Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Certification Practice Test

In which type of organization does the operating core serve as the major coordinating influence?

1. Simple structure

2. Professional bureaucracy

3. Divisionalized structure

4. Adhocracy

The correct answer is: Professional bureaucracy

In a professional bureaucracy, the operating core comprises highly skilled professionals who carry out the main work of the organization, such as teachers in an educational institution or healthcare providers in a hospital. This operating core is essential to the organization's functioning and serves as a significant coordinating influence because the nature of their work requires a high degree of autonomy and professional expertise. In such environments, decision-making often happens at the level of the professionals performing the work rather than through a more centralized or hierarchical decision-making structure found in other types of organizations. The emphasis on the expertise of the professionals means that the operating core plays a crucial role in defining processes, determining standards, and ensuring the quality of services offered, which helps in achieving the organization's goals effectively. This distinguishes a professional bureaucracy from other organizational forms, where control and coordination might stem more from top management or from informal networks rather than from the hands-on work of professionals in the operating core.