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Organizing: Patterns of Departmentation

Organizations can be divided into departments in several ways: basic, functional, product, geographic, or a mixed approach. Functional departmentation divides the organization based on functions like marketing, finance, production etc. Product departmentation divides it based on product lines. The number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise is called the span of control, which depends on factors like job nature and communication methods. Current trends show increasing spans of control and fewer organizational levels due to technology. Line functions achieve the main objectives while staff functions provide advice and services to support the lines. Relationships can be line, staff, service, functional or teams which work towards common goals.

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Ibrahem Abdulrahman
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50 views6 pages

Organizing: Patterns of Departmentation

Organizations can be divided into departments in several ways: basic, functional, product, geographic, or a mixed approach. Functional departmentation divides the organization based on functions like marketing, finance, production etc. Product departmentation divides it based on product lines. The number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise is called the span of control, which depends on factors like job nature and communication methods. Current trends show increasing spans of control and fewer organizational levels due to technology. Line functions achieve the main objectives while staff functions provide advice and services to support the lines. Relationships can be line, staff, service, functional or teams which work towards common goals.

Uploaded by

Ibrahem Abdulrahman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ORGANIZING

Patterns of Departmentation
Organizations are divided into smaller units (a process called
Departmentation) by using a number of different approaches :
• Basic
• Functional
• Product
• Geographic
• Mixed
Methods of Departmentation:
Basic

YOU

Jane Jack Jill

Methods of Departmentation:
Functional Organization
The first logic of subdivision for most new
organizations, and which is present at some level in
almost any organization. Functional subdivision
need not be confined to a single level as in the next
figure. Marketing is often divided into sales,
advertising, and market research; and so on.

President

Finance Production Sales


Designer
Manager Manager Manager
Methods of departmentation:
Product organization
President

Vice-President Vice-President CD Cabinet Disk Box Vice-President Vice-President


Finance Production Division Division Marketing R&D

Accounting Accounting

Production Production

Marketing Marketing

Human Human
Resources Resources

Spans of Control
The number of subordinates that one manager is
considered to be able to supervise effectively.

Factors Determining Effective Spans


• Subordinate training
• Nature of jobs
• Rate of change of activities and personnel
• Clarity of delegation
• Staff assistance
Current Trends in Spans
The current trend in spans of control is definitely to increase
the "spans of control“, which ultimately decreases the number
of organizational levels within a given company or
organization. This shift to large spans of controls is due in part
to the Information Revolution. With more automated systems,
databases, and ever-increasing methods of communication,
decisions can be made efficiently. Line workers and
technicians no longer have a small role in a particular process,
but have the ability to manage, in large part, the particular
process that they are partly responsible for with the latest in
technology. This trend to large spans will generally be around
20 to 30 subordinates per span. and the organization should
consist of no more than five organizational levels.

Line and Staff Functions and Relationships


• line functions in an organization were those that
accomplished the main mission or objectives of the
organization, and these were thought to include
production, sales, and finance.
• Staff functions those that helped the line accomplish
these objectives by providing some sort of advice or
service.
Types of Relationships
• Line: relationships are superior-subordinate
relationships typically represented vertically in
organizational charts

• Staff: relationships are advisory in nature, degree


of influence may vary
– Provide advice on request
– Recommendations when appropriate
– Must be consulted by line but have no direct
authority
– Concurring authority - veto authority over line

Types of Relationships
• Service: Centralized support functions
– Custodial
– Security
– Medical

Staff

Line
Types of Relationships
• Functional: Specialized authority
– As binding as line authority
– Usually procedural
• Budget formats
• Computer systems
– Cafeteria

Teams

• Small group of people


• Serve interests of its members
• Exchange ideas freely and clearly
• Have common goals
• Committed to achieving goals
• Each team member treated equally

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