Page 196 - Fundamentals of Management Myths Debunked (2017)_Flat

mechanistic OR organic 17

Mechanistic organization (or bureaucracy)
• Rigid and tightly controlled structure

• Combines traditional aspects of all six elements of organization
structure MECHANISTIC

• High specialization • Narrow spans of control leading to taller structure

• Rigid departmentalization • Centralization

• Clear chain of command • High formalization

Organic organization

• Highly adaptive and flexible structure ORGANIC

• Collaboration (both vertical and • Informal communication

horizontal) • Decentralized decision authority
• Adaptable duties • Wider spans of control leading to flatter

• Few rules structures
• Loose structure allows for rapid adjustment to change 18

Watch It 1!
If your professor has assigned this, go to mymanagementlab.com to watch a video titled Elm
City Market: Organizational Structure and to respond to questions.
4
The “IF”: Contingency Variables

1 Strategy Structure

• Based on work of Alfred Chandler 19

• Goals are important part of organization’s strategies; structure

should facilitate goal achievement Coloures-pic/Fotolia
• Simple strategy ➛ simple structure

• Elaborate strategy ➛ more
complex structure

• Certain structural designs work best
with different organizational

strategies 20

— Passionate pursuit of innovation ➛ organic
— Passionate pursuit of cost
control ➛ mechanistic

195