Final answer:
Organizations that distribute decision-making to smaller units, such as in health care, do so to increase responsiveness and reduce bureaucracy. This approach emphasizes personal relationships and agility, contrasting with the trend of McDonaldization which standardizes and centralizes processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organizations that use a structure putting decision-making in small units of those who provide care are likely guided by the principles of reducing bureaucracy and embracing nimbleness and responsiveness. Such organizations prioritize personal relationships and rely less on formal mechanisms, allowing for more immediate and relevant responses to situations. This approach can be seen in the health care industry, where small, empowered teams work together to tackle complex challenges and streamline patient care.
Recent trends show a move towards flat organizational structures in many fields, too. With technology and rapid change dictating a more agile response, many organizations are shifting away from hierarchical, bureaucratic systems towards ones that are more collegial and team-oriented. In these setups, decision-making is often more distributed, with feedback being encouraged across all levels of the organization.
This is part of a broader social shift known as the McDonaldization of society, where uniform, centralized processes dominate; however, the response to this trend is the creation of more localized, adaptable, and decentralized structures to handle decision-making processes more effectively in smaller, more empowered units.
Advantages of Small Decision-Making Units
- Strengthens personal relationships
- Facilitates monitoring and enforcement of rules
- Allows for more tailored rewards and punishments
- Increases flexibility and responsiveness