GROUP 8: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Organizational structure-how job tasks are formally divided, grouped, and coordinated.

Key elements when designing organization structure (6):

1. Work Specialization
2. Departmentalization
3. Chain of command
4. Span of control
5. Centralization
6. Decentralization
7. Formalization

I. Elements of an Organizations Structure

A. Work specialization-The degree to which activities in the organization are subdivided into
separate jobs. The essence of work specialization is to divide a job into a number of steps, each
completed by a separate individual.

Key Question: To what degree are activities subdivided into separate jobs?

B. Departmentalization - the basis by which jobs are grouped together.

Key Question: On what basis will jobs be grouped together?

1. Functions performed
The major advantage of this type of functional departmentalization is efficiencies
gained from putting like specialists together.
2. Product/Service
The major advantage here is increased accountability for performance, because all
activities related to a specific product or service are under the direction of a single
manager.
3. Geography/Territory
This form is valuable when an organizations customers are scattered over a large
geographic area and have similar needs based on their location.
4. Process
5. Customer
Customers in each department have a common set of problems and needs best met
by having specialists for each.
C. Chain of Command-An unbroken line of authority that extends from the top of the
organization to the lowest echelon and clarifies who reports to whom.

Key Question: To whom do individuals and groups report?

Authority- refers to the rights inherent in a managerial position to give orders and
expect them to be obeyed.
Unity of Command- It helps preserve the concept of an unbroken line of
authority. A person should have one and only one superior to whom he or she is
directly responsible.
To facilitate coordination, each managerial position is given a place in the chain
of command, and each manager is given a degree of authority in order to meet his
or her responsibilities.

D. Span of Control- It largely determines the number of levels and managers an organization
has.

Key Question: How many individuals can a manager efficiently and effectively direct?

Wider spans of management increase organizational efficiency.

E. Centralization and Decentralization

Key Question: Where does decision making authority lie?

Centralization- the degree to which decision making is concentrated at a single point in the
organization

Top managers make all the decisions, and lower-level managers merely carry out their
directives.

Decentralization- the degree to which decision making is spread throughout the organization

Decision making is pushed down to the managers closest to the action.

A decentralized organization can act more quickly to solve problems, more people
provide input into decisions, and employees are less likely to feel alienated from those
who make decisions that affect their work lives.

F. Formalization- degree to which jobs within the organization are standardized

Key Question: To what degree will there be rules and regulations to direct employees and
managers?

High formalization- There are explicit job descriptions, lots of organizational rules, and
clearly defined procedures covering work processes in organizations
 Low formalization- Job behaviors are relatively unprogrammed, and employees have a
great deal of freedom to exercise discretion in their work.
Standardization not only eliminates the possibility of employees engaging in alternative
behaviors, but it even removes the need for employees to consider alternatives.
The degree of formalization can vary widely between and within organizations.

II. Common Organizational Designs

A. The Simple Structure

Characteristics

1. Low degree of departmentalization

2. Wide spans of control
3. Authority centralized in a single person
4. Little formalization
5. Flat organization

It usually has only two or three vertical levels, a loose body of employees, and one
individual in whom the decision making authority is centralized.
Strength: Simple, fast, flexible, and inexpensive to operate, and accountability is clear.
Weakness:
1. As size increases, decision making typically becomes slower and can eventually
come to a standstill as the single executive tries to continue making all the
decisions.
2. Its risky- everything depends on one person.

Illustration:
 B. The Bureaucracy

Characteristics
1. High routing operating tasks achieved through specialization
2. Very formalized rules and regulations
3. Tasks grouped into functional departments.
4. Centralized authority
5. Narrow spans of control
6. Decision making that follows the chain of command
Strengths
1. Functional economies of scale
2. Minimum duplication of personnel and equipment.
3. Enhanced communication
4. Centralized decision making
Weaknesses
1. Subunit conflicts with organizational goals
2. Obsessive concern with rules and regulations
3. Lack of employee discretion to deal with problems

C. The Matrix Structure

A structure that creates dual lines of authority and combines functional and product
departmentalization.
Members in a matrix structure have a dual chain of command: to their functional
department and to their product groups.
Strengths
1. Attempts to gain the advantages of functional and product departmentalization
while avoiding their weaknesses.
2. Ability to facilitate coordination when the organization has a number of complex
and interdependent activities.
Weaknesses:
1. It breaks the unity of command concept.
2. Tendency to foster power struggles, and the stress it places on individuals

III. New Design Options

A. The Virtual Organization (network or modular organization) - a small, core organization

that outsources its major business functions.

Highly centralized, with little or no departmentalization.

Minimizes bureaucratic overhead because there is no lasting organization to maintain.
 Advantage: provides maximum flexibility while concentrating on what the organization
does best.
Disadvantage: reduced control over key parts of the business.

B. Boundaryless Organization- An organization that seeks to eliminate the chain of command,

have limitless spans of control, and replace departments with empowered teams.

III. Why do Structures Differ?

A. Mechanistic Model and Organic Model

Mechanistic Model - A structure characterized by extensive departmentalization, high

formalization, a limited information network, and centralization.

Organic Model- A structure that is flat, uses cross-hierarchical and cross-functional teams, has
low formalization, possesses a comprehensive information network, and relies on participative
decision making.
B. Strategies

1. Innovation energy- A strategy that emphasizes the introduction of major new products
and services.
2. Cost minimization strategy- A strategy that emphasizes tight cost controls, avoidance of
unnecessary innovation or marketing expenses, and price cutting.
3. Imitation energy- A strategy that seeks to move into new products or new markets only
after their viability has already been proven.
Minimize risk and maximize opportunity for profit, moving new products or
entering new markets only after innovators have proven their viability.

C. Technology- The way in which an organization transfers its inputs into outputs.

D. Environment - Institutions or forces outside an organization that potentially affect the

organizations performance.

IV. Organization Structure: Its Determinants and Outcomes

REFERENCE:

Organizational Behavior by Stephen P. Robbins and Timothy A. Judge

Link: http://bba12.weebly.com/uploads/9/4/2/8/9428277/organizational_behavior_15e_-
_stephen_p_robbins__timothy_a_judge_pdf_qwerty.pdf