correct grammar and spelling are just as important as having the right answer. The answers to the questions can be found by visiting the hyperlink in the question. When you have completed this worksheet save a final copy, print it out and hand it in to your instructor.
1. After viewing three examples of an organization chart, re-construct the medium organization chart, as on the web site, in MS Word. Include the position titles in each block. Note – To insert an organization chart in MS Word go to Insert, choose Picture, then choose Organization Chart. Once the organization chart has appeared on your document you can use the tool bar to modify it. Raise your hand for help if needed. 2. List three characteristics of an organization chart. 3. In your own words what is organizational structure? 4. Name a characteristic of a tall structure (also known as tall organization).
5. Name a characteristic of a flat organization. 6. In your own words, what are a benefit and a drawback of a tall organization? 7. In your own words, what are a benefit and a drawback of a flat organization? 8. In your own words, under the medium organization, what is the difference in responsibility between the vice president and the directors?
Answer Key:
1. After viewing three examples of an organization chart, re-construct the medium organization chart in MS Word. Include the position titles in each block. Note – To insert an organization chart in MS Word go to Insert, choose Picture, then choose Organization Chart. Once the organization chart has appeared on your document you can use the tool bar to modify it. Answer:
Vice President of Development Director of Annual Fund
Director of Corp. & Foundation Giving
Director of Major Gifts
Director of Alumni Relations
2. List three characteristics of an organization chart. Possible Answers: used to show people the intended structure of the organization used as a management tool to further the achievement of your organizations goals they reflect the power structure of the organization they reflect the responsibility structure they are typically pyramidal in shape the person in charge is usually at the top
those on the same horizontal level are perceived to be peers
3. In your own words what is organizational structure? Answer – the formal decision-making framework by which job tasks are divided, grouped, and coordinated.
4. Name a characteristic of a tall structure (also known as tall organization). Answer – people are relatively confined to their own area of specialization. There is top down approach in which managers provide considerable direction and have considerable control over others. 5. Name a characteristic of a flat organization. Answer – they emphasize a decentralized approach to management that encourages high employee involvement in decisions. The supervisor tends to have a more personal relationship with his or her employees. 6. In your own words, what are a benefit and a drawback of a tall organization? Answer – This will have to be used at the teacher’s discretion. Key is to have students think for themselves and decipher possible answers from the definition. Possible answers could include: Benefit they allow more focused expertise on a given area managers have more control over subordinates
Drawback - too much control, doesn’t allow people to be creative - workers aren’t exposed as easily to areas out of their specialty 7. In your own words, what are a benefit and a drawback of a flat organization? Answer - This will have to be used at the teacher’s discretion. Key is to have students think for themselves and decipher possible answers from the definition. Possible answers could include: Benefit - employees are more involved in the decision making of the organization - the organization is more flexible and responsive to change in the environment Drawback - there is less management to control the departments - less specialization of assignments
8. In your own words, under the medium organization, what is the difference in responsibility between the vice president and the directors? Answer - This will have to be used at the teacher’s discretion. Key is to have students think for themselves and decipher possible answers. Possible answer could include: the vice president has responsibility for the overall performance of the organization where the directors are only responsible for the day to day operations of their department and their subordinates.
Rubric for Organization Structure Criteria Excellent Acceptable 1–2 grammar errors (3 – 4 points) 1 -2 spelling errors (3 – 4 points) 1 error (4 - 5 Points) Needs Improvement 3 – 4 grammar errors (2 points) 3 – 4 spelling errors (2 points) 2 errors (2 – 3 Points) Unacceptable
Grammar
Spelling
Org. Chart
Correctly answered questions Directions
Answers complete and coherent (5 Points) No spelling errors (5 Points) Created correctly with correct labels (6 Points) Answered all correctly (8 Points) Followed correctly (1 Point)
5 or more grammar errors (0 – 1 points) 5 or more spelling errors (0 – 1 points) 3 or more errors (0 – 1 Point)
1 -2 errors (5 – 7 Points)
3 errors (3 – 4 Points)
4 or more errors (0 – 2 Points) Did not follow all Directions (0)
Total Points ______/ 25
Sources: Updated November 4, 1998 http://www.advancementservices.com/orgchart.html
Reh, F. “Organization Charts as a Management Tool.” http://management.about.com/cs/generalmanagement/a/OrgCharts_p.htm “Organizing Process.” http://ollie.dcccd.edu/mgmt1374/book_contents/3organizing/org_process/org_process .htm