Page 103 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Management Practices and Organisational Behaviour

Notes The following Figure 4.3 depicts the functional foremanship:
Figure 4.3: Chart showing Functional Foremanship

Factory Manager

Planning In-charge Production In-charge

Instruction Route Time & Disciplinarian Gang Boss Repair Boss Inspector Speed Boss
Card Clerk Clerk Cost

Worker

It was F.W. Taylor who evolved functional organisation for planning and controlling
manufacturing operations on the basis of specialisation. But in practice, functionalisation is
restricted to the top of the organisation as recommended by Taylor.

Features of Functional Organisation

The features of functional organisation are as follows:

1. The work of the enterprise is divided into different functional departments and the different
functional departments are placed under different specialists.
2. The functional specialist has the authority or right to give orders regarding his function
whosesoever that function is performed in the enterprise.
3. Under this system, the workers have to receive instructions from different specialists.
4. If anybody in the enterprise has to take any decision relating to a particular function, it has
to be in consultation with the functional specialist.
5. Under this system, the workers have to perform a limited number of functions.

Advantages of Functional Organisation

1. Functional organisation is based on expert knowledge. Every functionary in charge is an
expert in his area and can help the subordinates in better performance in his area.
2. Division of labour is planned not incidental.
3. As there is not scope for one-man control in this form of organisation, this system ensure
co-operation and teamwork among the workers.
4. This system ensures the separation of mental functions from manual functions.
5. It helps mass production by standardization and specialization.
6. This system ensures maximum use of he principle of specialisation at every work point.

7. As there is joint supervision in the organisation, functional organisation reduces the
burden on the top executives.
8. Functional organisation offers a greater scope for expansion as compared to line
organisation. It does not face the problem of limited capabilities of a few line managers.

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