Effective Organizational Structure and Team Management

Divided Authority and Consolidation

One of the disadvantages of departmentalization is that authority is delegated to such a degree that, in some cases, no one except the general director provides sufficient authority for the implementation of actions.

7 Recommendations for Committee Success

Authority

The authority of a committee should be as explicit as possible so members know if it is their responsibility to take decisions, make suggestions, or offer ideas on a certain topic.

Number of Members

The number of members is very important; complex interrelationships greatly increase as the number of group members grows.

Membership

For a committee to be successful, members must be representative of the interests they are supposed to promote.

Scope

The work of a committee should be limited to matters that can be handled effectively in a group discussion.

The President

The selection of a president is crucial for an effective committee. This individual can avoid wasting time and other inconveniences by planning the meeting, preparing the agenda, determining the atmosphere, integrating ideas, and keeping the discussion on track.

Minutes

For communication to be effective, committees require the circulation of minutes to verify conclusions.

Cost Efficiency

A committee must justify its costs. It is only viable if its expenses are offset by tangible and intangible benefits.

Teams and Self-Directed Teams

• Team: A small number of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose, performance targets, and a working method for which they are mutually responsible.
• Self-Directed Team: A team that has the authority to determine what should be done and who will do it.

Characteristics of Groups

1. Members share one or more common tasks.
2. Interaction and communication between members are required.
3. Group members assume specific roles.
4. Groups are usually part of a larger organization.

Asch Experiment

(Content regarding the Asch conformity experiments.)

Focus Groups

Real or potential customers are gathered in groups and asked to comment on a product or service before undertaking large-scale research.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Groups

Advantages

• If members participate in setting goals, they are likely to engage more deeply with the implementation of those goals.
• Provides social satisfaction, a sense of belonging, and support to individuals.
• Promotes communication.

Disadvantages

• It is difficult to function as a team when each member communicates only with the leader.