icon backReturn to Entries

Organizational Structure

Organizational structure refers to the formal and informal manner in which people, job tasks, and other organizational resources are configured and coordinated. Although structure sounds like a singular characteristic, it is composed of a number of dimensions, because there are multiple ways in which the employees within an organization and the job tasks to be carried out can be structured. Among the most commonly studied aspects of organizational structure are formalization, centralization, and complexity.

Fundamental Elements of Organizational Structure

Formalization refers to the extent to which organizational policies, practices, and ways of completing tasks are standardized. Specifically, highly formalized organizations are those in which rules for expected behavior are clearly articulated and followed. Conversely, organizations that exhibit low levels of formalization have few standardized practices or rules. ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles