GMS 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Strategic Management, Informal Learning, Work Unit

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Global Management Studies
• Course: GMS 200
• Professor: Lori Anne Heckbert

Document Summary

Levels of management working relationships between organization members. Informal structures: a shadow organization made up of the unofficial, but often critical, potential advantages of informal structures: Informal learning: potential disadvantages of informed structures: May work against best interests of organization. Diversion of work efforts from important objectives. Feeling of alienation by outsiders into formal work units. Ex: since finance people are collected in one group, you can provide training and access to tools in an economic way. Task assignments consistent with expertise and training. In-depth training and skill development within functions. Clear career paths within functions: disadvantages of functional structures. Functional chimney problem: lack of communication and coordination across functions. Sense of cooperation and common purpose break down. More flexibility in responding to environmental changes. Expertise focused on specific customers, products, and regions. Greater ease in restructuring: disadvantages of divisional structures: Duplication of resources and efforts across divisions. Emphasis on divisional goals at expense of organizational goals.