ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY By Vitaly Troyan

1. ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY By Vitaly Troyan

2. Learning Objectives • Discuss basic organizational design • List the differences of authority, responsibility and accountability • Understand line/staff relationships • Understand span of control • Compare advantages and disadvantages of a traditional/functional organization

3. Organizing Work • It all started with cavemen…

4. Organizing Work (cont.) • Assigning tasks to people based on their skills • Providing the right mix of direction and independence • Coordinating the work

5. Organizational Goals • Get the job done • Meet the needs of the organization

6. Basic Organizational Design • Break the work up into similar tasks • Balance workload • Assign people to do the work • Pick someone to manage the work

7. Assign people to do the work • Pick people with the right set of skills • Make sure they understand the goal • Make sure they’re interested in getting the work done

8. Pick someone to manage the work. • Create: • Authority – power to act, make decisions, and give directions • Responsibility – obligation to get the work done • Accountability – being responsible to a higher power

9. Some things to consider… • Line vs. staff • Centralizing vs. decentralizing • Span of control • “Tall” vs. “Flat” organizations

10. Line vs. Staff • Line – direct authority to get the work done • Staff – provides advice to line positions • Conflicts – “doers” vs. “paper pushers”

11. Line vs. Staff (cont.) • Resolving conflicts • Understand roles • Mutual respect - balance • Need for action vs. • Need to follow the rules • Prompt resolution of disputes • Building understanding • Rotation • Site visits/tours