Which of the following does an organisational chart show?
The levels of hierarchy in a business
A large, complex business has many levels of hierarchy. What is a likely consequence of this structure?
Lines of communication are long, so change is slower
In a flat structure, managers have a wide span of control. What does this mean?
Each manager is responsible for a large number of staff
A supermarket chain's head office sets all prices and product ranges for every store. What is a likely drawback of this structure?
Stores cannot respond quickly to local customer needs
A franchise business lets each franchisee decide their own opening hours and local promotions. What is a benefit of this structure?
Decisions can be made to suit the local market
Employees are rarely told about changes to their work or how the business is performing. What is a likely effect?
Staff feel uninformed and their motivation falls
Staff are sent large numbers of emails and messages every day about minor issues. What is a likely effect on the business?
Time is wasted reading messages, which cuts efficiency
A manager explains a task to a new employee using technical terms the employee has never heard before. Which barrier to communication is this?
Using technical language the employee does not understand
A shop employs several staff on part-time contracts of 20 hours a week. What is a benefit to the shop?
Staff are paid only for the hours they work at busy times
What does working flexible hours mean for an employee?
The total hours are agreed but when they are worked can change
Which statement best describes the difference between permanent and temporary contracts?
A permanent contract has no end date and a temporary one has an agreed end date
What does working on a freelance contract mean?
Being self-employed and completing short-term work for other businesses
A business lets all its staff work from home permanently. Which is a likely drawback for the business?
Teamwork and communication between staff can become more difficult
What is meant by an organisational structure?
The way people are arranged in a business, including levels of authority
Which term describes the number of staff a manager is directly responsible for?
Span of control
What is meant by a centralised organisation?
A structure where most decisions are made by senior managers and passed down
Which term describes a structure with few levels of management, where managers have a wide span of control and lines of communication are short?
Flat structure
What is the name for anything that stops a message being received and understood in the way it was intended?
A barrier to communication
What is meant by a hierarchy?
The levels of authority in a business, from the most senior to the most junior staff
A building firm gives its site managers tablet computers so they can send photos and reports to head office from the building site. What is a likely benefit to the firm?
Information reaches head office faster, so decisions are made sooner
A chain of coffee shops keeps the same prices and menu in every branch. What is a likely benefit of this approach?
The brand image of the chain stays the same in every branch
A pizza chain lets every branch manager choose their own menu and prices. Which is a likely drawback of this approach?
Customers may get a different service in each branch
Which is a likely drawback for a worker on a freelance contract?
Their income can be irregular because they must find their own work
A hotel takes on six extra staff on temporary contracts for the summer season. Why is this a benefit to the hotel?
Staff costs are only paid for the weeks when demand is high
A manager phones a worker with an urgent instruction, but the mobile signal in the warehouse keeps cutting out. Which barrier to communication is this?
The message cannot be heard clearly over the phone line
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