Introduction to Management

Chapter Summary

Organizing aims at developing a definite structure of roles to achieve efficient organizational performance. Planning helps managers avoid mistakes in organizing by identifying future personnel needs and by developing the required lines of communication. It also helps managers identify outdated ways of doing things and thus helps organizations stay innovative. An effective organization remains flexible and adapts to changes in the environment.

By reorganizing, an organization can stay flexible and be responsive to the environment. A firm can use organization charts and position descriptions to avoid conflict. The efficiency of organizations increases when all members are taught the importance of informal organization and how it works. One form of informal communication is the grapevine. Managers must sometimes make use of the "grapevine" for effective communication and for improving the morale of employees.

Effective enterprises develop and nurture an organizational culture. The term organizational culture refers to a set of values, beliefs, and norms which influence the behavior of its members. The organizational socialization process is the process by which new employees assimilate to the culture of the organization. The organizational socialization process involves many steps from careful selection of entry-level personnel to providing them with on-the-job training, measuring and rewarding their performance and promoting employees who have performed well and using them as role models for the new employees.

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