Organisational Design (Edexcel A Level Business)

Revision Note

Steve Vorster

Written by: Steve Vorster

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Understanding Organisational Structure Terminology

  • Organisational structure outlines the reporting relationships, roles, and responsibilities of employees in the organisation

  • Businesses must determine what the best structure is for them to effectively implement their ideas and achieve their objectives

    • They should consider how the structure may affect the management and effectiveness of operations and communications

    • A well-designed organisational structure helps to promote clarity, efficiency, and accountability

Key terminology used in organisational design

1. Hierarchy

  • A hierarchy refers to the levels of authority within an organisation

    • It describes the ranking of positions from top to bottom

    • The higher the position in the hierarchy, the more authority and power it holds

    • The hierarchy usually includes top-level management, middle-level management, and lower-level employees

2. Chain of command

  • The chain of command is the formal line of authority that flows down from the top management to lower-level employees

    • It defines who reports to whom and who is responsible for making decisions

    • The chain of command helps establish a clear communication channel and helps to maintain accountability within the organisation

3. Span of control

  • Span of control refers to the number of employees that a manager or supervisor can effectively manage

  • It is based on the principle that a manager can only effectively manage a limited number of employees

    • A narrower span of control means that there are more layers of management

    • A wider span of control means that there are fewer layers of management

4. Centralised and decentralised structures

  • In a centralised structure, decision-making authority is concentrated at the top of the organisation, with senior management making most of the decisions

  • In a decentralised structure, decision-making authority is distributed throughout the organisation, with lower-level employees having more decision-making power

    • Decentralisation can promote flexibility and innovation, while centralisation can promote consistency and control

Different Types of Organisational Structure

  • Businesses typically structure their organisation in one of three ways

    • Tall organisational structures

    • Flat organisational structure

    • Matrix organisational structure

Tall organisational structures

  • Tall structures are characterised by multiple levels of management and a more centralised decision making process

  • A long chain of command

  • Common in large organisations with complex operations, e.g. government agencies and universities

A pyramid of grey silhouettes represents a hierarchical or tall organisational structure, with decreasing numbers of figures from bottom to top.

Advantages and disadvantages of tall structures

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Provides a clear hierarchy of authority and defined roles and responsibilities

  • Promotes specialisation and expertise within each department or function

  • Offers opportunities for career advancement and promotion within the organisation

  • All of the above increases efficiency and motivation

  • Can create communication barriers between the upper and lower levels of the hierarchy

  • Decision-making can be slow as information must pass through multiple layers of management

  • This can lead to bureaucracy and excessive levels of management

  • All of the above reduce efficiency and motivation

Flat organisational structures

  • Flat structures are characterised by fewer levels of management and a more decentralised decision-making process

  • A short chain of command

  • Common in small organisations or start-ups e.g. tech start-ups and small businesses

Diagram illustrating a flat organisational structure with one superior figure above six subordinates arranged in a line below.

Advantages and disadvantages of flat structures

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Promotes a culture of collaboration and open communication

  • Decision-making can be faster and more efficient

  • Encourages creativity and innovation as employees have more autonomy and flexibility

  • All of the above increases efficiency and motivation

  • This can lead to role ambiguity and a lack of a clear hierarchy

  • May not provide clear opportunities for career advancement or promotion

  • This may require employees to take on multiple roles and responsibilities, leading to burnout and overwhelm

  • All of the above reduce efficiency and motivation

Matrix organisational structures

  • Matrix structures are usually built around specific products or projects, e.g. KitKat has its team within Nestlé

  • They combine the functional areas of a business (HR, finance, marketing, sales) with a specialist team that operates inside the business

Organisational chart showing CEO at top, with Production, Marketing, and Finance Managers below, leading to Project A and B Managers.

Advantages and disadvantages of matrix structures

Advantages

Disadvantages

  • Promotes cross-functional collaboration and communication

  • Allows for specialisation and expertise within each functional area

  • Enables efficient allocation of resources and coordination of multiple projects

  • All of the above increases efficiency and motivation

  • This can lead to conflicts over priorities and resources

  • This can create confusion over roles and responsibilities, particularly when multiple managers are involved

  • Requires a high degree of communication and coordination, which can be challenging

  • All of the above reduce efficiency and motivation

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Steve Vorster

Author: Steve Vorster

Expertise: Economics & Business Subject Lead

Steve has taught A Level, GCSE, IGCSE Business and Economics - as well as IBDP Economics and Business Management. He is an IBDP Examiner and IGCSE textbook author. His students regularly achieve 90-100% in their final exams. Steve has been the Assistant Head of Sixth Form for a school in Devon, and Head of Economics at the world's largest International school in Singapore. He loves to create resources which speed up student learning and are easily accessible by all.

Jenna Quinn

Author: Jenna Quinn

Expertise: Head of New Subjects

Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.