Definitions/Key Elements
The formal arrangement of jobs within an organization is called this.
What is organizational structure?
This design is defined by centralized authority in one person and is fast, flexible, and inexpensive to maintain for small companies
What is a simple structure?
This flexible structural model uses cross-functional teams, wide spans of control, and is highly adaptive.
What is an organic organization?
An organization’s structure must effectively support this high-level plan or course of action.
What is strategy?
This organizational element refers to the practice of dividing work activities into separate job tasks.
What is work specialization (or division of labor)?
The organizational structure that groups jobs based on similar occupational specialties, like sales or marketing.
What is a functional structure?
This structure uses teams to run the organization, meaning the entire organization is made up of work teams.
What is a team structure?
This simple factor, defined by the total number of employees, strongly affects whether a structure is organic or mechanistic.
What is organizational size?
This key element determines the number of employees a manager can efficiently and effectively manage.
What is span of control?
In this structure, the organization is divided into separate business units or self-contained units.
What is a divisional structure?
This contemporary structure creates a dual chain of command because employees report to two different managers.
What is a matrix structure?
Organizations operating in environments that are stable and simple favor this rigid, tightly controlled structural type.
What is a mechanistic organization?
This organizational function involves arranging and structuring work so that the organization can accomplish its goals.
What is organizing (or the purpose of organizing)?
A common weakness of the Divisional Structure is the duplication of these two things across units.
What are activities and resources?
This organization consists of a small core of permanent employees and outsources major business functions.
What is a virtual organization (or network organization)?
According to Woodward's findings, organizations using mass production technology often favor this structured type of organization.
What is a mechanistic structure?