Organizational Structures - Essay Example

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES AFFILIATION: Organizational Structures Organizational structures can be defined as the hierarchy and reporting structure of the organisation. Organizational structures are important for managers to study so that they can make improvements in the businesses especially if the business is facing downfalls. The problems this manager is facing can be given the following solutions. For outdated product lines, can be solved by forming divisional structures in the organisation.

Divisional structures will allow the managers to take the decision of the respective departments rather than waiting for the approval of the decision from the top management. Adversarial communication can be solved by making flatter hierarchal structures so that communication channels don’t get distorted via the long hierarchy structures of the organisation. Competition for internal resources can be solved by managing by forming team structures within the employees so that a healthy competitive environment is maintained (Robbins and Judge 2007).

The steps for managing the transition from the old organizational structure to the new would be a very challenging process. Handling employees and motivating them to accept the change in a positive manner has to be critically dealt by the manager. The employees need to be shown the positive side of the change in organizational structure so that they realize the advantages of this structure and hence except the change. In the transition stage of the change in organizational structure, there will be resistance faced from the employees in adapting the new structure and the new reporting lines of the hierarchy.

Also if managers reduce the span of control under each division then also the work processes of the organisation can be controlled in an efficient manner (Robbins and Judge 2007). The change needs to be taken calmly by the manager and the manager needs to assure the employees that the change is being done for the betterment of the organisation. Kurt Lewin’s change theory needs to be applied that states the first stage is Unfreeze that is inform the employees about the change, then implement the change, and then finally refreeze the employees at that stage (Thompson and Strickland 2003).

The external business environment may cause complications for the business at start as the business would be under the process of experiencing organizational structure change. Nevertheless, the manager needs to speed up the process, adapt in a fast manner to the external business conditions and delegate the appropriate authorities to the subordinates in conducting the tasks (Romme 2003). To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the work processes at the organisation, the manager needs to ensure that all levels of the organisation, all the employees are equipped with required resources to conduct their task.

This way if employees are provided with competitive resources to perform their task they can become competitive professional and may reach a competitive stage in the external business environment in regards with the other organisations (Spector 2007). The down falling situation of the organisation can be controlled by the new manager in ways mentioned above. The process would be challenging, but control, efficiency and effectiveness can be highly maintained for the organisation. ReferencesRobbins, S.F., and Judge, T.A. (2007).

Organizational Behavior. 12th edition. Pearson Education Inc., p. 551-557.Romme, A.G.L., (2003), “Making a difference: Organization as design”, Organization Science, 14, pp. 558-573.Spector, B., (2007), Implementing Organization Change: Theory and Practice, 1st ed., pp. 141, Pearson Prentice Hall.Thompson, A. & Strickland, A., (2003), Strategic Management Concepts and Cases, 13th ed., p. 29, McGraw-Hill Irwin.