What is an organisation?

ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

Grade 4

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT

Module 7

WHAT IS AN ORGANISATION?

Correct. We can spell “ ORGANISATION” by using all 12 the letters!

Now the easy part: “What is an organisation?”

Activity 1

To define an organisation [LO 3.1]

A. Group work

Discuss in your groups and write down a definition for ORGANISATION.

Now discuss the contributions of the various groups in class and formulate a class definition.

Do you belong to any organisations?

If so, how many people belong to this organisation?

Do your parents / families belong to any organisations?

B. The following are examples of organisations:

1. O rganisation for African Unity
2. Round Table
3. G eneral Mining Corporation
4. A NC
5. N ational Cricket Board
6. I nternational Rugby Board
7. S outh African Broadcasting Corporation
8. A nglican Church
9. T rade Union Congress
10. I ndependent Newspapers
11. O verseas Visitors Club
12. N orth Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Your understanding of the term organisation should have improved rapidly by now.

Activity 2

To think about the characteristics of an organisation [LO 3.1]

C. Keeping in mind the list of examples, see if you can name a few characteristics of an organisation in your groups:

Are the following characteristics on your lists?

An organisation is a grouping of people who:

D. Use the information that you have collected about an organisation, and discuss the following statement critically (in other words say whether it is true or false and give reasons for your reply):

“Your family is an organisation”.

E. Case Study

MY SCHOOL – AN ORGANISATION

Activity 3

To think about my school as an organisation [LO 3.2]

Answer the following questions about your school as an organisation:

• What is the name of the organisation?

• How many people belong to the organisation?

• What is the main purpose of the organisation?

• How many members belong to the organisation?

• Are there rules within the organisation?

• What happens when a member transgresses the rules?

• How do you feel when an organisation performs in a certain area?

F. Organisation / Constitution.

The rules according to which an organisation operates, is called a constitution. A constitution includes the following:

• the name of the organisation;
• what the organisation hopes to achieve;
• who may be members of the organisation;
• how regularly meetings must be held;
• how the organisation must be managed.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa

At the beginning of the 1990’s the political parties of our country decided that South Africa needed a new constitution (a set of rules according to which everybody in South Africa must live). This new constitution was written in 1994 and the first democratic election to elect a new government took place in the same year. The main purpose of the constitution is to protect the rights of each citizen. Everybody must obey the rules – even the government.

Activity 4

To write a constitution for the school as organisation [LO 3.1]

Now try to write a constitution (a set of rules according to which an organisation operates) for your school as an organisation.

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 3: MANAGERIAL, CONSUMER AND FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The learner will be able to demonstrate knowledge and the ability to apply responsibly a range of managerial, consumer and financial skills.

Assessment Standard

We know this when the learner:

3.1 participates in the management of a classroom project (planning, organising, leading, controlling);

3.2 distinguishes three different types of local businesses.

Memorandum

Page 1

Feedback is given after group discussions and the class as a whole formulates a definition for “organisation” (the teacher facilitates).

Page 2

Making use of foreknowledge and information gathered in this module, features of organisations are listed.

Page 3

Is this statement true or false? Use features from Page 3: C to determine this.

Page 3

Individually or in small groups. Teacher facilitates and provides answers where necessary.

Page 4

Learners briefly list the rules of their own school.