Identify the correct sequence of Organising function of management: (A) Establishing authority and reporting relationships (B) Departmentalisation (C) Identification and division of work (D) Assignment of duties Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(C), (B), (D), (A)
Understanding the Organising Function of Management
The organising function is a vital part of the management process. After the planning function sets the objectives and decides the course of action, the organising function involves structuring the relationships among work activities and personnel. It identifies and groups activities, assigns duties, delegates authority, and establishes reporting relationships to enable people to work effectively together to achieve organisational goals.
The question asks for the correct sequence of the steps involved in the organising function. Let's look at the steps provided:
- (A) Establishing authority and reporting relationships
- (B) Departmentalisation
- (C) Identification and division of work
- (D) Assignment of duties
The standard steps in the process of organising are generally followed in a specific order:
Step 1: Identification and Division of Work
This is the first step. It involves identifying the total work that needs to be done to achieve the organisation's objectives. This total work is then divided into specific tasks or jobs. This ensures that no essential activity is left out and there is no duplication of work. This corresponds to step (C).
Step 2: Departmentalisation
After dividing the work into individual tasks, similar jobs are grouped together into larger units called departments, divisions, or sections. This grouping can be done based on function (e.g., production, marketing, finance), product, territory, or customer. This helps in specialisation and coordination. This corresponds to step (B).
Step 3: Assignment of Duties
Once departments are created, specific duties or tasks identified in the first step are assigned to individuals or groups within each department. Each job is assigned to a person who is best suited to perform it, based on their skills and qualifications. This ensures that specific responsibilities are allocated. This corresponds to step (D).
Step 4: Establishing Authority and Reporting Relationships
In this final step, a structure of relationships is created. Each individual needs to know who they are responsible to (reporting relationship) and what authority they have to perform their assigned duties. This establishes a hierarchy and helps in coordinating activities within the organisation. This corresponds to step (A).
Therefore, the correct sequence of the organising function steps is:
- Identification and division of work (C)
- Departmentalisation (B)
- Assignment of duties (D)
- Establishing authority and reporting relationships (A)
The sequence is (C), (B), (D), (A).
Let's compare this sequence with the given options:
- Option 1: (A), (C), (B), (D) - Incorrect
- Option 2: (A), (B), (D), (C) - Incorrect
- Option 3: (C), (B), (D), (A) - Correct
- Option 4: (C), (D), (B), (A) - Incorrect (Assignment of duties happens after departmentalisation, not before)
The correct sequence is (C), (B), (D), (A).
| Step Number | Description | Corresponds to Option |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification and division of work | (C) |
| 2 | Departmentalisation | (B) |
| 3 | Assignment of duties | (D) |
| 4 | Establishing authority and reporting relationships | (A) |
Revision Table: Key Steps in Organising
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Break down total work into tasks. |
| 2 | Group similar tasks into departments. |
| 3 | Assign specific tasks to individuals. |
| 4 | Define who reports to whom and delegate power. |
Additional Information: Importance of Organising in Management
The organising function is crucial for effective management because it:
- Leads to benefits of specialisation by assigning specific jobs to individuals.
- Provides clarity in working relationships by defining duties, authority, and reporting lines.
- Facilitates optimum utilisation of resources (human, financial, material) by coordinating activities.
- Helps in effective administration by providing a clear structure.
- Enables growth and diversification by allowing the organisation to add more jobs, departments, and products/areas.
- Facilitates adaptation to change by allowing for modifications in the structure as needed.
- Improves effectiveness by clarifying roles and reducing ambiguity.
Organising follows planning and precedes staffing, directing, and controlling, making it a central pillar of the management process.
Important Questions from Organising
"The process of organising allows a business enterprise to accommodate changes in the business environment." Identify the importance of organising from the above statement.
Delegation of authority establishes a superior-subordinate relationship. It shows the degree and flow of authority in an organisation. Identify the importance of delegation shown here.
"It arises from a superior-subordinate relationship wherein the subordinate is bound to perform the duty assigned to him by his superior." Identify the element of delegation highlighted in the above lines.
The jobs in Akshay Cement Manufacturing unit were allocated to the members of each department in accordance with their skills and competencies. Identify the step in the organizing process.
Match List-I with List-II on the basis of meaning and the term:
List-I (Meaning) List-II (Term) (A) Right to command (III) Authority (B) Obligation to perform task (IV) Responsibility (C) Accountability (I) Answerability (D) Basis of management hierarchy (II) Delegation Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
