Organizational Behavior - Assignment Example

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR goes here] [Your goes here] [Due the paper] Answer No In any organization, people are rankled according to their functions and level of jobs. In a hierarchical organization, each group of employees is subordinate to the upper level entity. As Burke (n.d.) states, “a hierarchical organization is a group of entities structured to be subordinate to a central idea, person or group of persons”. Centralization, standardization, and horizontal differentiation are such factors that affect the shape of an organization.

Centralization organizational structure shapes an organization in a way that all decision-making powers lie in the hands of top management. Such type of structure helps top management retain control of all business issues. Standardization, on the other hand, makes employees follow organizational norms and values and decreases the need for direct employee supervision. This fact reduces the need of controlling employees directly because employees have to follow the standard operating procedures set by the organization.

Horizontal differentiation makes the organizational structure flat and reduces the need for increasing levels of hierarchy in the organization. Informal organization stems from personal behaviors of employees as the emphasis is on employees instead of official organizational relationships. Informal organization strengthens the culture of an organization and helps employees and managers build strong and friendly relationship which also increases organizational productivity. Answer No. 2 Bureaucracy is the system of administration that runs the business of a government.

Two of the most important and distinguishing elements of bureaucracy include a set of rules and regulations and a clear hierarchy of authority. However, sometimes bureaucracy creates some problems for an organization. One of the main problems that occur with bureaucratic system is that of slowed decision making because of highly centralized organizational structure. Another problem which may arise due to bureaucratic system is the need to follow organizational rules even for such events that may not properly fit to those rules.

Moreover, bureaucratic systems also increase employee turnover rate because employees feel less powerful and satisfied. As Ingram (n.d.) states, “front-line employees may receive less satisfaction from their jobs in a rigidly bureaucratic organization, increasing employee turnover rates”. Managers can stop bureaucratic problems from arising by developing friendly relationships with lower level employees, as well as by considering the advice of concerned employees in decision making processes.

The principles of bureaucracy can help managers design the hierarchy in a proper and well-structured manner. The principles determine the roles, responsibilities, power, position-based relationship between different roles, and the way to control the behavior of different roles within an organization. References Burke, A. (n.d.). What Is a Hierarchical Organizational Structure?. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5063805_hierarchical-organizational-structure_.html Ingram, D. (n.d.). What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Bureaucratic Organization Structure?. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-bureaucratic-organization-structure-2761.html