Organization and Teamwork
UAB BUS 102
CH 8

Business in
Action 7e
Bovée/Thill

Learning Objectives
1. Explain the major decisions needed to design an
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

organization structure
Define four major types of organization structures
Explain how a team differs from a group and describe the six most common forms of teams
Highlight the advantages and disadvantages of working in teams and list the characteristics of effective teams
Review the five stages of team development and explain why conflict can arise in team settings
Explain the concept of an unstructured organization and identify the major benefits and challenges of taking this approach 8-2

Designing an Effective
Organization Structure
Organization Structure
A framework that enables managers to divide responsibilities, ensure employee accountability, and distribute the decision-making authority

Organization Chart
A diagram that shows how employees and tasks are grouped and where the lines of communication and authority flow
8-3

Key Organizing Concepts
Agile Organization
Company structure, policies, and capabilities allow employees to respond quickly to customer needs and changes in the business environment

Core Competencies
Capabilities that a company considers central and vital to its business – critical.

Work Specialization (Division of Labor)
Allocation of specific responsibility for some portion of an organization’s overall work tasks
8-4

Exhibit 8.1

Most people do one of these three things

Simplified Organization Chart:
Line and Staff
Legal

1. Make Things
(Goods or Services)
2. Market Things
3. Count or manage the money, pay bills or pay taxes

8-5

Defining the Chain of Command
Chain of Command
The path along which authority flows from one management level to the next

NOTE: A manager can delegate