Mechanical Organization

Organizational structure is a type of framework used in businesses. Its purpose is to find the most effective way to assign roles, power, and responsibilities to its employees and departments. It also controls and coordinates how information flows between different departments and levels of management in a company. Having a proper organizational structure will allow a company to implement better operating procedures, and dictate which employees help in making decisions or shaping the organization. Based on an organizations goals and objectives it may be structured in many different ways. Two important structures include Mechanistic and Organic structures.

Mechanistic structures are mainly for companies that operate in a stable environment, use a centralized approach of authority, and maintain strong loyalty for management. Organizations that use a Mechanistic type of structure generally do not need to change or adapt their structure. This is mainly due to lack of innovation, creativity, and quick decision analysis not needed. Examples of organizations using Mechanistic structures include colleges and universities. If you think about it, they have long and strict registration procedures, rarely have to adapt or change in order to keep students enrolling, and most students tend to maintain high loyalty or obedience toward their instructors.

Mechanistic Structures Include:

Belief upper management is better capable of making decisions

Management instructions must be followed

Communication and control must proceed through hierarchical route

More emphasis toward completing a task opposed to achieving company goals

Employees are more jobs specialized and placed into certain departments

Low differentiation of tasks

Organic structures are used in organizations facing unstable environments and must possess the ability to change accordingly. They have the ability to process, analyze, and distribute information and knowledge very quickly. This ensures that they...