Various organizational structures assist the alignment of an organization strategically. It involves understanding the benefits, characteristics, and limitations.
Types of Organizational Structures
Organizational structures are of four types, and it is widely used all around the globe:
1. Functional Structure
Employees grouped under this structure rely on their skills, tasks, sets, and accountabilities. If they are similar, they are in the same department. It ensures effective communications within a department between people. Thus, it works as a long-term strategy and leads to efficient decision-making. Companies having Accounting and IT departments are functional structures good examples.
2. Divisional Structure
Organizing business activities fall into this structure. They classify into a product, specific market, customer groups, or services. The divisional structures create work teams matching individual groups’ needs. The divisional structure relies on the types of relationships; geographical structure and the regional division provide services and products to particular locations.
3. Matrix Structure
This structure presents a combination of divisional and functional structures. It allows greater autonomy, decentralized decision-making, more interactions in the inter-departments, and thereby greater innovation, and productivity as a long-term strategy. Regardless of all these advantages, the matrix structure is costly and leads to conflicts between horizontal product lines and vertical functions.
4. Hybrid Structure
It is similar to the Matrix structure, presenting a combination of divisional and functional structures. Here, it divides both functional and divisional activities into departments. This structure in each function allows utilization of knowledge and resources, while different divisions maintain their product specialization. The hybrid structure is on board now by tech startup companies and many large organizations.
What are the benefits of these different organizational structures?
Organizational structures are the governing business operations. It is not useful for home-based or smaller businesses as they complete the business functions by themselves. Organizational structures are required for larger businesses to manage employees and business functions effectively. However, the organizational structure enjoys a few universal benefits with these structures.
Streamlines business operations
Streamlining business operations is the key benefit of adopting organizational structures. Usually, business owners, managers, and directors are responsible to handle business functions and its departments. They ensure the business operations are effective to function as a long-term strategy efficiently. Thereby, companies save money by completing similar business functions through their multiple departments.
Operates multiple locations
As businesses grow and operate in multiple locations, the organizational structures help businesses largely. They develop a management chain and operate all business locations following standard procedures. They rely on the organizational structures that manage different types of relationships in the business. Therefore, even if the business owners do not visit their locations, the work completes on time.
Improves employee performance
The benefit of having in place the organizational structures is that the manager outlines employee tasks and manages everything. Employees, if necessary, undergo training. The process of organizational structures helps businesses in taking specific decisions. It also features the flexibility to include new employees or new departments such as a tech startup. It ensures no burden on one department or manager and improves employee performance.
Improves decision making
Companies using organizational structure, improve their process of making business decisions. Organizational structures work towards promoting information to make responsible business decisions. It applies to managers and frontline operations. The organizational structures are useful even for the executive level management as they complete business functions smoothly and efficiently. It is effective as they send information to employees and managers, alike.
Concentrate on sales and customer service
Companies use organizational structures to focus on sales and customer service. It helps the business growth. Improved customer service promotes the value of the company. Similarly, focusing on sales and business profits ensures meeting consumer wants and needs.
