Question

The structure of an organization is defined as

a. the basic purpose of the organization.
b. the sum of the individual working arrangements in place in an organization.
c. a system of task, reporting, and authority relationships.
d. a system of relationships that provides a framework of people.
e. the basis through which individual activities are monitored.

Answer 1

The structure of an organization refers to a system of tasks, reporting, and authority relationships, which constitute the backbone of formal organizational structures known as bureaucracies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The structure of an organization is best described as a system of tasks, reporting, and authority relationships. This refers to how an organization arranges its hierarchies, designates roles, and delineates the protocols through which it operates. Central to this concept is the bureaucracy, a formal organization structure characterized by a hierarchy of authority, clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.

In bureaucracies, each level of the hierarchy has specific functions and must adhere to a chain of command. For example, in a retail store such as Walmart, a sales associate reports to their department manager, who in turn reports to the store manager, and so on up to the CEO, reflecting a structured chain of authority. This structure ensures that the organization can perform complex tasks efficiently and can serve as a foundation for both small and large institutions.