CO-OPERATIVE FOOD STORE IN U.K

CO-OPERATIVE FOOD STORE in U.K

CO-OPERATIVE FOOD STORE in U.K

Task 1

Mechanistic Organization

The mechanistic organizational structure is a top-down, hierarchical structure in which people have clear roles and receive detailed instructions - formalization and centralization are both high. It is suited to stable conditions in which management understands the tasks and promotes task efficiency (Burns and Stalker, 1961). The organic structure is a network structure in which people use their initiative and define their roles through discussion with peers - formalization and centralization are both low. It is suited to unstable conditions that require problem solving and promotes higher rates of innovation (Brown and Eisenhardt, 1997). The theory helped develop the modern contingency theory (Donaldson, 2001).

The mechanistic and organic types are extremes, being two ends of a continuum, with actual organizations mainly lying at intermediary points along it. It is unlikely that an organization will be completely mechanistic, because formalization tends to be highest in large sized organizations, which tend to be not centralized, but decentralized; that is, they delegate some decisions to middle and lower levels in the hierarchy. Similarly, it is unlikely that an organization will be completely organic, because formalization tends to be lowest in small sized organizations, which tend to be not decentralized, but centralized (e.g., a small firm run by an owner-manager).

Moreover, there can be variations in the degree of “mechanisticness” and “organicness” within the same organization. Some organizational roles, because of the uncertainty of their tasks (e.g., R&D scientist), are less formalized and more autonomous (i.e., more organic), while some other roles (e.g., assembly worker), because of the certainty of their tasks, are more formalized and more directed by management (i.e., more mechanistic). Successful large, innovatory firms, such as in hi-tech (e.g., electronics), tend to have some mechanistic aspects that provide a framework within which there are also organic features.

Organic Organization

An organic organization is when the organization exist dependently, meaning that the organization takes into consideration the needs of their employees. Since in an organic organization the ideas and opinions of the employees are taken into consideration, this leads to group leadership and teamwork. Group leadership, is better than individual leadership because there are several people controlling the environment, instead of one person telling everyone what is expected. Since organic organizations takes into consideration the ideas of the employees this opens the doors to create teamwork among employees. The use of Organic Organizations is good because it some way it becomes an incentive to employees to perform to the best of their ability.

Comparison of Organizational Structure at CO-OPERATIVE FOOD

Implementing a new sales process will take time and dedication. With our company utilizing the same processes for so long we are bound to see some types of resistance when change is implemented. Organizational structures can be sorted between organic and mechanistic. Organizational cultural also plays a big role when implementing change. Some resistance forces we are likely to encounter are within our organization. Once the organizational structure and cultural attribute is determined then the ...