"An organizational structure defines how activities such as task allocation, coordination, and supervision are directed toward the achievement of organizational aims."
The framework of an organization, including its hierarchy, division of labor, and chain of command.
Hierarchy: The levels of authority within an organization, including top management, middle management, and lower-level employees.
Centralization: The extent to which decision-making power is concentrated in a few individuals or dispersed throughout the organization.
Departmentalization: The process of grouping jobs and tasks into different departments based on their function, product type, geography, or customer base.
Formalization: The extent to which rules, policies, and procedures are explicitly defined and followed within an organization.
Span of Control: The number of employees who report to a single manager or supervisor.
Functional Structure: An organizational structure in which employees are grouped into departments based on their specialized tasks or functions.
Divisional Structure: An organizational structure in which employees are grouped into autonomous divisions based on their product lines, geographic locations, or customer groups.
Matrix Structure: An organizational structure in which employees are assigned to both functional and divisional managers simultaneously, creating a dual reporting relationship.
Virtual Organization: An organization that operates primarily through the use of technology, allowing employees to work from remote locations and collaborate in virtual teams.
Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, and assumptions that shape the behavior of an organization and its employees.
Change Management: The process of planning, executing, and evaluating changes to an organization's structure, culture, or processes.
Leadership: The ability to influence and inspire others to achieve a common goal or vision.
"Organizational structure affects organizational action and provides the foundation on which standard operating procedures and routines rest."
"It determines which individuals get to participate in which decision-making processes, and thus to what extent their views shape the organization's actions."
"Organizational structure can also be considered as the viewing glass or perspective through which individuals see their organization and its environment."
"Organizations are a variant of clustered entities."
"An organization can be structured in many different ways, depending on its objectives."
"The structure of an organization will determine the modes in which it operates and performs."
"Organizational structure allows the expressed allocation of responsibilities for different functions and processes to different entities such as the branch, department, workgroup, and individual."
"Organizations need to be efficient, flexible, innovative and caring in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage."