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Organisations can be structured in different ways. But all can be described in terms of where they stand in relation to the following characteristics:
Centralization
decisions are made by a small group or senior managers at the top of the organisational hierarchy
decisions are made collectively by managers and employees who are affected by the decision
Specialization
functions such as marketing, and roles, such as machine minding, are carried out by specific departments or persons
any given individual is expected to have several functions and roles
Formalization
there are written rules and regulations to govern the organization's activities and the employees’ jobs
rules and regulations are understood rather than being written and are more flexibly applied
Standardization
standard procedures are used for routine activities e.g. quarterly purchases of stationery for the office
each task is dealt with on a one off basis
Consider the organisation in which you work -
How does it stand in relation to each of the four characteristics?
Are you happy with the ways things are or would you rather see it change?
What opportunities are there for changing it in your preferred directions?