Organisation and management
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| organisational structure | 组织结构 | zǔ zhī jié gòu |
| organisation chart | 组织结构图 | zǔ zhī jié gòu tú |
| hierarchy | 层级 | céng jí |
| chain of command | 指挥链 | zhǐ huī liàn |
| span of control | 管理幅度 | guǎn lǐ fú dù |
| subordinates | 下属 | xià shǔ |
| autocratic | 专制型 | zhuān zhì xíng |
| democratic | 民主型 | mín zhǔ xíng |
| laissez-faire | 放任型 | fàng rèn xíng |
| delegated | 授权 | shòu quán |
Organising the people
- Once a business has more than a few staff, someone must decide who does what and who reports to whom.
- The result is the organisational structure 组织结构.
Choose the ownership form
Compare ownership, control and liability in real business types.
A diagram showing roles and reporting lines is an organisation ______.
The org chart shows hierarchy and the chain of command.
The organisation chart 组织结构图
- An organisation chart shows roles, levels of hierarchy 层级, and who reports to whom.
- It makes the chain of command 指挥链 and responsibilities clear.
Authority flows down the chain of command, level by level.
The span of control is:
Span of control = direct subordinates per manager.
The chain of command is:
It is the line down which authority flows.
Span of control 管理幅度 and chain of command
- Span of control: the number of subordinates 下属 a manager directly oversees.
- Chain of command: the line of authority from the top down.
- A wide span means fewer levels (flatter); a narrow span means more levels (taller).
Managers organise and lead the workforce
An autocratic leader:
Autocratic leaders decide alone.
A manager who delegates a task is still responsible for the result.
Authority is delegated; responsibility is not.
Roles and styles
- Managers plan, organise, command, coordinate and control.
- Leadership styles: autocratic 专制型 (the leader decides), democratic 民主型 (consults staff), laissez-faire 放任型 (hands-off).
Authority can be delegated 授权; responsibility stays with the manager. A manager can pass a task down the chain, but is still accountable for whether it gets done.
You've got it
- an organisation chart shows hierarchy, roles and the chain of command
- span of control = subordinates per manager; wide span → flatter structure
- leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire