Designing Organisational Structure McShane Chapter 13 Critical Thinking, p445 Question 1 Haiers organisational structure was described at the beginning of this chapter. What coordinating mechanism is likely to be most common in this organisation? Describe the extent and form in which the other two types of coordination might be apparent at Haier. Question 2 Think about an organisation for which you or one of your close family members or friends has worked. What is the dominant coordinating mechanism used to guide or control the employees in that organisation? Why is this coordinating mechanism used the most here? Question 3 Administrative theorists concluded many decades ago that the most effective organisations have a narrow span of control. Yet todays topperforming manufacturing firms have a wider span of control. Why is this possible? Under what circumstances, if any, should manufacturing firms use a narrow span of control? Question 4 Leaders of large organisations struggle to identify the best degree and types of centralisation and decentralisation. What should companies consider when determining the degree of decentralisation? Question 5 Mechanistic and organic structures are two organisational forms. How do the three types of coordination mechanisms operate through these forms? Question 6 From an employee perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of working in a matrix structure? Question 7 Suppose that you have been hired as a consultant to diagnose the environmental characteristics of your college. How would you describe the colleges external environment? Is the colleges existing structure appropriate for this environment? Question 8 What contingencies should an organisation take into account when determining an appropriate organisational design? Describe how these factors may influence the choice of organisational design.