Question

The text discusses three kinds of organizational structures: matrix, boundary-less, and learning. In a 2-page paper answer the following questions: What is a challenge to reporting to more than one manager in a matrix organization? What might be a benefit? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of being employed by a boundary-less organization? What is a main cost of maintaining an organizational learning environment? What is the greatest benefit? Which kind of organization would you like to work for? Why?

Answer 1

challenges to reporting to more than one manager in a matrix organization

Matrix organizational structure is a structure in which authority is divided into two parts i.e. by functional area and by project. so employees have to answer to two supervisors. there are various challenges in reporting more than one manager. these are:-

1. the participants' potential is to be conflicted in between various managers.

2. difficulty in gauging the workload of individual.

3. it voilets the unity of command principle.

4. there is the chances of conflict as multiple managers are in charge to guide the behaviour of employees.

5. there is the chances of arising role conflict as well as task conflict.

6. no stress management as individuals are stretched across too many initiatives.

7.. there is no clarity on who is responsible for performance evaluation, coaching and professional development.

8.. no team learning because individuals are just involved for a short period of time.

What might be a benefit:-

1. company should clarify who is responsible to evaluate the employees.

2. company should identify the conflicting priorities between the managers to clarify the condition of confusion.

3. company should arrange the training and the develpoment program for the employees.

4. company should clear about the procedure of input capturing of employees by matrix managers.

by following this, matrix structure can become an advantages to the employees such as

resource coordination, flexibility in work, breadth of skills, specialization etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of boundary less organization

organization has some external and internal boundaries in the business environment such as boundaries which seperates the organization from its suppliers and customers and boundaries provide demarcation to departments. but in boudary less organization there is no such types of boundaries there is greater flexibility and free exchange of information and ideas in this type of organizational structure.

Advantages:-

1. there is higher integration and coordination in the organization.

2. there is more adaptablity to the environmental changes.

3. there is higher level of employees' productivity.

4. there is the availability of many options at all levels.

5. there is higher flexibility.

6. there is more responsiveness.

Disadvantages:-

1. very time consuming process.

2. difficulty in overcoming political and authority boundaries.

3. there is lack of control.

4. difficulties in communication process.

main cost of maintaining an organizational learning environment

learning organization is the organization in which there is the creation, acquistion and trasfer of knowledge in order to modify the behaviour of organization so that there is the reflection of new ideas and insights. this is basically a team oriented structure and experimentation is highly valued in this structure. there are basically five building blocks of this type of environment in the organization these are

1. systematic problem solving

2. experimentation with new approaches.

3. learning from own experiences and past history.

4. learning from other' experiences.

5. transfer of knowledge througout the organization.

cost associated with this type of structure are

1. very time consuming process

2. need of training and development

3. adaption with cultural changes and maintenance.

benefits associated with learning organization are

1. there is greater capability and productivity of employees.

2. there is less mistake in working criteria.

3. each and every work is done more efficiently.

4. there is more sharing of knowledge and skills.

5. employees are more satisfied and loyal to the organization.

6. there is less attrition.

i would like to work for the organization which has work environment of competitive and challenging because in this type of work environment i can enhance my knowledge, skills and experience. i would like to work in the organization where the training and development programs are to be arranges time to time to polish the skilss and abilities of employees. where the employees are more satisfied with the work environment and willing to spend more time in the organization which creates loyality factor in them. all these facilities are available in the organization in which there is learning organizational structure. so i would like to prefer the organization in which learning organization environment is present.