Every organization has a structure that depends on the tasks they are dealing with. If the work is temporary, the structure should allow temporary hire and fire, etc.
However, if the organization has a permanent operation, the structure should allow for activities that help maintain its operation.
Organizational structure is a system set up that determines the hierarchy of people, their function, workflow, and reporting system. It is an enterprise environmental factor and it guides how an organization runs its operations.
As organizations grow their requirements change. The structure must adapt to support its objectives.
Why is an Organizational Structure Needed?
The market is competitive; therefore, the organization should adapt to market demand and be responsive.
Organizations with poor structure will not survive.
A well-defined structure helps the organization realize its potential and support its objectives.
For example:
Let us say your organization is producing a product. Your customers are satisfied and not very demanding; what kind of organizational structure will you select?
You will select the functional organizational structure because it supports production operations.
Let’s consider another case.
Suppose your organization has ten employees and deals with small projects. You always start looking for a new project.
In this case, what kind of structure will you select?
You will select the projectized organizational structure as you are dealing with projects.
Now, the final case.
Your organization is enormous. The work environment is dynamic. Customer requirements and market demands are always changing.
What kind of structure will you select?
You cannot select the functional organization because it does not allow for quick changes to its operations.
You also cannot select the projectized structure. Although it supports a dynamic nature, this is not enough. Your organization is big and you need permanent departments to keep your organization functioning. This is not possible with a pure projectized organization.
Therefore, you will select a matrix organizational structure. It has the qualities of both the functional and projectized organizational structure and will support your operations and help achieve the organization’s objectives.
Types of Organizational Structure
The type of structure depends on many factors, such as governing style, leadership style, workflow, hierarchy, and many more.
The PMBOK Guide defines eight organizational structures:
- Organic or Simple Organization
- Functional or Centralized Organization
- Multi-divisional Organization
- Matrix Organization
- Project Oriented (Composite or Hybrid) Organization
- Virtual Organization
- Hybrid Organization
- PMO
Wikipedia has six organizational structures:
- Pre-bureaucratic Structure
- Bureaucratic Structure
- Post-bureaucratic Structure
- Functional Structure
- Divisional Structure
- Matrix Structure
Some other sources divide them into the following categories:
- Simple Organization
- Functional Organization
- Divisional Organization
- Matrix Organization
- Team-Based Organization
- Network-Based Organization
- Modular Organization
On the Internet, you will find many more structures. However, the classifications above are the most popular.
Since this blog is dedicated to PMP exam preparation, I will focus on the PMBOK Guide’s definitions and explain the other structures in brief.
Organic or Simple Structure
Here, you may work alone or side by side.
You may be the only employee in your company.
Instances of this type are solopreneur, OPC (One Person Company), or a freelancer.
Functional (Centralized) Organizational Structure
This is the most commonly used organizational structure. Here, the organization comprises various departments, each department has people with similar skills: sales department, marketing department, finance department, to name a few.
This helps organizations enhance the efficiencies of each functional group.
Multi-Divisional Organization
Here you may have many functional divisions with a little centralization. Generally, these divisions are independent. Project managers do not have authority; however, they have part-time staff.
An organization is divided into various divisions. Employees with diverse skills are kept together in the form of groups based on a similar product, service, or geographic location. Each division has the resources required to function and can do the task on its own.
Matrix Organizational Structure
This is a hybrid of a functional and projectized organizational structure. Here you have two command structures: vertical and horizontal. An employee may belong to a functional group, but can also work on a project; this structure uses the best of both worlds.
A matrix organizational structure can be of three types:
- Strong Matrix Structure
- Balanced Matrix Structure
- Weak Matrix Structure
Strong Matrix Structure
Strong matrix organizations are closer to a projectized organization. Here the project managers have the highest authority, control over the budget, and a full-time team reporting to them.
Balanced Matrix Structure
A balanced matrix has properties of both functional and projectized structures. Here, project managers have a low-to-moderate authority and a part-time team. The budget is managed by both the project manager and the functional manager.
Weak Matrix Structure
A weak matrix is closer to a functional structure. Here, project managers have low authority and no control over the budget; they will have a part-time team.
Project Oriented (Composite or Hybrid) Organizational Structure
A projectized organization obviously deals with projects. Project managers have full authority to complete the project successfully, have a full-time role, control over the budget, and a full-time team reporting to them.
A team-based structure is another name for a projectized organizational structure.
Virtual Organization
Many experts call this a virtual corporation. The central organization is connected to outside firms via the internet. The outside firm can be a vendor, client, or associate. This structure helps organizations achieve corporate growth and a greater profit. In a network structure, the organization keeps its core business to itself while the rest of the processes are outsourced. This structure is also known as a hollow corporation, hollow organization, or network structure.
Here the project manager has a low-to-moderate authority, however, they have mixed control over the budget. They may or may not have a full-time team reporting them.
Hybrid
True to its name, this structure may use any combination of the organizational structures.
Suppose yours is a functional organization. It needs a small building, and your organization has the capability to build it. In this case, your organization will create a separate project team to complete this task.
This is a mixed structure. Responsibility, authority, and other factors are also mixed depending on the structure.
PMO
PMO is also a mixed organizational structure. Project managers have the highest authority. They control the budget and have a full team reporting to them.
Here is where the blog post on organizational structure ends.
Now, let’s take a look at other organizational structures that are not mentioned in the PMBOK Guide. This is for your information only. Don’t expect to see a question on these types of structures on your PMP exam.
The Simple Structure
This structure is suitable for small organizations in their early stages. They have just started and are in the development phase. Here, the authority lies with a single person. These structures have a few rules and work is low skilled.
Some scholars call this a pre-bureaucratic structure.
The Modular Structure
In this structure, the organization outsources some parts of a product.
Keep in mind that in the network structure the organization outsources the processes, while in a modular structure they outsource only a few parts of the product.
Pre-Bureaucratic Structure
Pre-bureaucratic organizations do not have standard procedures and policies. This structure is used by small-scale organizations and has a few employees who handle simple tasks. It has a central command with one decision-maker in the top position.
Communication takes place on a one-on-one basis and it usually is informal.
Bureaucratic Structure
This structure is suitable for huge organizations with complex operations and that need smooth administration. They have standard procedures and processes.
An example of this organizational structure is the food and beverage industry where there are strict rules and regulations.
Post-Bureaucratic Structure
Post-bureaucratic organizations are developed and have various standards and procedures. These organizations have a central command comprising several board members, decisions are made through a democratic process. This encourages employee participation, trust, personal treatment, and responsibility.
The Advantages of an Effective Organizational Structure
An organizational structure has a well-defined reporting structure. It reduces friction among employees by clarifying roles and responsibilities.
Having a proper organizational structure can bring immense benefits to any organization. A few of these benefits are:
- It allows an organization to grow.
- Focuses attention on your strategic goals, instead of each department focusing on its agenda.
- Unites a group of people and points them towards a common goal.
- Encourages employees to enhance their skills.
- It makes the decision-making process efficient, smoother, and faster.
- Facilitates the specialization of employees.
- It enables better control and use of resources.
- Establishes a proper reporting system.
- Enables easier and better communication, which helps in reducing conflicts.
- Allows employees to perform better.
- Helps employees grow their career and streamline new employees.
- Identify clear roles and responsibilities.
Conclusion
An organizational structure is a framework that helps organizations achieve their business objectives. It defines the relationship between the various departments and teams. It helps organizations to delegate authority, power, and responsibility.
An organizational structure shows employees a transparent reporting system helping to avoid conflicts and supporting good communication. An organizational structure is essential for smooth functioning. An organization should choose its structure depending on its needs and requirements. An incorrect structure will hinder growth.
What type of structure does your organization have? Please share your experiences at work in the comments section.
I’m very great full 1st year Bcom student, I must say you detailed every single structure very clear. Now I want use this info on my assignment. How do I get reference?
You can refer to the article title and my name.
I WORK IN A NEILSEN MARKETING RESEARCH COMPANY
which organizational structure is good for the co.to assign project
Hello Tayyab,
Your company does not have any guidelines for managing projects? Please check and you will answer.
Thank you so much for the detailed and comprehensive post. it is really a very good reference material that helped me understand to make the necessary choice.Regards
You are welcome Guenet.
All explanations are very detailed and clear, makes it very understandable, thank you for the information and topic, helps me understand it better
You are welcome Russell.
Between traditional and weak organisation structure, where does the PM has least amount of authority?
How does a divisional structure help a firm better-serve its customers
As you will have a separate dedicated section to serve your customers.
Can you please tell me what the answer will be for the following question? Thanks!
Which type of organizational structure is often used by companies that produce standard products? Why?
Since these types of organizations have regular function, they usually have functional structure. Some big companies have matrix structure as they may have many other projects (for example: development of a new product, product improvement, etc) in parallel.
i liked your clear article. keep it up
Thanks Hatoon.
What organizational structure would you suggest for a single owner renting an estate for events?
It can be organic or simple structure.
Draw for me an organisation structure of a micro finance and analyse factors considered
As per my understanding, it should be a functional structure.
What is the best structure for small cleaning company wanting to deliver a good customer service/good quality control and reduce its cost.
It depends but I believe in your case you can go for weak matrix organization structure.
Quite educational. Calls for deliberate effort in choosing what is appropriate. Must be tough evolving from one form to another in a constantly changing environment
The structure of organization does not change often unless you change your activities.
Which organisational structure will be best for a large e-commerce company who wants to increase their sales?? Can you suggest me an appropriate apporach?? Thank you
It can be matrix.
I have learned something new today about this organizational structures and their functions
Thanks Mosa.
wow, I’m impressed, this information was very useful
very clear and detailed. thank you. you really helped me
You are welcome Oye.
A construction company which undertakes building projects as and when they are contracted to, is looking to hire a consultant to help them develop an organizational structure. What structure would you suggest to the construction company to adopt and why.
These can be examples of strong matrix or projectized.
where is product, customer and geographic structures? isn’t it important or common?
I did not understand your question.
HI Fahad,
I have my exam in next 10 days and I am not able to differentiate between weak matrix and functional organization. I am getting all my questions wrong.
Kindly help me to pick the correct answer for functional and weak matrix.
Looking for ur reply.
SD
Please refer to the page 23 of the PMBOK Guide fifth editions. It explains the concept in detail.
Hello Fahad,
I am currently deciding how to identify the organization structure of the small business as described below:
A tour business offering a adventure trip packages . Assist with 4 supporting staff (permanent) and 6 trip planner (contract basis)..can you suggest me some ideas please.Thank you.
This is a regular job, so the structure is functional.
Very easy to understand and useful information. thanks..
You are welcome Reethika.
Thanks Boss ,
I learned a lot
You are welcome Naveen.
Clear and detailed explanation. Thank you 🙂
You are welcome Nelson.
Hello Fahad. I am currently deciding how to identify the organization structure for a particular question i dont know what it is as it is so hard to identify……can you suggest me some ideas please.Thank you.
The grocery store started from small business into big business to over 200 stores.they have 4 regional managers each responsible for 50 stores. It success due to good location , winning personalities and ‘serve the customer attitude and they are specialized in meats and produce. they have separate meat ,grocery ans produce department manager.grocery department manager served as store manager but dont have direct authority in meat and produce department and report direclty to district store manager.store meat department manager reported directly to district meat manager and so as produce department. is it functional?
Would you describe the U.S. military as a Matrix Organization Structure?
@Toy: As per my understanding US military is a matrix type of organization.
@Li: It is a functional structure.
Nice post. Got a lot of fact here.
Thabks and keep the good work.
Please, Can you discuss the difference between a functional structure and project structure taking into consideration the matrix of both structure.
Please read following blog posts:
https://pmstudycircle.com/2012/08/what-is-a-functional-organization-structure/
https://pmstudycircle.com/2012/08/what-is-a-projectized-organization-structure/
Very helpful, thank you.
Thanks Makhokha for your visit and leaving comment.
Your expalnation is detailed and clear.
It was helpful for may rechearche.
Thank you.
You are welcome Hermenegildo.
Thank you very much, its really very useful template and it will help me and my friend to understand types of structure very well 🙂
You are welcome Monzer.
Thank you for the great job.
You are welcome Maryam.
hi there. i would like to thanks for this post. i would like to ask what is different between divisional and functional structure?
Hope this article will help you understand the difference between divisional and functional structure.
http://practical-management.com/Organization-Development/Functional-Vs-Divisional-Structure.html
Thank you for your blog post I understood clearly all about Organizational Structure types . The message is being delivered on simple way.
Thanks Alejandro.
wonderful job.
Thanks Joash.
I must say am very impressed by your post. it has really helped me understand a lot of things. will be grateful if u can post me more of your question for me to try my hand on before writing my exams on Human Organization Behavior.
Secondly please send me some merits and demerits of the virtual structure also known as network structure.
Thanks so much
Most Grateful