Detailed Report: Structure and Culture of Sainsbury's Organization

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Sainsbury's organizational structure and culture. It begins by defining organizational structure and culture, highlighting key elements such as work specialization, departmentalization, span of control, centralization/decentralization, and the chain of command. The report then delves into the characteristics of Sainsbury's organizational culture, including individual autonomy, structure, management support, identity, performance reward systems, conflict tolerance, risk tolerance, communication patterns, outcome orientation, and people orientation. Furthermore, the report examines the organizational techniques employed by Sainsbury's, such as survey feedback, team building, value analysis, and job evaluation. It also explores Sainsbury's organizational management processes, including planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling, and details its information system management and the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM). The report concludes by summarizing the impact of organizational culture on the organization.

Structure and Culture of
Sainsbury’s

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
Elements of Organizational Structure..........................................................................................1
Characteristics of Organizational Culture....................................................................................3
Organizational techniques and management...............................................................................4
Information system management and organization.....................................................................6
Organization and total quality management................................................................................7
Impact of organizational cultural on organization.......................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Organization structure and culture are the most important aspects of the organization.
Structure can be define as the outline of company in which roles, responsibilities and power of
authorities are involved. Culture can be termed as the overall employees' beliefs, values and
behaviour which impact the organizational environment (Schneider and et.al., 2017).
Report will highlight the elements of organizational structure, characteristics of
organizational culture, organizational techniques, information management system and total
quality management. It will tell the impact of culture on organization. Sainbury's Company is
one of the largest chain of supermarkets in United Kingdom. The company was founded in year
1869 by John James Sainsbury.
MAIN BODY
Elements of Organizational Structure
Organizational Structure of the Sainsbury's
Organizational structure is an important part of the organization. Organizational structure
can be define as a system in which business activities are outlined and organized towards the
achievement of the organizational goals. There are various types of organizational structure
which are depends upon the size, numbers of employees under the organization and industry
structure etc. (Hierarchical Organization Structure, 2019).
Sainsbury's Organizational structure is hierarchical organizational structure. In this
organizational structure, there are various level of authorities on the basis of chain of command.
In this type of organizational structure, higher authority level controls lower authority level.
Organizational Structure chart of Sainsbury's
1

Elements of Organizational Structure
There are various elements involve in organizational structure of the Sainsbury's. These
elements are as follows -
Work Specialization – Work specialization refers to the degree to which an organization assign
employees those tasks or activities in which they are experts. It is also known as Division of
Labor. Sainsbury's organization follows work specialization which make their structure strong.
Thus, it is highly specialized organization.
Departmentalization – Departmentalization refers to the process of dividing whole organization
into some specified nature of work which is known as Department. Sainsbury's is highly
departmental organization where there are various departments and sub-departments. Thus, there
is rigid departmentalization in the organization.
Span of Control – Span of control refers to the numbers of employees who are working under
the supervisor or employer. In the context of Sainsbury's, there are more employees and few
supervisors, which means there is wider span of control (Winnubst, 2017).
2
(Illustratio
n 1: Organizational Chart
Source: Hierarchical Organization Structure, 2019)

Centralization and Decentralization – Centralization refers to the degree to which top level
managers make decisions by their own. Decentralization refers to the degree to which top level
managers give the right and responsibilities to the lower level managers to make decisions by
their own. Sainsbury's company has decentralized structure.
Chain of Command – Chain of command refers to the reporting relationship between bottom
level to the top level. It is depend upon the type of organizational strcuture, a company has
adopted. It is not only related to the communication but also related to the decision making and
authority power too. In Sainbury's, there is long chain of command in the organization.
Characteristics of Organizational Culture
Organizational Culture
Organizational culture can be define as the shared vision, behaviours and values of all the
staffs, employees and people working under the organization which is impart towards the
company's environment. There are various aspects which are involved in the organizational
culture such as expectations, experiences, norms, standards, guidelines, values and beliefs etc.
which lead employees to do work in a certain ways and create the environment accordingly in
the company (Young and Ghoshal, 2016).
Characteristics of Organizational Culture
There are various characteristics of organizational culture of Sainsbury's Company. These
characteristics are as follows -
Individual Autonomy – Individual autonomy can be define as the degree to which an employee
has the freedom to discretion in a particular situation arise in the organization.
Structure – Structure refers to the extent to which an organization clearly explain their objectives
and performance expectations to the employees.
Management Support – Management support can be said as the degree to which employees of
the organization get support, communication and assistance from their manager or supervisor.
Identity – Identity is the extent to which an employee see himself as a part of the team and
organization.
Performance Reward System – Performance reward system means the degree to which the
rewards are given to their employees on the basis of the performance rather than behaviours or
favouritism or seniority etc.
3

Conflict Tolerance – Conflict tolerance can be define as the extent to which there is conflict
between employees and teams. It also involves motivation and honest aspect too.
Risk Tolerance – Risk tolerance refers to the degree to which employees are encouraged to think
innovative and take risks for the work (Naranjo-Valencia, Jiménez-Jiménez and Sanz-Valle,
2016).
Communication Pattern – Communication patterns can be said as the extent to which an
organization permit their employees to do communicate with anybody in the company. It
basically involves the flow and medium of communication.
Outcome Orientation – It is also known as Achievement Orientation. Outcome orientation is the
degree to which Company is focusing on the results of performance done by employees rather
than focusing on the tools and techniques through which employees are doing their work.
People Orientation – People orientation means the extent to which management team while
taking any kinds of decisions, take consideration the impact of that decisions on the employees.
Characteristics of Sainsbury's Organizational Culture
CHARACTERISTICS HIGH/ MODERATE/ LOW DEGREE
Individual Autonomy High
Structure High
Management Support High
Identity Moderate
Performance Reward System Moderate
Conflict Tolerance Moderate
Risk Tolerance Moderate
Communication Patterns High
Outcome Orientation High
People Orientation Moderate
Organizational techniques and management
Organizational Techniques
4

Organizational technique refers to the method through which employees and other staffs
of the company is able to perform the tasks assigned. There are various techniques which are
being used by the organizations for the purpose of improvement in the performance of the
employees in order to make them efficient and expert (Osland, Devine and Turner, 2015).
Sainsbury's Organizational Techniques
There are various organizational techniques which is being used by the Sainsbury's
Company for the purpose of performance improvement. These organizational techniques are as
follows -
Survey Feedback Technique – Survey feedback technique refers to the tool through which
company is able to get to know about the perception of customers and employees for the firm.
This will lead company to do changes accordingly which lead to improvement in the
performance as well as organization itself.
Team Building Technique – The most popular and common technique, Sainsbury's company
uses. Through the team building technique, company is focusing on the team and its related
aspects in order to improvement in the employees as well as in the team which will improve in
the performance as well (Helms Mills and Mills, 2017).
Value Analysis Technique – Value analysis technique is a type of organizational technique
through which company is able to create the value for its related item. The item can be products
or services or process or model or plan or strategy or machinery or tool or method of working or
equipment etc. This technique help Sainbury's to reduce the costs which lead company to create
synergies. In this technique, Company analysis every aspects of the organization and accordingly
improve its efficiency which is result as improvement in overall organization and its
performance as well.
Job Evaluation Technique – Job Evaluation technique is one of the most important technique
being used by the organization for the purpose of improvement in the employees' performance
and improvement in the productivity and profitability of the organization. There are various
methods for the evaluation of the job done by the employees of the Sainsbury's Firm. These
methods are such as Ranking method, point method, factor comparison method, grading method,
summary method and non – analytical method etc.
Organizational Management
5

Organizational management refers to the process of getting things done from the
managerial staffs and employees for the purpose of achievement of the managerial goals and
objectives. Process of organizational management include planning, organising, staffing,
directing, and controlling (Brettel, Chomik and Flatten, 2015).
Sainsbury's Organizational Management
For the management of the organization, Sainbury's follows management process which
is mentioning below -
Planning – Planning refers to the process of predetermining about what, how, why and when
need to be done. It is determined on the basis of the organizational objectives. Top management
level of the Sainsbury's Company do planning for the purpose of achievement of the objectives.
Organizing – Organizing refers to the process of allocation of resources, grouping of members,
assigning the tasks and defining the objectives & authorities. It is done by the Sainsbury's
Organization for the purpose of implementation and execution of the plans prepared by the top
management level.
Staffing – Staffing refers to the process of finding right employee for the right job at the right
place or job position. This managerial function is handle by the human resource department of
the Sainsbury's. It is done for the purpose of hiring people for the achievement of the
organizational goals of the company.
Directing – Directing refers to the process of leading, guiding, motivating and building
relationships with the employees for the purpose of retaining them in the organization. It is done
by the Sainbury's Enterprise for the purpose of making employees satisfied, efficient and
motivated so that they can perform effectively and feel that they are an important part of the
organization.
Controlling – Controlling refers to the process of monitoring, evaluating and improving the
performance of the employees in order to improve their performance standards. Sainsbury's
Company is controlling their employees' performances in order to improve overall performance
of the firm for the purpose of making every stakeholders of the company satisfied and happy
(Hatch, 2018).
Information system management and organization
Information system
6

Information system refers to the system through which an organization is able to manage
and exchange the information within the company and its related users. It includes process,
collection, analysis, sharing and storage of the information.
Information system management in the context of Sainbury's Company
Management of information system is very important for the Sainbury's Company as it
helps organization to securely collecting and sharing of the data which lead to enhancement in
the effectiveness of the communication flow and communication process between two
employees or managers. It also helps staffs, employees and management teams to take decisions
according to the information received or collected by them. Proper management of information
system helps organization to keep and maintain the records of the data which lead to proper
analysis and forecasting (Burke, 2017).
Organization and total quality management
Total Quality Management
Total Quality Management (TQM) refers to the management strategy and approach
which is being used for the purpose of continuous improvement in the business and managerial
operations.
Total Quality Management in the context of Sainsbury's Company
For the implementation of the Total Quality Management in the organization, Sainsbury's
Organization follows some steps which are as follows -
Company make clarification about the mission and vision of the firm to the employees in
order to make them familiar with the organizational goals and objectives. Company uses
performance based measurement which will be use for the measuring of how well company is
meeting with its objectives. On the basis of the measurement, Company will analysis the
situation and identify the deviations. After that company will prepare the improvement plan and
communicate it with the employees. After that company will take require actions and implement
the plan. During and after the implementation, Company will do monitor the process and
evaluate the impact. If there is positive impact that means company has successfully
implemented the tqm system in their organization (Manning, 2017).
Impact of organizational cultural on organization
Changes in organizational culture enhance performance of employees by increasing its
efficiency and productivity. It also helps in maintaining quality in work for long term that help in
7

retaining employees in Sainsbury. It also helps in improving communication between employees.
Through this, employee can learn new things from different perspective (Edgington, 2017).
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarized that organizational culture and structure
plays an important role in the success of the organization. These both terms are interrelated to
each other. If organizational cultural is positive, that means employees are happy and satisfied
which lead structure to be become strong. In case, if culture of the organization is negative, that
means employees are not happy and satisfied. This would lead organizational structure to
become weak.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brettel, M., Chomik, C. and Flatten, T.C., 2015. How organizational culture influences
innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk‐taking: Fostering entrepreneurial orientation in
SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management. 53(4). pp.868-885.
Burke, W.W., 2017. Organization change: Theory and practice. Sage Publications.
Edgington, D., 2017. Wright and Sainsbury on higher-order vagueness. In Vagueness (pp. 307-
314). Routledge.
Hatch, M.J., 2018. Organization theory: Modern, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives.
Oxford university press.
Helms Mills, J.C. and Mills, A.J., 2017. Rules, Sensemaking, Formative Contexts, and Discourse
in the Gendering of Organizational Culture . In☆ Insights and Research on the Study of
Gender and Intersectionality in International Airline Cultures (pp. 49-69). Emerald
Publishing Limited.
Manning, K., 2017. Organizational theory in higher education. Routledge.
Naranjo-Valencia, J.C., Jiménez-Jiménez, D. and Sanz-Valle, R., 2016. Studying the links
between organizational culture, innovation, and performance in Spanish
companies. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología. 48(1). pp.30-41.
Osland, J., Devine, K. and Turner, M., 2015. Organizational behavior. Wiley Encyclopedia of
Management. pp.1-5.
Schneider, B. and et.al., 2017. Organizational climate and culture: Reflections on the history of
the constructs in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Journal of Applied
Psychology. 102(3). p.468.
Winnubst, J., 2017. Organizational structure, social support, and burnout. In Professional
burnout (pp. 151-162). Routledge.
Young, C. and Ghoshal, S., 2016. Organization theory and the multinational corporation.
Springer.
Online
Hierarchical Organization Structure. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.edrawsoft.com/hierarchical-organization-structure.php>
9