Question

question 13
12 pts
what type of top management style does a bureaucratic organization in the formalization stage possess?
team approach
delegation with control
individualistic
charismatic

Explanation:

Identify the stage characteristics

The question asks about the top management style of an organization in the formalization stage of the organizational life cycle. In organizational theory (specifically Richard Daft's model of organizational life cycle stages: Entrepreneurial, Collectivity, Formalization, and Elaboration), each stage has distinct characteristics. The formalization stage involves the installation and use of rules, procedures, and control systems.

Analyze the management styles

During the formalization stage, the organization becomes more bureaucratic. To maintain control while managing a larger, more complex structure, top management cannot oversee everything directly (as in the entrepreneurial or collectivity stages). Therefore, they must delegate authority to middle managers, but they do so while implementing formal control systems (such as rules, reports, and performance metrics) to monitor performance. This corresponds to Delegation with control.

Connect to student profile

Using the Formalization in Organizations concept, we know that as formalization increases, the organization relies on standardized rules and procedures. This structural shift directly supports a top management style of delegation with control, ensuring that decentralized decisions still align with corporate goals.

Evaluate the options

• Team approach: Typically associated with the elaboration stage, where collaboration and teamwork are emphasized to overcome bureaucratic limits.
• Delegation with control: The classic top management style of the formalization stage.
• Individualistic: Associated with the entrepreneurial stage, where the founder runs the show.
• Charismatic: Associated with the collectivity stage, where leadership is strong and provides direction.

Answer:

• (A) Team approach
• (B) Delegation with control (Correct answer)
• (C) Individualistic
• (D) Charismatic