Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Business Studies

Chapter

Organising

Question:

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

The McNeil name has been associated with the manufacturing and sale of pharmaceutical products since 1879, when Robert McNeil opened his first retail drug outlet in Pennsylvania. Growing as a producer of prescription pharmaceuticals, McNeil Laboratories, Inc. was incorporated in the U.S. in 1933, and became a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies in 1959. McNeil Consumer Healthcare began operations in Canada in an existing administrative Johnson & Johnson facility in Guelph, Ontario in 1980. McNeil Consumer Healthcare (nonprescription pharmaceutical products) in Guelph, Ontario is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies in Canada. An important difference between Johnson & Johnson and most other companies — is the concept of decentralized management. Instead of operating as one large multi-billion-dollar corporation, Johnson & Johnson is operated as 190 smaller companies, each focused on a specific medical or product franchise and/or geographic area, with each affiliate generating multiple options for growth. Through decentralization we combine the advantages of being big with the agility and focus of smaller firms. Decentralization enables each company to stay close to its customer, maintain short lines of communication with customers and employees, and accelerate the development of talent. The Johnson & Johnson - Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals company also operates from our Woodlawn Road facility in Guelph.

According to you, apart from the reasons mentioned in the paragraphs, what can be the major "Purpose" behind decentralizing?

Options:

To lessen the burden of the managers

To increase the role of subordinates 

To give more autonomy to the subordinates

Both 2 and 3

Correct Answer:

Both 2 and 3

Explanation:

The correct answer is option 4- both 2 and 3.

The purpose of delegation is to reduce the burden of the manager whereas, the purpose of decentralization is to increase the role of the subordinates in the organization by giving them more autonomy.  

Delegation and Decentralisation: A Comparative view

S No

Basis

Delegation

Decentralisation

1

Nature

Delegation is a compulsory act because no individual can perform all tasks on his own.

Decentralisation is an optional policy decision. It is done at the discretion of the top management.

2

Freedom of Action

More control by superiors hence less freedom to take own decisions.

Less control over executives hence greater freedom of action.

3

Status

It is a process followed to share tasks.

It is the result of the policy decision of the top management.

4

Scope

It has narrow scope as it is limited to superior and his immediate subordinate.

It has wide scope as it implies extension of delegation to the lowest level of management.

5

Purpose

To lessen the burden of the manager.

To increase the role of the subordinates in the organisation by giving them more autonomy.