A drawback of the functional structure is:
A)that each worker must report to more than one superior.
B)the difficulty in communicating and coordinating across functions.
C)too much decentralization of decision-making authority.
D)its lack of flexibility in decision-making.
E)the need to downsize before implementing this structure.

Question

A drawback of the functional structure is:
A)that each worker must report to more than one superior.
B)the difficulty in communicating and coordinating across functions.
C)too much decentralization of decision-making authority.
D)its lack of flexibility in decision-making. 
E)the need to downsize before implementing this structure.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The functional structure groups employees by their specialized functions and becomes more hierarchical as the organization grows. Technical experts report to a functional manager who then reports to higher-level managers. This results in difficulty in communicating and coordinating across functions because there is little interaction between the different levels of management. Managers can become too caught up in their own area of expertise and not see the bigger picture, which can lead to a lack of innovation and slow decision-making. The other options are incorrect because functional structures typically involve a clear reporting structure, decision-making authority is usually centralized at the top, and downsizing is not a requirement for implementing this structure.

A Drawback of the Functional Structure Is