6 Organizations and Their Structures Free Online FlashCards

What makes an organization a social system?

An organization is a social system in which people and groups coordinate through relationships, roles, rules, information, and shared meanings. Its parts are interdependent.

What does an organization’s formal structure specify?

Formal structure defines responsibilities, authority, and approved procedures within an organization.

How does informal structure develop?

Informal structure develops through everyday interactions, such as seeking advice from trusted peers or creating unofficial ways to solve problems.

What is a hierarchy in an organization?

A hierarchy arranges organizational roles or offices in levels of authority.

What does a chain of command establish?

A chain of command identifies who supervises whom in a bureaucracy.

What is a division of labor?

A division of labor assigns specialized tasks to different positions.

What is one benefit and one drawback of written bureaucratic rules?

Written rules and records can make decisions more consistent and responsibilities clearer, but strict rules may slow responses to changing circumstances.

What must decentralized groups still do to coordinate?

Decentralized or participatory groups still need ways to share information, make decisions, and coordinate responsibilities.

What is organizational culture?

Organizational culture consists of shared understandings that influence how members interpret situations and act.

How do members learn organizational expectations?

Members learn cultural expectations through socialization and interaction; groups within one organization may develop distinct subcultures.

What is a routine, and what does it help an organization do?

Routines are recognizable patterns of repeated action that help people coordinate work and preserve useful knowledge.

How can organizational routines change over time?

Members can adapt routines when problems arise; repeated adjustments can gradually change how work is done.