2015-03-27
683
LINE AND STAFF POSITIONS.
In business, organisation structure means the relationship between positions and people who hold the positions.
Organisation structure is very important because it provides an efficient work system as well as a system of communication. Historically, line structure is the oldest type of organisation structure. The main idea of it is direct vertical relationships between the positions and tasks of each level, and the positions and tasks above and below each level.
For example, a sales manager may be in a line position between a vice-president of marketing and salesman.
Thus a vice-president of marketing has direct authority over a sales manager.
A sales manager in his turn has direct authority over a salesman.
The line chain of command simplifies the problems of giving and taking orders.
When a business grows in size and becomes more complex, there is a need for specialists.
In such case administration may organise staff departments and add staff specialists to do specific work.
These people are usually busy with services, they are not tired in with the company product. The activities of the staff departments include accounting, personnel, credit and advertising. Generally they do not give orders to other departments.
II. Find in the text the following words and expressions:
линейные должности при вертикальном разделении труда; штабные должности при горизонтальном разделении труда; занимать должность; линейная структура подчинения; организационная структура; взаимоотношение; коммерческий директор; продавец; иметь прямую власть над кем-либо; отдел кадров; отдавать приказы; сложный; деятельность, работа; иметь отношение к конечному продукту; бухгалтерский учет; реклама.
III. Answer the questions:
1. What does the оrganization structure mean?
2. Why is it important?
3. What is historically the oldest type of оrganization structure?
4. What is the main idea of line structure?
5. How does it work?
6. What does the line chain of command provide?
7. When does it become necessary to add staff specialists?
8. What kind of activities do they perform?
9. What is the difference between line and staff departments?
10. Why is an advertising department or a credit department considered staff structure rather than line structure?
IV. Grammar and sentence structure.
