HCS 325
August 5, 2013
Effective Communication
Every organization must rely on effective communication in order to function properly. It is the structure that is used within the organization that determines just how effective that communication can be. There are three basic organization models, each with positive and negative aspects. Choosing an effective model can aid an organization in building a stronger foundation for business.
One of the most commonly seen organizational systems is the functional structure. In a functional structure, people with similar skills that perform similar tasks are grouped (Lombardi & Schermerhorn, 2007). These types of structures can work no matter the size of the organization. It can be especially effective in the health care settings, such as hospitals where different departments represent different aspects of care. For example, grouping people together with the same specialties or sub-specialties can make communication between those groups easier. The functional structure can work in both the patient care setting and the administrative offices by putting people with similar skills together to work toward the facility’s goals. …show more content…
In this environment, employees can focus on specific areas of learning and skills and share that knowledge with a group of like-minded individuals. On the negative side, there can be confusion as reliance on management hinders production and employees are sometimes only able to think in terms of their own group function rather than see the overall picture. There must be a balance in place to ensure that although employees are encouraged to focus within their functional group, they must also be willing to communicate with other groups within the