Question

Hierarchy of authority, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein, ______.

A) is represented by the arrangement of having discrete parts of a task done by different people
B) unifies organizational members and gives everyone an understanding of the organization's reason for being
C) coordinates individual efforts in an organization into an organization-wide effort
D) is a control mechanism that ensures that the right people do the right things at the right time

Answer 1

Hierarchy of authority ensures that the right people do the right things at the right time, serving as a control mechanism within a bureaucracy. It establishes a clear chain of command from lower-level employees up to the highest levels of management.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hierarchy of authority, one of the four common elements of organizations proposed by Schein, D) is a control mechanism that ensures that the right people do the right things at the right time. This concept is integral to the structure of bureaucracies, which are formal organizations characterized by a clear chain of command, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality. For instance, in a retail corporation like Walmart, the chain of command delineates responsibilities from the shift manager up to the CEO, ensuring that tasks are allocated and completed efficiently, and that each level is accountable to a higher authority.

The hierarchy of authority aids in coordinating individual efforts, although that is not its direct definition. Instead, it primarily acts as a mechanism for controlling organizational processes and making sure that organizational members comply with their roles and the expectations set for them in their professional capacity.