Author Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of decentralizing decision-making authority in an ... (Read 108 times)

acc299

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 569
What are the advantages and disadvantages of decentralizing decision-making authority in an organization?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Define the hierarchy of authority and the span of control. Explain the relationship between the number of levels in hierarchy and span of control.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



triiciiaa

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 349
Answer to Question 1

An effective means of keeping the organizational hierarchy flat is to decentralize authority to lower-level managers and nonmanagerial employees. When lower-level managers have the responsibility to make important decisions, the problems of slow and distorted communication are kept to a minimum. This increased responsibility can increase motivation by making lower-level jobs more interesting and rewarding. In addition, fewer managers are needed because their role is not to make decisions but to act as coach and facilitator and to help other employees make the best decision. Finally, decentralizing authority allows an organization and its employees to behave in a flexible way, even as the organization grows and becomes taller.

Although more and more organizations are taking steps to decentralize authority, too much decentralization has certain disadvantages. If divisions, functions, or teams are given too much decision-making authority, they may begin to pursue their own goals at the expense of the organization's goals. Furthermore, with too much decentralization, a lack of communication among functions or divisions may prevent synergies among them from materializing and organizational performance may suffer.

Answer to Question 2

The hierarchy of authority is an organization's chain of command (the relative authority that each manager has) extending from the CEO at the top, down through the middle managers and first-line managers, to the nonmanagerial employees who actually make the goods or provide the services. In a hierarchy, each lower position is under the supervision of a higher one; as a result, authority links and integrates the activities of managers and employees across hierarchical levels.

The term span of control refers to the number of subordinates who report directly to a manager. As an organization grows and the problem of integrating activities within and between functions and divisions increases, the organization typically increases the number of levels in its hierarchy. As it does so, the span of control narrows.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

About 600,000 particles of skin are shed every hour by each human. If you live to age 70 years, you have shed 105 pounds of dead skin.

Did you know?

One way to reduce acid reflux is to lose two or three pounds. Most people lose weight in the belly area first when they increase exercise, meaning that heartburn can be reduced quickly by this method.

Did you know?

Limit intake of red meat and dairy products made with whole milk. Choose skim milk, low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Limit fried food. Use healthy oils when cooking.

Did you know?

In the United States, congenital cytomegalovirus causes one child to become disabled almost every hour. CMV is the leading preventable viral cause of development disability in newborns. These disabilities include hearing or vision loss, and cerebral palsy.

Did you know?

Calcitonin is a naturally occurring hormone. In women who are at least 5 years beyond menopause, it slows bone loss and increases spinal bone density.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library