Assignment 2.
Structural Issues
As
described in Chapter 4 of Reframing
Organizations, Herbert Mintzberg developed a five-sector “logo” in order to
categorize how organizations can be structured. Five specific structural types
are pictured: simple structure, machine bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy,
divisionalized form, and adhocracy.
1. Explain the role of each of
the five components of Mintzberg’s “logo” (write your explanations using your
own words – don’t simply copy the descriptions verbatim from the text or other source):
a. strategic apex (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
b. technostructure (Type
answer here, using blue font.)
c. support staff (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
d. middle line (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
e. operating core (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
Your answer to different
components of this question should total about 1-2 pages, single spaced.
2. Bergmann Cleaners is
probably the best established dry cleaning company in the Washington, DC area.
It was founded in 1917. It currently employs 150 people, most of whom are
involved with dry cleaning and laundry chores. It also uses a fleet of 20 vans
to deliver laundry to its patrons.
a. Which of Mintzberg’s five
structural types likely describes the Bergmann Cleaners structure? (i.e.,
simple, machine bureaucracy, divisionalized bureaucracy, professional
bureaucracy, adhocracy.) Explain your rationale in detail. (Type answer here,
using blue font.)
b. Name two other companies from
your community that employ the same structural type. (Type answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the
different components of this question should total about 1-2 pages long, single
spaced.
3. ABC Co. is a 200-person
company that specializes in conducting environmental impact analyses associated
with the construction of Federal, state, and local government structures. Its
sales group constantly monitors government announcements to see whether
requests-for-proposals (RFP) will be issued, seeking contractors to bid on
environmental impact assessments. When the sales group sees an interesting
prospect, they review the RFP then assemble a team to write a proposal.
Typically, the proposal must be written in a very short time frame. The
proposal writing team is comprised of corporate employees who have have
appropriate technical expertise, marketing/sales people, a business manager,
and editor/writers who can put together a well-articulated proposal. Each year
ABC Co. writes some 20-30 proposals in this fashion and wins 5-10 contracts.
a. Which of Mintzberg’s five
structural types is the proposal writing team most likely to reflect? Explain
your rationale in detail. (Type answer here, using blue
font.)
b. Give another example of
where this structure is appropriate. (Type answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the two components of
this question should total about 1-2 pages, single spaced.
4. Chapter 5 in Reframing Organizations describes high
performing teams
a. What is a high performing
team? How is it different from an average team? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. What are the six
distinguishing characteristics of a high performing team as discussed in the
book? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
c. Katzenbach and Smith –
authors of The Wisdom of Teams and
discussed in the book – point out that the true test of whether a team is good
is tied to the extent to which it achieves its performance objectives. What do
they mean by this? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
d. It seems that everyone
strives to develop high performing teams, but in practice we encounter few such
teams. Why do you think it is so difficult to develop high performing teams?
(Type answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the
different components of this question should total about 1-2 pages, single
spaced.
5. In Chapter 5, the authors
of Reframing Organizations discuss an
all-channel network. (Note: This
design is similar to Helgesen’s web of
inclusion as described in the Bolman and Deal book.)
a. When people try to get work
done through wikis and other social
networking techniques, they employ an all-channel network approach. Describe
why this is so? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. A significant problem with
all channel networks is that when the number of participants grows beyond a
critical mass, they cease to function effectively. Why is this so? (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the two
components of this question should total about 1 page in length, single spaced.
