Professional Documents
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Organizational Structures
Organizational Structures
Organizational Structures
BSMA 1-11
Title Page i
Table of Contents ii
1. Simple Structure 1
2. U-Form 2
3. M-Form 2
4. H-Form 3
1. Matrix Structure 4
2. Team-Based Structure 5
References 7
ii
Organizational types provide guidance by laying out the official relationships from
bottom to top to effectively convey information and instructions to everyone in the company.
According to Tony Greener’s book (2010), there are six (6) major organizational types:
other hand, Nishadha (2019) discussed in a blog seven (7) organizational structures are used
Team-based Structures. Other authors have their own set of organizational structures too.
Although the name of the structure explains itself, these are still different variations that exist
under these given structures. Further research unveiled different types as with different names
these different types with consideration to the illustration and definition of each type. Now,
there are three (4) generic organizational structural forms and two (2) hybrid organizational
structures. Generic Organizational Structural Forms are Simple Form, U-Forms, M-Forms
and H-Forms while Hybrid Organizational Structural Forms are Matrix and Team-based
Structures.
1. Simple Structure
The first Generic Organizational Structure is the Simple Structure. The simplest type of
hierarchy is found in small companies where the owner participates in the work. Employees
and the owner work simultaneously without any levels. A perfect structural form for small
businesses that cannot afford many additional personal like a small grocery store that has a
hands-on owner who participates actively in the business. Even if one personnel are not
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present, the owner can take up the work left by the said personnel to maintain the flow of the
business. No levels are present because everyone, even the owner, is also doing what the
1. U-Form Structure
U-Forms or Functional Structures are simple and is often referred to as a Flat Form or
Unitary Form. The reason behind the name “Functional” is its simple illustration wherein all
information comes from the head and is relayed directly to the function heads (Greener
2010). As shown in the figure below, this functional structure involves functional groups,
groups with members with the same background, same technical models for the same goal,
led by a functional manager. An article made by David Anderson (2019) discussed Netflix
used a U-Form Structural Form wherein there are six (6) functional groups that are under the
CEO which are the Legal, Talent, Finance, Product, Content ang Communications.
2. M-Form Structure
organizational framework that has multiple businesses in related areas called divisions. These
divisions are working towards a goal for the good of the company but is focused in
maintaining its own pace rather than keeping up with the whole company. An example of this
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structure is The Walt Disney Company wherein, according to Jack Gerard (2019), “uses a
empire functioning smoothly. While its film, television, theme park and other divisions all
work toward the goal of enriching the company and even cooperate with each other to cross-
reference content, each division is still only responsible for its own operation”. Although the
divisions have their own goal to be done in their own conditions, it is still related and
3. H-Form Structure
Form structures, the products or departments under a H-Form are unrelated to each other.
As mentioned by Warren Cassel Jr. (2019), Amazon is quite popular in the online
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sectors. It’s products and services include Audible, CreateSpace, Goodreads, IMDb, etc.
These services are all under, and if not, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. where each offer
services that are not related to each other. An article written by an anonymous author also
indicated that H-Form organizations usually exploit resources to further maximize the profit.
The figure below also shows that there are different heads for different sectors. These
differentiated sectors consist of directors that is not related to the other sectors (e.g. clinical
Generic Structural Forms are called that way since these are the simplest and most
used by organizations existing as of today. Hybrid Structures are more complicated when it
comes to the structure itself since one department can be under another department and a
1. Matrix Form
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The first Hybrid Structural Form is the Matrix Form. Organizations utilizing this
structural form diverts from the traditional hierarchy. It is set up as a grid, or matrix wherein
people with the similar skills are grouped for work assignments that leads to reporting to
more than one manager. For example, in an engineering department, engineers are opted to
report to the head engineer or the engineering manager. The same engineers may also be
assigned to different projects then, they are also obliged to report to the project managers.
structure-12-728.jpg?cb=1248913556
2. Team-Based Structure
Team-Based Structure, being the last Organizational Structure, is the newest among
the given structures. “McChrystal did not change the formal structure of the military. Rather,
he created a new structure that allowed for dynamism and flexibility within the overall
organizational structure. This new structure enabled officers to quickly move from their
administrative positions to mission-oriented projects for a set purpose, knowing that they
would once again have a home to return to within the larger organizational structure after the
mission was completed” (CCC). This structure is also described as an instrument to develop a
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“network of teams” with high degree of empowerment, strong communication and precise
industry. Even the study conducted by Volini, et al. (2019) shows that most of the workload
in this industry is done in teams and a significant improvement in performance was observed.
Since work processes are handle by groups assigned with specific timelines, employees have
more autonomy and authority to make decisions without managerial approval. Members of
the team work together and establish trust to manage each task responsibly while the
All in all, there are six (6) Structural Forms discussed but there are still variations to
every one of them. Organizations adapt the structural form that is best for it to maximize
resources and achieve standards and goals that were set. Studies also stated that there is no
perfect structure for any organization but there are ones that is helpful. It can make real
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REFERENCES
Anderson, David (November 10, 2019). Netflix’s Inc. Organizational Structure & Its
organizational-structure-design-organizational-chart-characteristics
from https://bookboon.com/premium/reader/organizational-theory
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/091015/overview-businesses-owned-
amazon.asp
from https://bizfluent.com/about-6707542-multidivisional-organizational-
structure.html
from http://thuvienso.bvu.edu.vn/bitstream/TVDHBRVT/15847/1/Understanding-
Organisations-Part-I.pdf
McDowell, et al. (March 1, 2016). Organizational Design [PDF File]. Retrieved from
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-
trends/2016/organizational-models-network-of-teams.html#endnote-9
https://creately.com/blog/diagrams/types-of-organizational-charts/
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Volini, et al. (April 11, 2019). Organizational Performance: It’s A Team Sport [PDF
trends/2019/team-based-organization.html