Org 502 Organizational Structure Paper
Running Head: Organizational Structure 1
Organizational Structure
David Wiseman
ORG/502
November 8, 2010
Robert Whipple, MBA
Organizational Structure 2
Introduction
This paper will attempt to analyze the organizational design and structure of a community- based hospital. Is the organizational structure mechanistic or organic? Insights into how the organization attempts to reduce employees’ work-life conflict and does the organization cultivate an ethical and positive culture. First an examination of organizational structure.
Organizational Structure “An organizations structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated. There are six key elements that managers need to address when they design their organizations structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization” (Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 519). Most of the six elements addressed are easily defined in the hospital setting. There are clearly defined departments that perform job duties specific to that specialization. The organization can be considered centralized, as decision …show more content…
Chain of command is clearly defined by employees reporting to department managers, who report to department directors, reporting to associate hospital directors, who report to the Chief Executive Officer. Through observation the organization has a narrow span of control which has three major drawbacks. “First, as already described, they’re expensive because they add levels of management. Second, they make vertical communication in the organization more complex. The added levels of hierarchy slow down decision making and tend to isolate upper management. Third, narrow spans of control encourage overly tight supervision and discourage employee autonomy” (Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 524). The organization operates as a mechanistic
Organizational Structure
David Wiseman
ORG/502
November 8, 2010
Robert Whipple, MBA
Organizational Structure 2
Introduction
This paper will attempt to analyze the organizational design and structure of a community- based hospital. Is the organizational structure mechanistic or organic? Insights into how the organization attempts to reduce employees’ work-life conflict and does the organization cultivate an ethical and positive culture. First an examination of organizational structure.
Organizational Structure “An organizations structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated. There are six key elements that managers need to address when they design their organizations structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization” (Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 519). Most of the six elements addressed are easily defined in the hospital setting. There are clearly defined departments that perform job duties specific to that specialization. The organization can be considered centralized, as decision …show more content…
Chain of command is clearly defined by employees reporting to department managers, who report to department directors, reporting to associate hospital directors, who report to the Chief Executive Officer. Through observation the organization has a narrow span of control which has three major drawbacks. “First, as already described, they’re expensive because they add levels of management. Second, they make vertical communication in the organization more complex. The added levels of hierarchy slow down decision making and tend to isolate upper management. Third, narrow spans of control encourage overly tight supervision and discourage employee autonomy” (Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 524). The organization operates as a mechanistic