Page 201 - Fundamentals of Management Myths Debunked (2017)_Flat

200 Part 3 • Organizing
structure and organize work by using designs such as team-based structures, matrix and project
team structure 29
A structure in which the entire organization is made structures, and boundaryless structures. (See Exhibit 6–10 for a summary of these designs.)
up of work teams
whaT are Team sTruCTures? Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google,
have created a corporate structure that “tackles most big projects in small, tightly focused
30
teams.” A team structure is one in which the entire organization is made up of work
31
teams that do the organization’s work. In this structure, employee empowerment is cru-
cial because there is no line of managerial authority from top to bottom. Rather, employee
teams design and do work in the way they think is best, but are also held responsible for
all work performance results in their respective areas. In large organizations, the team

Exhibit 6–10 Contemporary Organization Designs

Advantages:
Employees are Team Structure
more involved and Disadvantages:
empowered. A structure in which the entire No clear chain
organization is made up of
Reduced barriers work groups or teams. of command.
among functional Pressure on teams
areas.
areas. to perform.

Advantages:
Fluid and exible Matrix-Project Structure
Disadvan
ta
ges:
design that can Disadvantages:
respond to Matrix is a structure that assigns
environmental specialists from different functional Complexity of
changes. areas to work on projects who then assigning people
to projects.
Faster decision return to their areas when the
project is completed.
making. Task and personality
Project is a structure in which em- con icts.
ployees continuously work on
projects. As one project is com-
pleted, employees move on to the
next project.
Advantages:
Highly exible and Boundaryless Structure
ges:
ta
responsive. Disadvantages:
Disadvan
Utilizes talent A structure not de ned by or Lack of control.
limited to arti cial horizontal,
wherever it’s found. vertical, or external boundaries; Communication
includes virtual and network dif culties.
types of organizations.
Advantages:
Sharing of Learning Structure
ges:
ta
knowledge Disadvantages:
Disadvan
throughout A structure in which employees
organization. continually acquire and share Reluctance on part
of employees to share
Sustainable source new knowledge and apply knowledge for fear of
that knowledge.
of competitive losing their power.
advantage.
Large numbers of ex-
perienced employees
on the verge of
retiring.
Source: Robbins, Stephen P., Coulter, Mary, Management, 13th Ed., © 2016, p. 315. Reprinted
and electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., New York, NY.