問26
頻出度★★★
職能別組織を説明したものはどれか。
平成27年度 春期 ITパスポート試験 問26
ストラテジ系企業活動 › 経営・組織論
This question's explanation and your answers so far.
解説
問 26
Incorrectア
This describes a project organization (project team). The functions and people needed to solve a particular problem or achieve a particular goal are temporarily gathered from various departments, and the team is disbanded once the goal is achieved. The decisive marker is “limited in duration, disbanded after the goal is met,” which differs in nature from a functional organization that is maintained permanently.
- イ
正解 The correct answer is “イ An organization that divides operations into specialized functions and is structured with each function as a unit.” A functional (job-function) organization is the most basic organizational form: departments are carved out according to the specialized functions of work — manufacturing, sales, purchasing, R&D, human resources, accounting, and so on — and these functional units serve as the basic building blocks of the organization. Because people with the same expertise are gathered in one place, specialized knowledge and know-how accumulate easily, duplicated work is reduced, and efficiency is good. On the other hand, each department is only responsible for its own function and does not bear profit responsibility; company-wide coordination and ultimate profit responsibility are concentrated in top management. Choice イ states exactly this definition — dividing operations into specialized functions and structuring the organization with each function as a unit — so it is the correct answer.
Incorrectウ
This describes a divisional organization. Divisions are set up by product, region, customer, and so on, and each division is responsible not only for sales but also for profit (it is run autonomously as a profit center). The phrase “holds responsibility for the profit of its business” is the marker. It differs from a functional organization both in the axis of division and in how responsibility is assigned.
Incorrectエ
This describes a matrix organization. It combines a vertical chain of command based on functions with a horizontal chain of command based on products, projects, and the like, so that one employee belongs to two chains at once — a “dual vertical-and-horizontal structure.” Unlike a functional organization, which assumes one boss, a matrix organization gives an employee two bosses, so confusion in the chain of command easily arises. This contrast is worth learning as well.
ここがポイント
- Identify the four organizational forms by their axis of division: a functional (job-function) organization is divided by the functions of work; a divisional organization is divided into business units such as products or regions, each bearing profit responsibility; a matrix organization has a dual vertical-and-horizontal structure crossing functions with products; a project organization is formed for a limited period to achieve a goal. If you read the axis of division out of the keywords in each choice, you can answer immediately.
- The strengths of a functional organization are the accumulation of expertise and operational efficiency; its weaknesses are the heavy burden of coordination between departments and the fact that profit responsibility is concentrated at the top, so individual departments tend to lose a sense of ownership. This contrast of strengths and weaknesses is often asked about in questions comparing it with the divisional structure.
用語