Week 1 Exploring Organisational Structures and the External Environment

Exploring Organisational Structures and the External Environment

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the effects of organisational structures and the external environment on organisations.

Introduce the learning objective and explain why it is important for students to understand these concepts.

What do you already know about organisational structures and the external environment?

Organisational Design and Structure

Importance of structure - functional, product, location, line, matrix

Explain the different types of organisational structures and their significance. Provide examples and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Span of Control

Definition and significance of span of control

Define span of control and discuss its importance in organisational structures. Highlight how it affects communication, decision-making, and employee supervision.

PESTLE Analysis

Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors

Introduce PESTLE analysis as a tool for assessing the external environment. Explain each factor and its impact on organisations. Provide real-life examples.

Political Factors

Influence of government policies, regulations, and stability

Discuss how political factors can affect organisations. Talk about the importance of staying updated on government policies and regulations that may impact business operations.

Economic Factors

Impact of economic conditions, inflation, unemployment, and exchange rates

Explain how economic factors can influence organisations. Discuss the effects of inflation, unemployment, and exchange rates on business performance.

Social Factors

Influence of cultural norms, demographics, consumer behavior

Explore the role of social factors in shaping organisations. Discuss the impact of cultural norms, demographics, and consumer behavior on marketing strategies and product development.

Technological Factors

Effects of technological advancements, innovation, and automation

Highlight the significance of technological factors in today's business landscape. Discuss the effects of technological advancements, innovation, and automation on organisational processes and competitiveness.

Legal Factors

Relevance of laws, regulations, and compliance

Explain how legal factors can shape organisational practices. Discuss the importance of adhering to laws, regulations, and maintaining compliance to avoid legal issues.

Environmental Factors

Impact of environmental sustainability, climate change, and resource scarcity

Discuss the growing importance of environmental factors in organisational decision-making. Explore the impact of environmental sustainability, climate change, and resource scarcity on business operations.

Effects of Organisational Structures

How organisational structures impact communication, coordination, and decision-making

Explain the effects of different organisational structures on internal processes. Discuss how structure influences communication, coordination, and decision-making within an organisation.

Effects of the External Environment

How external factors influence organisational strategies and adaptation

Highlight the influence of the external environment on organisational strategies. Discuss how businesses need to adapt to external factors to remain competitive and achieve long-term success.

Interactive Activity: Matching Game

Match the organisational structure with its description

Create a matching game where students match the different types of organisational structures with their descriptions. Encourage discussion and provide feedback as students complete the activity.

Interactive Activity: PESTLE Analysis

Conduct a PESTLE analysis for a hypothetical organisation

Divide students into groups and provide them with a scenario of a fictional organisation. Instruct them to conduct a PESTLE analysis for that organisation, considering the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors. Have groups present their findings.

Case Study: Organisational Restructuring

Explore a real-life case of organisational restructuring

Present a case study of a well-known company that underwent significant organisational restructuring. Discuss the reasons behind the restructuring, the chosen structure, and the outcomes. Encourage students to analyze and discuss the impact of the restructuring.

Review: Organisational Structures

Recap the different types of organisational structures

Summarize the main points about each type of organisational structure. Engage students in a brief discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of each structure.

Review: PESTLE Analysis

Recap the factors involved in a PESTLE analysis

Remind students of the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors discussed. Encourage them to reflect on the importance of considering these factors when analyzing the external environment.

Quiz: Organisational Structures

Test your knowledge on organisational structures

Create a quiz with multiple-choice questions to assess students' understanding of organisational structures. Provide immediate feedback and discuss the correct answers.

Quiz: PESTLE Analysis

Test your knowledge on PESTLE analysis

Design a quiz to evaluate students' comprehension of PESTLE analysis. Include scenario-based questions that require critical thinking and application of the concepts.

Applying Concepts: Design Your Own Structure

Design an organisational structure for a hypothetical business

Assign students the task of designing an organisational structure for a fictional business. Instruct them to consider the nature of the business, its goals, and the key factors influencing the structure. Have students present and justify their designs.

Final Thoughts

Reflect on the importance of understanding organisational structures and the external environment

Encourage students to reflect on the key takeaways from the lesson and consider how this knowledge can be applied to their future careers or entrepreneurial endeavors.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.