Organisational Analysis and Design

Organisational Analysis and Design
Assessment One – Reflective Responses

Provide informed opinion on the issues involved in the question framed by the theoretical concepts discussed in the lectures and readings.
Back up with evidence whenever possible.

1. Explain why we live in an “organisational world” illustrate with examples.

As defined by Robbins and Barnwell (2006:6), An organisation is “…a consciously coordinated social entity with a relatively identifiable boundary, that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals”

In today’s day and age, we live in a “21st Century Global Capitalist Society”. We exist in an “organisational world” that frames human ideas, actions and events.
Organisations are vital in order to drive the economic system. This is due to the corporate component of society, increasing significantly with a considerable boom in Globalisation, which interconnects industries throughout the world in economics, politics and culture.
Along with this, rapid advances in technology and communication methods, including computerised systems and the internet, has allowed the exertion of influence, which once took years to travel around the globe, now possible within a matter of seconds. This has created an ever-increasing efficiency in people the way people communicate and move, and thus how goods and services are moved.
Organisations are everywhere we go, from our educations, careers and goods and services we need on a daily basis. Globalisation is largely responsible for this, as our lifestyles have become dependant of the existence of organisations. If today’s culture and norms are compared to that of a different century (for example 1960s) it is clear that globalisation has evolved our way of living, into one that is complex and much more organisational focused.
Almost every aspect of a persons life involves organisations, an example is illustrated through Daft (2012) statement: “…we are born in a hospital, have our birth registered in a government agency, are educated in schools and universities, eat food produced on corporate farms, are treated by doctors engaged in joint practice; buy a house sold by a real estate agency and built by a construction company borrow money from banks, turn to police when there’s trouble, have our funeral arranged by funeral agencies”
Daft clearly illustrates how extensive the role, organisations play in all of our lives are, from when we are born till when our lives end, in which we do not always realise.
Although this is a very narrow view of organisations in the world, it clearly depicts its significance.

2. Explain the relationship between organisational ‘design’ and organisational ‘structure’ using a concrete example derived from your own experience and imagination.

As described by Rijn (2004), an organisational structure defines the roles, tasks and authorities of each department, division, individual employee and the relationships between them (line of command, communication and procedures). It also defines the number of employees in each division, unit and department. Whereas an organisational design is the process of creating or remodelling an organization’s structure and roles so as to align with the strategy of the business. The design is concerned with constructing and changing an organisation’s structure to allow the organisation to achieve its goals (Robbins & Barnwell 2006: 8)

The purpose of the structure is to outline areas of responsibility, implement necessary strategies, provide possible control mechanisms, facilitate flow of production, promote coordination and information flows, monitor and respond to environmental change, maintain and promote organisational knowledge and Improve organisational effectiveness (The university of Western Sydney 2012 ‘Structure design’ lecture slide).

An organisational design and organisational structure are interconnected in the way that they both play a role within the process of creating an organisation. The first role is played by the design component, where, as discussed above, roles, tasks and authorities are identified, as well as; departments, divisions and the number of employees needed within each sector. The second part of this process is performed by the structural component. This component focuses on specifically creating the arrangement or configuration of the organisation, from information gathered in the design process, decisions are made on how the organisation should be set out within each department, division and as a whole, so that the aim of the organisation can be met. For example, I work in the department store Myer, where the design of the organisation encompasses a large number of employees where authority figures are clearly defined. The structure of this organisation therefore supports this design, and therefore has a centralised hierarchy of authority as well as a precise division of labour and a narrow span of control, reflecting Myer’s mechanistic design.

3. To what extent is the “machine metaphor” relevant to explain design, structure and management practices in contemporary organisations? Illustrate with an example
The machine metaphor emerged during Industrial Revolution when organisations were depicted as “well oiled machines”, operating efficiently and effectively, designed and structured to achieve pre-determined goals
Example: Charlie Chaplin video of working like a machine.

4. To what extent is the “organic metaphor” useful to explain design, structure and management practices in contemporary organisations? Illustrate with an example
Imagine: organisations as living systems existing in a wider environment on which they depend

Similar elements between an organic world and an organisational world | Organic | Organisational | | | | | | | | | | |

5. What is the relationship between design, structure and organisational culture? Illustrate with an example.