Question

1. Discuss how communication takes place in mechanistic and organic organizations.

2. Describe Miles and Snow's strategy typology.

3. A dual hierarchy may seem an unusual way to design an organization, but the matrix is the correct structure when certain conditions are present. What are those conditions?

Answer 1

1. In mechanistic organizations communication takes place vertically where the higher authority give instructions to the lower level executives and the executives at the bottom level will have to follow the instructions and work accordingly. In mechanistic organizations there are a plethora of rules and standard procedures that the employees need to follow. In mechanistic organizations employees work separately and work on a particular task. In this type of organizations communication and control proceed through hierarchical routes.

In organic organizations communication takes place horizontally where the bottom level executives are allowed to give suggestions to other departments and also to higher authorities. In this type of organization the lower level employees have independence to solve the problems by taking help of other team members. In organic organization employees work in a team and communicate mutually. In this type of organizations, due to implementation of decentralized decision making, employees of lower hierarchy will have the capability to take important decisions. This empowers employees resulting in higher creativity and better problem solving skills. Employees are more goal oriented here.