Work design means creating jobs and work groups that generate high levels of emp

Question

Work design means creating jobs and work groups that generate high levels of employee fulfillment and productivity. The engineering approach focuses on efficiency and simplification, and results in traditional job and work-group designs. Traditional jobs involve relatively routine and repetitive forms of work. Job enrichment involves designing jobs with high levels of meaning, discretion, and knowledge of results. Self-managed teams rely on social and technical aspects of work systems.

Research and discuss an organization of your choice and identify the structure and work design. Identify both pros and cons to their type of structure. HAS TO BE 250 WORDS.

Explanation / Answer

In this case, the company selected is Wal-Mart. This company uses divisional organizational structure at the top level and matrix organization structure at the store level.

Organization divisional structure comprises of various teams that works in parallel and focuses on single service or product line. This type of structure provides the ability to segregate big department/ section of the business into different small autonomous sections.

Advantages of Divisional organization structure

When a team is required to focus on single service or product line divisional organization structure is the key to success. If every division possesses its own vice president or president then it basically ensures that division will be getting resources it required from the company. Divisional structure helps build esprit de corps and common culture which add to both a better knowledge and high morale underlying the portfolio of division.

Disadvantages of Divisional organization structure

Company having different divisions that are competing with each other results in office politics rather than appropriate strategic thinking. There might be instances where the actions of a particular division undermine other division of the company. Divisions might introduce compartmentalization which results in incompatibilities. There will be conflicts amongst different heads of the divisions for establishing its supremacy. There exist selfish attitude as every division attempt to perform better on the cost of competing division.

Matrix organization structure refers to the structure where there exist multiple and different lines of reporting that is people possess more than one formal superior or boss. Thus the solid line represents strong direct reporting and dotted lines represents relationship that possess weaker reporting.

Advantages of Organizational matrix structure

The main task of project manager is to coordinate different elements of particular project that are interrelated with each other. This structure is dynamic in nature which makes it adaptable to the uncertain and frequent changing environment existing the world of business. It helps make decision in time and thereby reduce the negative impact of frequent changes. This structure makes maximum utilization of the resource available with the company. Such organization structure opts for participative management where people work together in team on a particular project.

Disadvantages of Organizational matrix structure

This type of organizational structure results in psychological stress due to lack of stability underling the team structure, team members, work role interfaces underlying the life cycle of the project. This structure results in different conflicts due to lack of exhibiting clear responsibility or authority which makes the relationship between the superior and subordinate unclear. This type of organization structure results in inefficiency underlying the management due to conflicting policies, multiple managers, contradicting loyalties.

The work design of Wal-Mart comprises of functions, duties, position, standards of performance, different factors associated with job and knowledge of job. Wal-Mart focuses on problem solving and analytical, skills, knowledge for managerial positions. It focuses on interpersonal skills and job knowledge when it comes to work design for sales personnel. The specification underlying the work design of Wal-Mart comprises of business knowledge, communication skills and product knowledge.

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