Organizations are arranged or structured in ways that best support the organization’s ability to meet its goals. Organizational structure refers to reporting relationships, accountability, assignments, and decision-making philosophies. Over time, companies may want to or need to change their organizational structure to adapt to a changing environment. Organizational strategy, market demands, technology, competitive factors, and changing societal expectations are all drivers and influencers of organizational structure. Managers of different levels are sometimes (but not always) included in talks about organizational structure because they are more familiar with day-to-day workings than the executive team.
Think of an organization you’re familiar with, such as one you’ve worked for or even a place of worship or school, and answer the following questions:
What kind of organizational structure does the organization use?
What other organizational structures discussed in this week’s textbook readings might allow the organization to operate more effectively? For example, would moving to a product team structure lead to greater efficiency or effectiveness? Why or why not?
Which type of culture most closely describes the culture of the organization?
