Organisational Structures and Communication - Activity

Task - Print version

The following paragraph describes the likely impact of the Boots' restructuring. But many of the key words or phrases are missing. Your task is to decide which word or phrase belongs where. Write in your answer to fill the gaps:

In an attempt to speed up plans to turn the company around, Mr Baker is trying to make Boots' organisation structure __________. By removing layers from the firm's central staff, the length of their chain of command will be __________. Cutting levels out from an organisation's __________ is a way of accelerating decision making speed.

Slimming down Boots' central team and leadership structure is one thing; getting the new message across to existing staff and keeping them motivated is quite another. The firm will need to use its __________ channels of communication to keep staff informed. It will also need to remember that __________ channels will be used as fears spread about where the cuts will end.

It may be possible that Boots might merely be removing levels from its __________ or the re-organisation might lead to a new approach to working at its Nottingham HQ. Creating project teams from existing staff and __________ its organisation, could have big benefits in terms of staff motivation, as workers often benefit from being given more __________. But whatever happens, Boots will have to be careful to listen out for and respond to __________ from its staff.

Now take a look at the answers...