Question

Taylor Hospital has well-defined organizational units that provide maintenance, financial services, care for cardiac patients, care for surgical patients, and so on. The organizational chart indicates that surgical units report to a surgical manager and all nursing units report to a vice president of nursing; financial services to an accountant and then to a business executive; and so on. The primary disadvantage of this organizational structure is:

1) Breakdown in function and communication across specialties.
2) Lack of congruence in culture and organizational values.
3) Highly centralized decision making and authority.
4) Wide span of control.

Answer 1

The main disadvantage of the Taylor Hospital's organizational structure is a breakdown in function and communication across different specialties, often due to the bureaucratic nature of large organizations. Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary disadvantage of the organizational structure of Taylor Hospital, as described, is likely breakdown in function and communication across specialties. Hospitals, like many large organizations, can become bureaucratic, which often leads to a clear division of labor but can also hinder interdepartmental communication and collaboration.

This is particularly problematic in healthcare settings, where integrated care is essential for effective treatment outcomes. The organizational structure indicated, with each unit reporting to its specialized manager, may encourage silos where collaboration and communication between different units are inadequate. While this specialization can confuse roles and create redundancies, the nature of this question suggests that communication challenges are the most pressing concern.