Elementary Business Reading

How Companies Organise Workers

Read the text and then choose the best answer for each question.

How Companies Organise Their Workers

Every company needs a way to organise its workers. This is called the company structure. The structure shows who does what job and how different teams work together. It also shows who workers should talk to when they need help or have questions.

There are different types of company structures. The most common one is called the traditional structure. In this type, there are several levels of managers. At the top, there are senior managers who make the big decisions. Below them are other managers who tell workers what to do. This works well in big companies because it's clear who is in charge.

Some companies, especially smaller ones, prefer a simpler structure with fewer managers. This means workers can talk directly to the top managers. It also means decisions can be made more quickly. However, sometimes workers aren't sure who they should ask for help.

Another way to organise a company is to have different departments working on different products. For example, one team might work on phones while another works on computers. Each team has its own managers, but they are all part of the same company.

Some bigger companies use a special structure where workers have two managers - one for their normal job and one for special projects. This can help teams work better together, but it can sometimes be confusing for workers.

The most important thing is that a company chooses a structure that works well for its size and type of business. When the structure is good, everyone knows what they should do and work gets done more easily.


1. What is the main purpose of a company structure?

    To show where people work

    To show when people work

    To show how people work together

2. In a traditional structure, how do workers get information?

    Through different levels of managers

    Directly from senior managers

    By talking to other workers

3. Why do small companies often choose a simpler structure?

    To reduce company costs

    To make decisions more quickly

    To have more workers

4. What is one problem in companies with few managers?

    Workers have to work longer hours

    Workers can't talk to each other

    Workers might not know who to ask for help

5. In the special structure mentioned last, what might be difficult?

    Workers have too much freedom

    Workers might get confused about their manager

    Workers can't make decisions

6. What makes a good company structure?

    It matches what the company needs

    It has the fewest managers

    It has the most managers

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