Area of Study 1: Administrative SupportUnit 1 – Introductionto Business Organisations

Standard GradeAdministration

Area 1: Introduction to Business

Unit 1a: Organisation of Departments

2009 Foundation Question 16

The Organisation Chart for Linburn Motor Group is shown below.

(a)How many employees report directly to the Managing Director?

______KU1

(b)Mia Dow needs urgent help with a problem but Bradley Sim is attending a conference. Who should Mia go to for advice?

Mia should ______

______PS1

(c)Which department would update the staff database within Linburn Motor Group?

______KU1

(d)Where would an organisation chart usually be displayed?

______KU1

2008 Foundation Question 2

Below is the organisation chart for ToyTown.

(a)State one advantage of displaying an organisation chart in the reception area.

______

______KU1

(b)State the name of the employee to whom Ross Burns reports.

______KU1

(c)Alex Smith needs help with a finance problem. Ray Higgins has the week off. What should Alex do?

Alex should ______

______PS1

2007 Foundation Question 2

Below is the Organisation Chart for Sigma Screen Printer plc.

(a)How many staff report directly to Evelyn Coull, Manager?

______KU1

(b)Neil Parslow needs help with an urgent sales problem. Jim Hufton is attending a conference. Who should Neil go to for advice?

Neil should ______

______PS1

(c)Name one other piece of information which could be shown on an organisation chart.

______KU1

(d)An organisation chart is useful for visitors. Who else could find an organisation chart useful?

______KU1

2006 Foundation Question 11

(a)State the name of the employee who is directly responsible for the Finance Assistant.

______KU1

(b)How many employees are responsible to the Sales & Marketing Manager?

______KU1

(c)Anna March needs urgent help with a problem, but Fraser Thompson is attending a training course. How can this problem be solved?

Anna March should ______

______

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(d)State one more piece of information which could have been included in the above organisation chart.

______KU1

(e)State one advantage of an organisation chart to a new employee.

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______KU1

2005 Foundation Question 8

Below is the organisation chart for Burnston plc.

Melissa Fitzgerald
Manager
Vincent Clark
Human Resources Supervisor / Hiu Nam Wong
Accountant / Wendy Hamilton
Buyer / Carol McLean
Sales Supervisor
Ross Stuart
Administration Assistant / Greg Sinclair
Administration Assistant / Chloe Pearce
Administration Assistant / Jack Graham
Administration Assistant

(a)Who is in charge of the Human Resources Section?

______KU1

(b)To whom is Chloe Pearce directly responsible?

______KU1

(c)Greg Sinclair needs help with a financial task. Hiu Nam Wong is not in the office.

Greg Sinclair should ______

______PS1

(d)Name one other piece of information which could be shown on this organisation chart.

______KU1

(e)Give an example of a ‘line relationship’ from the above diagram and explain what is meant by the term.

Example: ______

A line relationship is ______

______

______KU2

2004 Foundation Question 5

The organisation chart below is for Yorkhall Office Supplies.

Heather Wise
Managing Director
Kirsty Lamb
Human Resources Manager / Robert Gregor
Finance Manager / Marie Hassan
Purchases and Sales Manager
Sarah Owen
Recruitment Officer / Richard McIntosh
Health & Safety Officer / Helen Cole
Accountant / David Grahame
Purchases Supervisor / Carima Ali
Sales Supervisor
Paul Gallagher
Administration Assistant / Tina Hillman
Administration Assistant / Liam Oswald
Administration Assistant / Marion Clarke
Administration Assistant / Ray Colman
Administration Assistant

(a)Who is in charge of the Finance Department?

______KU1

(b)Name one person who reports to the Human Resources Manager.

______KU1

(d)Ray Colman needs help with a sales problem. Carima Ali is off sick. To whom should he go to for advice?

Ray Colman should ______

______PS1

2003 Foundation Question 9

Below is the organisation chart of Kayak Interiors plc.

KAYAK INTERIORS PLC
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Tom Patterson
FINANCE MANAGER
Kevin McColl / PURCHASING MANAGER
Fiona Bell / SALES MANAGER
Jack Badger / PERSONNEL MANAGER
Sam Stein
ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR
Rita Gomez / CHIEF BUYER
Andras Schiff / SALES SUPERVISOR
Sasha Savundra / RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OFFICER
Hugh Morton
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Sam Mckelvie
Jean Dinsmore / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Peter Gallacher / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Fran McGhee
Susan Thomson / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Tina Vettese

(a)State the Job Title of the person with overall responsibility for the firm.

______KU1

(b)Peter Gallacher needs help with an urgent order, but Andras Schiff is unavailable. What should Peter do?

Peter Gallacher should ______

______PS1

(c)How many staff report directly to the Chief Executive, Tom Patterson?

______KU1

(d)Fiona Bell would like Sam McKelvie of the Finance Department to carry out some work for her. Whom should Fiona approach to arrange this?

Fiona should ______

______PS1

2009 General Question 3

(a)Describe 2 uses of an organisation chart for employees.

1 ______

______

2 ______

______KU2

(b)Name the term which means “the way in which instructions are passed down”.

______KU1

(c)Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of a flat management structure.

Advantage ______

______

______

Disadvantage ______

______

______KU2

2008 General Question 16

(a)Using the above organisation chart, identify 2 promoted members of staff who have the same level of responsibility.

______

______KU1

(b)Using this organisation chart, give an example of 2 members of staff who have a line relationship.

______

______KU1

(c)What is meant by the term “span of control”?

______

______KU1

2007 General Question 4

(a)Describe one advantage of a tall organisational structure.

______

______KU1

(b)Describe one disadvantage of a tall organisational structure.

______

______KU1

(c)Explain what is meant by the term lateral relationship.

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______KU1

(d)Describe one disadvantage of using an organisation chart.

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______KU1

2006 General Question 1

Interior Design Ltd is located in Edinburgh and supplies soft furnishings to the whole of the UK.

(b)Explain the following terms.

(i)Chain of Command ______

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(ii)Level of Responsibility ______

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______KU2

2005 General Question 14

Phyllis MacLeod, an Administration Assistant within BH Enterprises, has prepared an organisation chart to be displayed in the reception area.

Explain one advantage to an employee and one advantage to a visitor of preparing an organisation chart.

You should give a different advantage for each.

Advantage to an employee

______

______

______

Advantage to a visitor

______

______

______KU2

2004 General Question 12

(a)Explain clearly 2 advantages of a flat organisational structure.

1 ______

______

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2 ______

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______KU2

(b)Explain clearly 2 disadvantages of a flat organisational structure.

1 ______

______

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2 ______

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______KU2

2003 General Question 5

The organisation chart of Ballantyne Computers is shown on the next page.

(a)What business term describes the relationship between Peta Bee and Andrew Parslow?

______KU1

(c)Suggest 2 ways in which the organisation chart of Ballantyne Computers may be helpful to a new employee.

1 ______

______

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2 ______

______

______KU2

(d)Explain what is meant by the “chain of command”.

______

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______KU1

Unit 1a – Organisation of DepartmentsPage 1

Area of Study 1: Administrative SupportUnit 1 – Introductionto Business Organisations

BALLANTYNE COMPUTERS

Managing Director

Philip Harland

Admin ServicesSales and MarketingPurchasesFinance Services

ManagerManagerManagerManager

Rosie NorrisBob WischniaPeta BeeAndrew Parslow

ICTAdminSalesMarketingPurchasesAccountsWages

SupervisorSupervisorSupervisorSupervisorSupervisorSupervisorSupervisor

Claudia Malley Clare ThomsonSteve SmytheOliver RobertsEmma LitterickRob Spedding Ian Benskin

IT SupportAdminSalesSalesMarketingBuyerStockAccountsWages

TechnicianAssistantRepRepAssistantControllerAssistantClerk

Jill JefcoateJohn HalsteadGreg GarrodTony HowleyMarty HainesLuke Cunliffe Frank Thompson Tracey Vaughan Jack Daniels

Unit 1a – Organisation of DepartmentsPage 1

Area of Study 1: Administrative SupportUnit 1 – Introductionto Business Organisations

2009 Credit Question 1

(b)Suggest 2 possible benefits to an organisation of delayering.

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______KU2

2008 Credit Question 1

(a)The following is a section of the organisation chart of The Escada Corporation

Identify 2 types of relationship shown, giving examples from the chart to support your answer.

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______KU4

2007 Credit Question 9

Below is the Organisation Chart of Carduelis plc.

CARDUELIS PLC
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GENERAL MANAGER
MANAGER HUMAN RESOURCES / MANAGER
FINANCE / MANAGER
PURCHASES / MANAGER
SALES & MARKETING
Assistant Manager
Training & Development / Assistant Manager
Health & Safety / Assistant Manager / Assistant Manager / Assistant Manager / Assistant Manager
Admin Assistant / Admin Assistant / Admin Assistant / Admin Assistant / Admin Assistant / Admin Assistant

At a recent Board Meeting, the Directors decided to centralise the administrative support function and to relocate the 6 admin assistants. The Directors appoint Hollie Shaw as the Administration Manager and Grant Mason as her Assistant Manager. Grant will be responsible for the admin assistants in the new department.

(a)Draw only that part of the organisation chart that will illustrate the administrative support function. PS3

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(b)What effects will this restructuring have on the promoted members of staff?

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______KU3

(c)Explain the advantages and disadvantages to other departments as a result of centralising the administrative support function.

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______KU5

Credit 2005 Question 3

(a)Microtech Ltd specialises in the manufacture of laptop computers. There has been a recent fall in demand for its products worldwide.

As a result, staff wages are too high in relation to sales.

Recommend 2 ways in which Microtech Ltd could be re-organised to solve this problem. Justify your answers.

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______PS4

2004 Credit Question 2

(b)Describe 2 effects that restructuring may have on an organisation.

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______KU2

(c)Justify the use of an organisation chart to a firm following restructuring.

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______KU2

2003 Credit Question 3a

Explain the benefits to an organisation of having a centralised filing system.

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______KU4

2003 Credit Question 6

(a)Maddie Morrison is General Manager of Ideal Software Ltd. The firm has recently experienced the following problems.

(i)Communication has become difficult between different levels of staff.

(ii)A number of staff have complained that their jobs are boring due to lack of variety.

Suggest and justify how a change of structure within the organisation could solve these problems. PS4

Unit 1a – Organisation of DepartmentsPage 1