| Author: | Wong, Kin-shing |
| Title: | A study on structural dimensions for five retail banks in Hong Kong |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 1997 |
| Subject: | Banks and banking -- China -- Hong Kong -- Case studies Organizational behavior Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Multi-disciplinary Studies |
| Pages: | 76, [18] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to elucidate the organizational structural preferences of five Hong Kong retail banks from an organizational behavior perspective. Under the organizational behavior classification, structural dimensions are composed of three elements : complexity, formalization and centralization. Complexity is defined as the overall division of work in the organization. Alternatively, formalization is defined as the degree of task standardization through the use of written documentation. Centralization is defined as the Manager's discretion in having non-program decision making authority. The approach for this survey is based on a modified Robbins (1978) questionnaires covering these three structural dimensions. After analyzing the results of this survey, we can identify that - division of work is not high for the sample banks and the task nature of retail banking is non-professionalize. - overall formalization is relatively high with the sample banks prescribing written documentation to regulate work activities. - centralization approach is also high showing that the sample banks' branch managers have low autonomy. The use of the three structural dimensions for the sample banks resulted in the mechanization of human interactions within the banks. There are two reasons for these selected structural preferences for each retail bank : First, to cater for retail banking needs of a " team work " co-ordinate work flow pattern with retail banking services needing an efficient front line and back office staff for provision of services. Second, to nurture a cost minimization setting so that most of the organizational activities and decisions are programmed under a predictable and stable environment in order for a high quality decision working process and a level of consistency to be maintained. Given that four out of the five sample banks have taken similar structural preferences, we can therefore conclude that the sample banks are structured under a mechanistic design with low departmentalization between units, formalized job relationships covering each individual's accountability and organizational activities centered on a theme of "task control". |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| b14054085.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 3.28 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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