Organizing, a management function, follows planning. It syncs human, physical, financial resources. All three are vital. Organizing achieves results, crucial for a concern’s function.
Chester Barnard states it defines role positions, co-ordinates authority-responsibility. Managers must organize to succeed.
Steps in organizing:
- Identify activities – List concern’s tasks: sales, accounting, quality control, etc.
- Group activities – Combine similar tasks into units or departments; called departmentation.
- Classify authority – Rank managerial positions, create hierarchy. Top: policies; middle: departmental supervision; lower: foremen.
- Coordinate authority-responsibility – Establish relationships for goal achievement. Define reporting lines, structure, promote efficiency.
In management, organizing follows planning. It coordinates resources—human, physical, financial—for results. The three resources collectively determine success. Thus, organizing plays a pivotal role in achieving a concern’s operational goals.
As noted by Chester Barnard, organizing involves delineating role positions, establishing authority-responsibility relationships, and ensuring a clear hierarchy.
According to Barnard, organizing is the pivotal function that enables an organization to define its role positions, create cohesive job descriptions, and establish a harmonious coordination between authority and responsibility.
In this way, managers must continually engage in organizing efforts to ensure the effective functioning of their respective departments or units.
A manager undertakes the organizing function through a series of structured steps which are as following:
1. Identification of Activities:
This activity is essential. All the tasks and activities necessary for the successful operation of a concern must be identified comprehensively.
These tasks encompass a wide range of functions, including financial management, sales, record-keeping, and quality control, among others. By delineating and categorizing these activities, a manager gains a holistic understanding of the concern’s operational landscape.
2. Process of departmental organization
Here, the manager groups related tasks and activities into coherent units or departments. This step, known as departmentation, facilitates efficient management by allowing specialized teams to focus on specific functions. The result is a more streamlined and targeted approach to handling the diverse array of tasks within the organization.
3. Classification of Authority
In the third step, the classification of authority takes center stage. Once the departments or units are established, the manager allocates authority and determines its scope within the hierarchy.
This hierarchical arrangement ensures a clear chain of command, with top management handling policy formulation, middle-level management overseeing departmental activities, and lower-level management responsible for supervising day-to-day operations.
This structured distribution of authority minimizes confusion, reduces duplication of efforts, and enhances the overall efficiency of the organization.
A crucial aspect of organizing is the coordination between authority and responsibility. This involves creating interconnected relationships among different groups within the organization.
By clarifying reporting lines, specifying supervisory roles, and developing a transparent organizational structure, individuals within the organization understand where they stand in terms of authority and accountability. This clarity fosters a conducive environment for collaboration and smooth workflow.
In conclusion, organizing serves as a fundamental pillar of effective management. It establishes the groundwork for a well-functioning concern by systematically arranging tasks, defining roles, and clarifying authority. By following the structured steps of identification, departmental organization, authority classification, and coordination, managers can ensure that their organizations operate efficiently, minimize wastage, and achieve their intended goals.”