Hierarchical Structure: The Structure Of Organisational Structures
explanatory Essay
1322 words
Organisational Structure According to Mintzberg, organisational structure is the sum total of the ways in which it divides its labour into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination among them (Mintzberg 1979). The differences in organisational cultures are often reflected in the way they are structured and managed. Organisational structure is a product of many elements, some of which are the type of business, products, customers, size and location. Organisational structures can be broadly divided into two categories. A hierarchical organization is an organizational structure where every person in the organization, except one, is a subordinate to another person and is answerable to him. A flat organization (or horizontal organization or delayering) is an organization that has an organizational structure with few or no levels of middle management between staff and executives. Good examples of hierarchical organisations are conglomerates in Japan (Toyota), South Korea (Samsung) and U.S.A (Apple computers) which are often owned by founders and their families. They tend to be authoritarian and often exhibit a culture with high power distance, and have bureaucratic control and centralised decision making with little worker empowerment. On the other hand, firms in the west are owned by public shareholders and are operated by a professional CEO. It is common thought that companies that are known for the best products or companies that have a good market image would be good places to work like Apple Computer, Toyota, Facebook, etc. However, this is not always the case; none of these companies were ever features in the Fortune’s List of “100 Best companies to work for”. It proves that the bottom line and top of the line produc... ... middle of paper ... ... important reasons for a giant firm like Apple to adopt such policy (Finkle & Mallin 2010). Stock reward ensures that its best performing employees become more committed to the organisation and reduces their chances of them leaving the firm (Yian Ming 2011). Another reason being the motivation to perform better since every contribution affects the company’s share price and therefore affects his own stock asset value. These two elements drive employee engagement and help the company’s executives to provide an effective employee management environment (Yian Ming 2011). The employees should be stimulated and motivated by training, health and other social benefits that will enhance their interest and commitment to the firm. Dedicated and satisfied employees perform better and contribute extensively towards their firm’s success and reputation (Jaksic & Jaksic 2013).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that mintzberg's organisational structure is the sum total of the ways in which it divides its labour into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination among them.
- Explains that a hierarchical organization is an organizational structure where everyone in the organization, except one, is subordinate to another person and is answerable to him.
- Explains that a flat organization is an organization with few or no levels of middle management between staff and executives.
- Explains that employee motivation is a key area in the organisational culture that affects the commitment of the employee toward the organization and his satisfaction towards the work.
- Explains that employee satisfaction determines and influences their commitment towards the organisation and their performance. google encourages employees to think and work as entrepreneurs fostering innovation at the very core of its work.
Related
- comparative
- explanatory
- argumentative
- Essay On Organizational Structurecomparative essayUnderstanding the structure of an organization plays a vital role in laying the blueprint for how a company will be managed and organized. It provides a well-defined framework that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each employee in a particular company. It shows how each employee interacts and works one another in achieving the goals of a company. In other words, organizational structure is a reflection of the working relationships that govern the workflow of the company. It has a profound effect on a company’s structural dimensions, which includes formalization, specialization, hierarchy and centralization.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that formalization is the extent to which an organization's policies, procedures, job descriptions, and rules are written.
- Explains that all employees in an organization have expertise, knowledge or experience that contributes to the goals and objectives of the organization.
- Explains that a hyrid organization is most effective in university. it encompasses both functional and division organizational designs.
- Explains that organizational structure is a reflection of working relationships that govern the workflow of the company.
- Describes the hybrid organizational structure of a university in the dc metropolitan area, which encompasses functional and divisional structural designs.
- Compares the two types of hierarchical structures: tall and flat. tall structures have smaller employees, whereas flat structures tend to be larger.
- Explains that decision-making is a key element to the operation of an organization. there are two types of decision making authorities: centralized and decentralized.
1108 wordsRead More - Matrix Organizational Structureexplanatory essayOrganizational structure is the way that an organization arranges people and jobs so that work can be performed and goals can be achieved. Good organizational design helps communications, productivity, and innovation. Many organization structures have been created based on organizational strategy, size, technology, and environment. Robbins and Judge (2011, p. 504) listed three common structures: simple, bureaucracy, and matrix. In this post the author will describe the matrix structure, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
In this essay, the author
- Explains organizational structure as the way an organization arranges people and jobs so that work can be performed and goals are achieved. organizational design helps communications, productivity, and innovation.
- Explains that matrix structure is the combination of two or more different structures and take the advantages of the pure functional structure and the product organizational structure.
- Explains that matrix structure combines the advantages of both functional and product departmentalization while avoiding their weaknesses. it promotes cross-functional problem solving, reducing cost by leveraging resources and creating a balance of power between functions.
- Explains the major disadvantages of the matrix, such as confusion, power struggles, and stress. the complex matrix structure can have the unintended consequence of reducing intended goals of speed and innovation.
- Explains how avon products, inc. used matrix structure to promote efficient use of corporate resources, leverage economies of scale, cut management layers, and invest in management talent.
- Summarizes the concept, theory and the pros and cons of the matrix structure and gives an example to illustrate his points.
- Cites burns, wholey, and goldsmith, who authored best practices in leadership development and organization change.
920 wordsRead More - Culture, Power & Politics in the Workplaceexplanatory essayOrganizational structure within an organization is a critical component of the day to day operations of a business. An organization benefits from organizational structure as a result of all it encompasses. It is used to define how tasks are divided, grouped and coordinated. Six elements should be addressed during the design of the organization’s structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, spans of control, centralization and decentralization. These components are a direct reflection of the organization’s culture, power and politics.
In this essay, the author
- Explains how the combination of culture, power, and politics has spilled over into the workplace, influencing day-to-day operations as well as govern the atmosphere within the organization.
- Explains that organizational structure is a critical component of the day to day operations of an organization. it defines how tasks are divided, grouped, and coordinated.
- Explains that most organizations fall under one of three organizational designs: simple structure, bureaucracy and matrix structure. the organizational design of a company suggests who makes executive decisions and how they are enforced.
- Explains that simple structure is widely used by small businesses in which the owner directly manages the day to day operations.
- Explains that bureaucracy is an organizational design based on the concept of standardization. it allows an organization to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner.
- Explains matrix structure is a combination of two forms of departmentalization: functional and product. it allows for the exchange of ideas and sharing of resources.
- Explains that organizational culture is a system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes an organization from other organizations. it provides both the company and its employees with direction and stability.
- Explains that power refers to the absolute capacity of an individual agent to influence the behavior or attitudes of one or more designated target persons at a given point in time.
- Explains that position and personal determinants of power interact in complex ways, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between them.
- Explains the two theories that exist to describe how power is acquired or lost are social exchange theory and strategic contingencies theory.
- Explains that the role of chief operating officer (coo) for s&f is a position of power and authority that must demand respect in order to be successful.
- Opines that management must combine power, politics, and culture in an ethical business manner in order to reach its maximum potential within its marketplace.
- Explains that an organization's culture defines boundaries, establishes a standard in regards to what employees should say and do, and governs day-to-day behavior.
1484 wordsRead More - Amazon´s Organizational Structureexplanatory essayOrganizational culture is a reflective view of the inner workings of an organization. This culture reflects hierarchical arrangements as it pertains to the lines of authority, rights and obligations, duties, and communication processes. Organizational structure establishes the manner in which power and roles are coordinated and controlled amongst the varying levels of management. The structure of an organization is dependent upon their goals, objectives, and strategy. Determining organizational structure best suited for an organization is generally found within the six key elements of organizational structure and choosing those to implement those best suited for the organization. The six key elements include:
In this essay, the author
- Explains organizational culture as a reflective view of the inner workings of an organization. organizational structure establishes the manner in which power and roles are coordinated and controlled amongst the varying levels of management.
- Defines work specialization as the level in which duties are subdivided into distinct jobs within the organization taking into account efficiency gains and efficiency losses.
- Explains departmentalization as the foundation for determining how jobs will be grouped, which can include function, process, geography, product, or customer.
- Explains the chain of command, which establishes the level of authority from the bottom to the top within the organization.
- Explains that a large pool of subordinates can equate to efficient cost, but too large results in performance issues.
- Explains that centralization and decentralization refer to the process in which decision-making is limited.
- Explains that robbins, s. p., and coulter, m. (2014). management (12th ed.). retrieved from: colorado technical university ebook collection database.
- Analyzes the structure of amazon's organizational structure, starting with work specialization and departmentalization.
- Cites blandino, s., and deutschman, a. on amazon’s culture: how to shape an enduring organizational culture.
1273 wordsRead More - Flat Organizational Structure Analysisexplanatory essayFlat organizational structure is arguably best suited to respond to complex and turbulent environments facing organizations today (Burns & Stalker, 1994). This bold statement came from observation by these two researchers who in the 1950s spent time in a British manufacturing firm. This firm particularly adopted novel approaches to management and production, giving only title to managing director but entirely avoided defining roles and functions for its overall employees. Ongoing modification of goals and procedures through weekly team meetings are done to assess emergent situations and tackle problems that rise at the moment. Regular weekly meetings at this firm resulted in participative act by its employees to solve problems and collaborate at the discussion. Hence, problems are solved by collective effort instead of one’s authority. Burns and Stalker concluded that there are two ideal organizational types. First type is the traditional mechanistic bureaucracy and the second is the alternative types which are more responsive to environment and less hierarchical. They named this second types organic structure. They also added, mechanistic organization and organic organization is needed at different kind of environment. Mechanistic bureaucracy is more fit in stable environment but on the opposite site, organic organization is more suited to environments which are turbulent and full of changes.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that flat organizational structure is best suited to respond to complex and turbulent environments facing organizations today. burns and stalker concluded that there are two ideal organizational types.
- Explains that burns and stalker underlying a new organizational structure and management methodology which can be considered groundbreaking and different than the common practices at organization which emphasized on routinization, specialization and conformity.
- Explains that every organization can be classified on a continuum ranging from mechanistic bureaucracy to organic forms that support delayering and teaming of knowledge workers.
- Explains that flat organizations limit formalized role definitions and reporting relationships. organic organizations have free flow of information, decentralization, participative decision making, innovation, and responsiveness to environment changes.
- Explains that the widespread availability of information leads to better decision and problem solving within the organization.
- Explains that the availability of information in the organization and the way organization treats it really determine a flat organization from the rest.
- Explains the characteristics of knowledge intensive organizations, which are based on employees' loyalty, creativity, problem solving ability, and professionalism.
- Explains that knowledge intensive organizations are suitable with organic or flat organizations. flat organizations with fewer administrative layers offer wide spans of control, decentralized and spur creativity of its employees.
- Argues that flat organizational structures are in accordance with knowledge intensive organizations and fit each of its needs. however, some critics suggest implementation of flat organization could limit growth and overwhelm efforts of leaders to engineer a truly cohesive organizational structure.
- Explains that growth of an organization bends flat structure into more bureaucratic structure if roles are differentiated and specialized. flat organizations are possible only in smaller organizations or individual units within larger organizations.
1233 wordsRead More - Basic Organizational Structureexplanatory essayThere are some basic business structures can be applied in different type of business and that use them. There are different basic organization structures first one is sole trader, partnership, and company. Here every individual organization structure have own features as well as some advantages and disadvantages from their own point of view. The organization structure can be applied on base the situation that what type of business position and structure can be adopted. Here there are different structural of organization are follows with their advantage and disadvantage.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that basic business structures can be applied in different types of business and that use them. each organization structure has its own features as well as some advantages and disadvantages.
- Explains that sole trader is the simplest type of business organization where is only one owner who can manage and control all business.
- Opines that only one person can take decision in business and it is not best for business.
- Explains that partnership is a one type of business where profits are share to each other.
- Opines that more people can generate new skill and different ideas and it is beneficial for business.
- Explains that shareholders' liability is limited, and limited liability company structure is well understood by financial and suppliers and customers.
- Explains that promotion of a company is not easy, as there are number of stages involved in promotion.
- Explains that companies are divided separately in law from its owner. the limited liability company creates confidence in business by governing the relationship between shareholders, directors and creditors.
889 wordsRead More - Formal And Informal Theoryexplanatory essayA hierarchical organization is called an organizational structure that every entity present in the organization, with one exception, is subordinate to a single other entity. This arrangement is called a form of a hierarchy. In an organization, the hierarchy most of the times consists of a singular or group of power that is at the
In this essay, the author
- Explains organizational theory as a structured social entity that has goals, working coordinately within and are highly affected from the external environment. organizations have managers/heads/principles at the top of the hierarchy to coordinate the people work for the organization.
- Explains that organizations bring the economic resources together to complete desired actions, achieve purposes, and receive the best quality out as an outcome.
- Explains that organization theory is a systematic way of evaluating the organizations.
- Explains that there are three competing theories of organizations: bureaucracy, rational system perspective, and division of labor.
- Explains that hawthorne studied the neoclassical perspective back in the 1920s and his studies helped to underdtand the idea of how human’s psychology and social area that is being operated at their workplace.
- Explains that contingency theory states the organization design as a constrained optimization problem. the optimal organization, leadership, or decision making styles depend upon external and internal factors.
- Defines organizational structure as how activities such as coordination, colloboration, task sharing and supervision are all related in the aim of achieving organizational goals. organizational structure allows what has been expressed into different functions and processes.
- Explains the importance of the relationship between formal and informal organization between civil society and state authority.
- Explains that a flat organization has very few or no level of management between staff and executives. tall and flat organizations differ based upon the present levels of managers in the organization.
- Explains that a hierarchical organization is an organizational structure that every entity present in the organization, except one, is subordinate to one other entity.
- Explains that hierarchy diagrams are typically demonstrated as a pyramid, where the height of the highest-ranking person shows their power status and the width at that level represents how many people are actually being found.
- Explains that in many democracies today, the people are considered distant to the position of being at the very top of the hierarchy, or over the head of state.
- Concludes that understanding the term organization is the basic step to understand and iterpret the organizational theory and organizational structure as a whole.
2246 wordsRead More - The Design of Structure in an Organizationexplanatory essayIntroduction There are many challenges for today’s organizations, such as globalization, intense competition, rigorous ethical scrutiny, the need for rapid response, the digital work place and the increasing diversity (Daft, 2010). Indeed, management and leadership are important factors which may influence success of an organization. In order to analyze how these factors may influence an organization; this essay will introduce a change event in small organization- a university broadcast station. This university broadcast station was established in 1994. After few years of the establishment, the broadcast station realized that some changes should be made to meet the need of the teachers and students in the university.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that management and leadership are important factors which may influence an organization's success.
- Explains that the university broadcast station was established in 1994 and realized that some changes needed to be made to meet the needs of the teachers and students.
- Argues that the design of structure is of great importance for an organization and effective team leadership may contribute to better team effectiveness.
- Explains that suitable structures facilitate information flow in an organization and suitable organization structure facilitate innovation. effective team leadership contributes to effective team performance because it integrates three main processes in a team.
- Explains that organizations are social entities that are goal-directed, are designed as deliberately structured and coordinated activity system, and are linked to the external environment.
- Explains the importance of structure, strategy, system, superordinate goals, skills, staff, and style in an organization.
- Explains that organization structure includes formal reporting relationships, organizational structure identifies the grouping together of individuals into departments and of departments into the total organization.
- Explains that there are seven primary dimensions of organizational structure, which provide the internal characteristics of an organization.
- Explains that organization structure can be divided into six main types, including pre-bureaucratic structure, bureaucratical structure and post-bossal structure. in this essay, two main kinds of types would be discussed.
- Explains functional organizational structure, which consists of activities like coordination, supervision, or task allocation. the main strengths of this structure are that it enables in-depth knowledge and skill development and also accomplish functional goals.
948 wordsRead More - Organizational Structure in W.L. Gore and Assoicates, Gore-Tex, and Columbiaargumentative essayFirst of all, organizational structure determines the hierarchy, the levels of communication, and how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated within an organization (Langton, Robbins, & Judge, 2013). There are six key elements that managers need to address when they design their organization’s structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization (Langton et al., 2013). The way in which an organizational structure is constructed and implemented can affect company productivity.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the different ways we can use communication to measure productivity, such as how it motivates and stimulates workers to meet organizational goals and allows them to identify with the organization.
- Explains that w.l. gore & associates has found that limiting the size of the team working at each facility is necessary to its success.
- Explains that gore's success lies in the ability of its associates to be creative and innovative, reflected in their $3 billion annual sales.
- Compares gore and columbia sportswear, stating that both companies have remained family-owned businesses and have not undergone significant structural changes.
- Analyzes the connection between organizational structure and productivity by comparing w.l. gore & associates' gore-tex, and columbia sportswear.
- Compares columbia sportswear to w.l. gore & associates' gore-tex, which designs, develops, markets and distributes outdoor footwear, apparel, and equipment on an international scale
- Compares the organizational structures of w.l. gore & associates and columbia sportswear.
2959 wordsRead More - Organisational Structure And Culture Case Studyexplanatory essayEvery organisation has its own structure and culture. It may vary depending on it is mission and vision etc. In my own understanding organisation structure is based on number of people working in the organisation and their priority of work it has been designed. According greet hofsted organisation culture is “the collative programming of the mind that distinguishes the member of one organisation from other”
In this essay, the author
- Explains that different organisations have different styles of managerial styles, including autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire.
- Explains that the power is with the managers, and all staffs have to follow it. only managers make the decision without listening to others.
- Explains that the decision is made after a group discussion, which allows everyone to participate and share their opinion. at the end the manager will tell which decision will fit on to the task.
- Explains that staffs get more freedom because the task has been given to them to do the work.
- Explains leadership styles are selected from managers, and it depends on the organisation values. it helps the employers achieve the task easily and effectively.
- Opines that group discussions increase staff motivation and bring up new ideas in the organisation.
- Explains that staffs are worked under happy environment and get a chance to organise their work.
- Compares different organisational structures and culture of two companies from the uk energy industry.
- Opines that conflict messages and behaviour can be effect on organisational values and targets. gender, culture, age, ethnic group, intelligence, and working under stress can influence the works.
- Explains that management is where people gather for a certain role of work, and it has to be well-organized for success.
- Explains the henry mintz berg theory, where there are three stages of interpersonal, informational and decisional. managerial authority empowers a manager to exercise order and control the employees under his control.
- Explains how different organisations set goals and objectives according to their own needs and targets. leadership is very important in an organisation.
- Explains the impact of different leadership styles on motivation in organisations in periods of change.
- Explains fredericks herzberg's two-factor theory, which states that there are some factors which make the employers satisfaction, while a separate set of factors causes dissatisfaction.
- Explains that groups can be formed either formally or informally to achieve a common goal and maintain the organisation quality of the work.
- Explains that communication, common language, meetings, face-to-face conversation, time management, flexible working pattern, listening others opinion, leadership, team work, and organisation follow-up on the task submit to the team.
2541 wordsRead More