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Essay: Five Structural Configurations 1. Henry Mintzberg proposes five structural configurations that can be used within organizations. A summary of the structural configurations can be found in Table 15.1 of your textbook. Based on his work, answer the questions below in essay format 2. Your essay must include an introduction, body, and conclusion, and it must address all questions. Use references to the textbook or other resources as necessary to support your essay. Make sure to cite any references you use in APA format. Proper citation format for a reference includes the name of the author(s), the title of the work, the date of the publication, and the page number Essay: Five Structural Configurations Identify and describe each of the five structural configurations proposed by Henry Mintzberg. Also, identify an organization/company that uses each structural configuration. This may take some research (you may not use the company examples in the textbook). Explain why you believe each company fits that specific structural configuration. If you are employed, identify which structural configuration your workplace uses.
Expert Answer
First of all let’s understand the term organisational structure. It means the process with which all the all the activities are directed towards the achievement of organisational objectives. Here the responsibilities, task allocation and supervision is take care of.
Henry mintzberg is a renowned international management theorist who developed a list of five basics organisational structures. To begin with it is important to know why these organisations are so different. The answer is based on their performances. The method of achieving the success is different for different organisation like some uses the strict procedures while other operates as per the external environment demands. So it is not all possible to replicate the strategy of your competitor.
According to henry organisational structure combine all the factors which include the strategy, the external factors and structure itself. So the structures are different because of difference in the organisational characteristics.
- The strategic apex is the top management. Like administrator of any school.
- The operative core is the one who carry the work like teachers perform their duty to teach.
- The middle lines are the one lay in between the middle and lower level people. Like principle of any school.
- The technostructure involves the involvement of analyst. Like people who are involved in research and development or public relation activities in school.
- The support staffs are the indirect helpers. Like helping in food services in canteens, the maintenance department and cleaning.
Simple structure:-
The simple structure uses the strategic apex as its key part of the organisation.
It uses the vertical and horizontal centralization.
Example: small or medium size retail stores.
This type of organisation is unstructured and informal which makes the organisation flexible and constitute the top managers. This kind of organisation adopts external environment changes rapidly. Like administrator or superintendents in such schools must be entrepreneurs.
Machine bureaucracy:-
The machine bureaucracy uses the techno structure as its key part of the organisation.
It uses the limited horizontal decentralization.
Example: large government organisation.
This type of organisation is much formalized and have specific set of routines and procedures. Here the works are performed as per the given process and tasks are clearly defined. It follows the proper hierarchy to go on proper way from top to bottom. They perform the routine tasks and they follow the instructions and work accordingly.
Divisonalised form:-
The diversified organization uses the middle line as its key of the organisation.
It uses the limited vertical decentralization.
Example: the separate school for different handicapped, hearing disability or learning disabled.
This is often used in that organisation where there is variety of products and brands are available. The main headquarter have their own decision making and unique structural plans. It is more useful in diversifies business where the system in not so complex and offer flexibility not made for stable business.
Adhocracy:-
The innovative organisation uses the support staff as its key of organisation.
The adhocracy uses the selective decentralization.
Example: the filmmaking industry.
This structure is best for traditional organisation that uses the innovative strategy on regular basis. This is not so complex in nature. The power is shifted whenever needed thus the power is not stable and hence it is very difficult to control the organisation. Dealing with rapid changes is very conflicting.
The professional organisation:-
The professional bureaucracy has the operating core as its key of organisation.
The professional organisation uses vertical and horizontal decentralization.
Example: schools or universities.
This organisation involves high trained professionals with their high degree of specialization in their work. It is very complex and hard structure. The disadvantage is lack of control of senior executives which is very hard to change.
