Management structures describe how organizations arrange parts to achieve objectives. A management hierarchy provides increasing authority at higher levels, while a flat structure has few management levels between staff and managers. A chain of command determines responsibility and accountability through supervision within levels of increasing authority in the organizational hierarchy.

1. An Introduction to management structures

2. Management structure is a term
used to describe the ways in which
parts of an organisation are
formally arranged to achieve
objectives.

3. Management hierarchy is the arrangement that
provides increasing authority at higher levels of
the hierarchy.

4. Flat organization (also known as horizo
ntal
organization) refers to an organization
al structure with
few or no levels of intervening manag
ement between
staff and managers.
The idea is that well-trained workers will be
more productive when they are more directly
involved in the decision making process, rather
than closely supervised by many layers of
management.

5. A chain of command or line authority is a
system that determines responsibility,
supervision and accountability of members of
the organisation.
What is the chain of command for your workplace/
family or any organisation you are involved in?

6. Span of control refers to the number of
people for whom a manager is directly
responsible.

7. Changes in organisational structures
There is a growing trend for companies to adopt a flat
management structure
What may be some advantages and disadvantages of this
structure?