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Organisational Design

Deparmtentalisation

 

Definition:

Ø     Deparmtentalisation refers to how work activities are grouped together. 

Ø     Deparmtentalisation is the logical grouping of work activities to create divisions, branches, units and sections in a company.

 

Types:

 

Functional

ü   Reflection functions

ü   Based on specialization

ü   Individuals speak the same language

ü   Minimize duplication

ü   Training narrow and simplified

ü   Tight Organisational control

x       Over specializations

x       Manager limited to functional area

x       Weak coordination between departments

x       Employee identify with department vs. culture of firm

x       CEO overburdened

x       Manager fails to develop focus on customer, products or markets.

 

Territorial

ü   Tailor to particular region i.e. British, Japanese

ü   Excellent training ground for managers as assign different regions

ü   Excellent basis for career management move up to headquarters.

ü   Work units highly responsive to specialized customer needs.

x       Danger of duplication of effort

x       Hire general managers capable of handling several functions.

Product

ü   Adaptable and flexibility in meeting needs of management

ü   External Change detected readily & understood

ü   Employee gain deep understanding of product and market

ü   Separate business units (profit centers)

ü   Measures easy to create and judge performance of various product divisions are less complicated.

ü   Design shifts some burden for general management from corporate executive to division executives.

x       Danger of duplication of effort

x       Hire general managers capable of handling each division.

x       ‘Joint ventures’ conflicts arise due to sharing resources.

Matrix

ü   Combines strengths of product and functional design.

ü   Emphasis on market change with management and technical expertise.

ü   Develop manager with technical product and project knowledge who can communicate effectively with functional departments.

ü   Self-contained department can devote undivided attention to needs of project.

ü   Organization can focus on specific products and development without creating permanent units.

x       Employee not know who ‘real boss’ is.

x       Requires excellent planning & resource allocation – functional work proceeds and projects do not ‘starve’.

x       To excessive overhead costs – project over hire technical and support staff.

 

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