Mintzberg's coordinating mechanisms of structure

Mintzberg's coordinating mechanisms of structure refer to the different ways in which organizations
coordinate and control their activities. According to Mintzberg (1980), there are five coordinating
mechanisms that organizations can use to achieve coordination and control:

Direct supervision: This involves a supervisor or manager overseeing the work of subordinates and
providing guidance and direction as needed.

Standardization of work processes: This involves the use of standardized work procedures and processes
to ensure consistency and quality.

Standardization of outputs: This involves the use of standardized outputs, such as performance metrics
or product specifications, to ensure consistency and quality.

Mutual adjustment: This involves informal communication and coordination among employees to
ensure that work is completed efficiently and effectively.

Formalization: This involves the use of formal rules and procedures to coordinate and control activities.

These coordinating mechanisms are important because they help organizations to achieve coordination
and control in different ways, depending on the nature of the work and the organization's goals. For
example, direct supervision may be more appropriate in a small, highly specialized organization, while
standardization of work processes may be more appropriate in a larger organization with more complex
work processes.

Reference:

Mintzberg, H. (1980). Structure in 5's: A synthesis of the research on organization design. Management
Science, 26(3), 322-341.