"An organizational structure defines how activities such as task allocation, coordination, and supervision are directed toward the achievement of organizational aims."
The hierarchical distribution of power, authority, and communication within an organization.
Organizational Design: The process of creating or changing the structure of an organization, its departments, hierarchies, roles and responsibilities in a way that aligns with business objectives and goals.
Organizational Culture: The set of shared values, beliefs, behaviors and symbols of an organization, that influence the way people think, act and interact with one another as well as with the external environment.
Power and Authority: The formal and informal mechanisms that govern decision-making, control over resources, and distribution of rewards and punishments in organizations.
Bureaucracy and Hierarchies: The formal structure of an organization, the chain of command, and the levels of authority through which decisions are made and instructions are communicated.
Functional and Divisional Structures: The two main types of organizational structures, including how they differ and how they can be combined or adapted to suit specific organizational needs.
Organizational Change: The process of adapting or transforming an organization to respond to changing internal and external factors, such as shifts in technology, markets or workforce demographics.
Organizational Communication: The process of creating and sharing information within an organization, including formal and informal communication channels, and how they impact organizational structure and culture.
Leadership Styles: The various approaches to leadership, including transformational, transactional, autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire, and how they affect organizational behavior and performance.
Organizational Learning: The process of creating, sharing and applying knowledge within an organization, including how it affects innovation, problem-solving, and competitive advantage.
Organizational Performance: The measurement and evaluation of an organization’s effectiveness, including metrics such as financial performance, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.
Functional Organizational Structure: Organized by functions, such as marketing, finance, production, and sales.
Divisional Organizational Structure: Organized by divisions, grouped by products, services or geographic location.
Matrix Organizational Structure: A combination of functional and divisional structures, with a dual reporting system.
Flat Organizational Structure: Few levels of hierarchy, with little or no middle management.
Tall Organizational Structure: Multiple levels of management with a narrow span of control.
Network Organizational Structure: A flexible, virtual structure where the company relies on outside contractors or partners.
Team-based Organizational Structure: Organized around self-managed teams with a focus on collaboration and communication.
Holacracy Organizational Structure: A decentralized structure where decision-making authority is distributed across employees.
Hybrid Organizational Structure: Combining elements of more than one structure to create a unique approach that best suits the company.
Circular Organizational Structure: Organized around interconnected circles, with a focus on collaboration and participation rather than hierarchy.
"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."