Introduction to Structure in fives

Pål Sørgaard, Telenor R&D and IfI

August 29, 2005

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Structure in fives

An absolute classic in organisation theory (1983) Author Henry Mintzberg one of the most influential

researchers in the field It is based on a more academic textbook: The

Structuring of Organizations (1979) Takes a design view of organisations Not the last word in the field: there are critics and new

developments If you learn this you have a very good basis for

understanding and working in organisations If you study the field deeply, this is an excellent start

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Why do we have organisations?

Views from the students

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Why study organisations?

We work in (systems development) organisations The way systems development is organised has

immense impact on its productivity and quality We usually work with organisations:

– Our clients are often organisations that need to revise or acquire information systems

– These systems are often crucial to the performance of the organisation

– The introduction of such systems is usually associated with important changes in the organisations

– Such implementation and change processes often fail– Properties of systems are often disputed

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When we have division of labour we need coordination Mutual adjustment Direct supervision Standardisation of work processes Standardisation of work outputs Standardisation of skills

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An organisation has five main parts

1. Strategic apex

2. Middle line

3. Support staff

4. Technostructure

5. Operating core

Illustrations borrowed from presentations of Bolman and Deal (Wiley Interscience)

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Five main configurations

Mintzberg proposes five main configurations, or kinds of organisations

These are consistent organisational designs in terms of design parameters (i.e. coordination mechanisms) and environmental conditions

Mintzberg describes them in terms of– Prime coordinating mechanism– Key part of organisation– Main design parameters– Situational factors

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Simple structure

A small shop A new agency A start-up company led

by a very dominant person

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Machine bureaucracy

A traditional airline A steel work A government directorate

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Professional bureaucracy

University Hospital

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Divisional form

A major corporation A regional health

provider The Norwegian

government sector

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Adhocracy

A project based consulting or R&D company

Some highly innovative companies or agencies

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When describing existing organisations We will meet mixed configurations Perhaps we will meet other main configurations?

– Are there other consistent configurations?

Thus, with our projects, we may see cases that tend to confirm, falsify or call for elaboration of Mintzberg’s theory