why is organizational structure important essay

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Organization and Structure

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There is no single organizational pattern that works well for all writing across all disciplines; rather, organization depends on what you’re writing, who you’re writing it for, and where your writing will be read. In order to communicate your ideas, you’ll need to use a logical and consistent organizational structure in all of your writing. We can think about organization at the global level (your entire paper or project) as well as at the local level (a chapter, section, or paragraph). For an American academic situation, this means that at all times, the goal of revising for organization and structure is to consciously design your writing projects to make them easy for readers to understand. In this context, you as the writer are always responsible for the reader's ability to understand your work; in other words, American academic writing is writer-responsible. A good goal is to make your writing accessible and comprehensible to someone who just reads sections of your writing rather than the entire piece. This handout provides strategies for revising your writing to help meet this goal.

Note that this resource focuses on writing for an American academic setting, specifically for graduate students. American academic writing is of course not the only standard for academic writing, and researchers around the globe will have different expectations for organization and structure. The OWL has some more resources about writing for American and international audiences here .

Whole-Essay Structure

While organization varies across and within disciplines, usually based on the genre, publication venue, and other rhetorical considerations of the writing, a great deal of academic writing can be described by the acronym IMRAD (or IMRaD): Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. This structure is common across most of the sciences and is often used in the humanities for empirical research. This structure doesn't serve every purpose (for instance, it may be difficult to follow IMRAD in a proposal for a future study or in more exploratory writing in the humanities), and it is often tweaked or changed to fit a particular situation. Still, its wide use as a base for a great deal of scholarly writing makes it worthwhile to break down here.

• Introduction : What is the purpose of the study? What were the research questions? What necessary background information should the reader understand to help contextualize the study? (Some disciplines include their literature review section as part of the introduction; some give the literature review its own heading on the same level as the other sections, i.e., ILMRAD.) Some writers use the CARS model to help craft their introductions more effectively.
• Methods: What methods did the researchers use? How was the study conducted? If the study included participants, who were they, and how were they selected?
• Results : This section lists the data. What did the researchers find as a result of their experiments (or, if the research is not experimental, what did the researchers learn from the study)? How were the research questions answered?
• Discussion : This section places the data within the larger conversation of the field. What might the results mean? Do these results agree or disagree with other literature cited? What should researchers do in the future?

Depending on your discipline, this may be exactly the structure you should use in your writing; or, it may be a base that you can see under the surface of published pieces in your field, which then diverge from the IMRAD structure to meet the expectations of other scholars in the field. However, you should always check to see what's expected of you in a given situation; this might mean talking to the professor for your class, looking at a journal's submission guidelines, reading your field's style manual, examining published examples, or asking a trusted mentor. Every field is a little different.

Outlining & Reverse Outlining

One of the most effective ways to get your ideas organized is to write an outline. A traditional outline comes as the pre-writing or drafting stage of the writing process. As you make your outline, think about all of the concepts, topics, and ideas you will need to include in order to accomplish your goal for the piece of writing. This may also include important citations and key terms. Write down each of these, and then consider what information readers will need to know in order for each point to make sense. Try to arrange your ideas in a way that logically progresses, building from one key idea or point to the next.

Questions for Writing Outlines

• What are the main points I am trying to make in this piece of writing?
• What background information will my readers need to understand each point? What will novice readers vs. experienced readers need to know?
• In what order do I want to present my ideas? Most important to least important, or least important to most important? Chronologically? Most complex to least complex? According to categories? Another order?

Reverse outlining comes at the drafting or revision stage of the writing process. After you have a complete draft of your project (or a section of your project), work alone or with a partner to read your project with the goal of understanding the main points you have made and the relationship of these points to one another. The OWL has another resource about reverse outlining here.

Questions for Writing Reverse Outlines

• What topics are covered in this piece of writing?
• In what order are the ideas presented? Is this order logical for both novice and experienced readers?
• Is adequate background information provided for each point, making it easy to understand how one idea leads to the next?
• What other points might the author include to further develop the writing project?

Organizing at the sentence and paragraph level

Signposting.

Signposting is the practice of using language specifically designed to help orient readers of your text. We call it signposting because this practice is like leaving road signs for a driver — it tells your reader where to go and what to expect up ahead. Signposting includes the use of transitional words and phrasing, and they may be explicit or more subtle. For example, an explicit signpost might say:

This section will cover Topic A­­ and Topic B­­­­­.

A more subtle signpost might look like this:

It's important to consider the impact of Topic A­­ and Topic B­­­­­.

The style of signpost you use will depend on the genre of your paper, the discipline in which you are writing, and your or your readers’ personal preferences. Regardless of the style of signpost you select, it’s important to include signposts regularly. They occur most frequently at the beginnings and endings of sections of your paper. It is often helpful to include signposts at mid-points in your project in order to remind readers of where you are in your argument.

Questions for Identifying and Evaluating Signposts

• How and where does the author include a phrase, sentence, or short group of sentences that explains the purpose and contents of the paper?
• How does each section of the paper provide a brief summary of what was covered earlier in the paper?
• How does each section of the paper explain what will be covered in that section?
• How does the author use transitional words and phrases to guide readers through ideas (e.g. however, in addition, similarly, nevertheless, another, while, because, first, second, next, then etc.)?

WORKS CONSULTED

Clark, I. (2006). Writing the successful thesis and dissertation: Entering the conversation . Prentice Hall Press.

Davis, M., Davis, K. J., & Dunagan, M. (2012). Scientific papers and presentations . Academic press.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

9.3 Organizing Your Writing

Learning objectives.

• Understand how and why organizational techniques help writers and readers stay focused.
• Assess how and when to use chronological order to organize an essay.
• Recognize how and when to use order of importance to organize an essay.
• Determine how and when to use spatial order to organize an essay.

The method of organization you choose for your essay is just as important as its content. Without a clear organizational pattern, your reader could become confused and lose interest. The way you structure your essay helps your readers draw connections between the body and the thesis, and the structure also keeps you focused as you plan and write the essay. Choosing your organizational pattern before you outline ensures that each body paragraph works to support and develop your thesis.

This section covers three ways to organize body paragraphs:

• Chronological order
• Order of importance
• Spatial order

When you begin to draft your essay, your ideas may seem to flow from your mind in a seemingly random manner. Your readers, who bring to the table different backgrounds, viewpoints, and ideas, need you to clearly organize these ideas in order to help process and accept them.

A solid organizational pattern gives your ideas a path that you can follow as you develop your draft. Knowing how you will organize your paragraphs allows you to better express and analyze your thoughts. Planning the structure of your essay before you choose supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and targeted research.

Chronological Order

In Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , you learned that chronological arrangement has the following purposes:

• To explain the history of an event or a topic
• To tell a story or relate an experience
• To explain how to do or to make something
• To explain the steps in a process

Chronological order is mostly used in expository writing , which is a form of writing that narrates, describes, informs, or explains a process. When using chronological order, arrange the events in the order that they actually happened, or will happen if you are giving instructions. This method requires you to use words such as first , second , then , after that , later , and finally . These transition words guide you and your reader through the paper as you expand your thesis.

For example, if you are writing an essay about the history of the airline industry, you would begin with its conception and detail the essential timeline events up until present day. You would follow the chain of events using words such as first , then , next , and so on.

Writing at Work

At some point in your career you may have to file a complaint with your human resources department. Using chronological order is a useful tool in describing the events that led up to your filing the grievance. You would logically lay out the events in the order that they occurred using the key transition words. The more logical your complaint, the more likely you will be well received and helped.

Choose an accomplishment you have achieved in your life. The important moment could be in sports, schooling, or extracurricular activities. On your own sheet of paper, list the steps you took to reach your goal. Try to be as specific as possible with the steps you took. Pay attention to using transition words to focus your writing.

Keep in mind that chronological order is most appropriate for the following purposes:

• Writing essays containing heavy research
• Writing essays with the aim of listing, explaining, or narrating
• Writing essays that analyze literary works such as poems, plays, or books

When using chronological order, your introduction should indicate the information you will cover and in what order, and the introduction should also establish the relevance of the information. Your body paragraphs should then provide clear divisions or steps in chronology. You can divide your paragraphs by time (such as decades, wars, or other historical events) or by the same structure of the work you are examining (such as a line-by-line explication of a poem).

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that describes a process you are familiar with and can do well. Assume that your reader is unfamiliar with the procedure. Remember to use the chronological key words, such as first , second , then , and finally .

Order of Importance

Recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” that order of importance is best used for the following purposes:

• Persuading and convincing
• Ranking items by their importance, benefit, or significance
• Illustrating a situation, problem, or solution

Most essays move from the least to the most important point, and the paragraphs are arranged in an effort to build the essay’s strength. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to begin with your most important supporting point, such as in an essay that contains a thesis that is highly debatable. When writing a persuasive essay, it is best to begin with the most important point because it immediately captivates your readers and compels them to continue reading.

For example, if you were supporting your thesis that homework is detrimental to the education of high school students, you would want to present your most convincing argument first, and then move on to the less important points for your case.

Some key transitional words you should use with this method of organization are most importantly , almost as importantly , just as importantly , and finally .

During your career, you may be required to work on a team that devises a strategy for a specific goal of your company, such as increasing profits. When planning your strategy you should organize your steps in order of importance. This demonstrates the ability to prioritize and plan. Using the order of importance technique also shows that you can create a resolution with logical steps for accomplishing a common goal.

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that discusses a passion of yours. Your passion could be music, a particular sport, filmmaking, and so on. Your paragraph should be built upon the reasons why you feel so strongly. Briefly discuss your reasons in the order of least to greatest importance.

Spatial Order

As stated in Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , spatial order is best used for the following purposes:

• Helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it
• Evoking a scene using the senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound)
• Writing a descriptive essay

Spatial order means that you explain or describe objects as they are arranged around you in your space, for example in a bedroom. As the writer, you create a picture for your reader, and their perspective is the viewpoint from which you describe what is around you.

The view must move in an orderly, logical progression, giving the reader clear directional signals to follow from place to place. The key to using this method is to choose a specific starting point and then guide the reader to follow your eye as it moves in an orderly trajectory from your starting point.

Pay attention to the following student’s description of her bedroom and how she guides the reader through the viewing process, foot by foot.

Attached to my bedroom wall is a small wooden rack dangling with red and turquoise necklaces that shimmer as you enter. Just to the right of the rack is my window, framed by billowy white curtains. The peace of such an image is a stark contrast to my desk, which sits to the right of the window, layered in textbooks, crumpled papers, coffee cups, and an overflowing ashtray. Turning my head to the right, I see a set of two bare windows that frame the trees outside the glass like a 3D painting. Below the windows is an oak chest from which blankets and scarves are protruding. Against the wall opposite the billowy curtains is an antique dresser, on top of which sits a jewelry box and a few picture frames. A tall mirror attached to the dresser takes up most of the wall, which is the color of lavender.

The paragraph incorporates two objectives you have learned in this chapter: using an implied topic sentence and applying spatial order. Often in a descriptive essay, the two work together.

The following are possible transition words to include when using spatial order:

• Just to the left or just to the right
• On the left or on the right
• Across from
• A little further down
• To the south, to the east, and so on
• A few yards away
• Turning left or turning right

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph using spatial order that describes your commute to work, school, or another location you visit often.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Key Takeaways

• The way you organize your body paragraphs ensures you and your readers stay focused on and draw connections to, your thesis statement.
• A strong organizational pattern allows you to articulate, analyze, and clarify your thoughts.
• Planning the organizational structure for your essay before you begin to search for supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and directed research.
• Chronological order is most commonly used in expository writing. It is useful for explaining the history of your subject, for telling a story, or for explaining a process.
• Order of importance is most appropriate in a persuasion paper as well as for essays in which you rank things, people, or events by their significance.
• Spatial order describes things as they are arranged in space and is best for helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it; it creates a dominant impression.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The Importance of Organizational Design and Structure

• Gill Corkindale

One of the wonderful things about being a coach is that I meet hundreds of executives who freely share their business and leadership challenges with me. As well as helping me understand how hard it is to run an organization, they show me how they are managing to adapt — or not — to changing […]

One of the wonderful things about being a coach is that I meet hundreds of executives who freely share their business and leadership challenges with me. As well as helping me understand how hard it is to run an organization, they show me how they are managing to adapt — or not — to changing organizational structures .

• Gill Corkindale is an executive coach and writer based in London, focusing on global management and leadership. She was formerly management editor of the Financial Times.

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What is organizational structure and why is it important?

Many company organizational structures are pretty linear — or, more accurately, pretty triangular. The traditional “org chart” images of a pyramid depict companies with a few powerful individuals at the top of the company. Under that is a slightly wider level that reports to them. Each subsequent level gets wider and wider, with a large base of entry-level employees at the “bottom.”

However, just because many organizations are structured in this way doesn’t mean that yours should be. Depending on the size of your team and how your workflows are structured, you may benefit from any number of alternative organizational structures. It can also give you some insight into areas of fraction and possible opportunities for development. If your teams are not delivering the outcomes you need, the organizational structure is one possible culprit. Outcomes are the way to assess whether your systems and structures are working as intended. 

Choosing the right structure for your team requires you to think about how your team currently works and where you’re going. Before you draw up that org chart or start proposing new headcount, read on. We’ll dig into the various types of organizational structures, what they are, and ways to implement them.

What is an organizational structure?

An organizational structure is the way that a company, organization, or team is set up. It can be hierarchical, with different levels of management. Or it can be divisional, with different product lines and divisions. Sometimes, there’s little to no hierarchy at all. Every company and team has an organizational structure, even if it’s not formally defined.

An organizational structure defines how job titles, roles, and responsibilities are assigned within a company. It helps determine who reports to whom, and who makes decisions about what.

Startups often have a matrix organizational structure, with different departments working together on projects. Large organizations usually have a hierarchical structure with a clear chain of command. 

Most people only think of organizational structure as it relates to entire companies. But the same structural concepts also apply to how teams get organized within a function, department, or business unit. Organizational structures and restructuring are largely about decision-making authority, information flows, priorities, and allocating resources. 

Each organization is unique (and has unique needs). Even so, each organizational structure will have a few key components in common.

Key elements of an organizational structure

No matter the organization’s size, certain aspects of workplace decision-making and processes need to be clear. Many small businesses handle these designations informally. As a company grows, though, it’s helpful to revisit and clarify these hierarchies (or lack thereof). At the minimum, each organization needs to designate:

Work specialization

Work specializations are less formally known as roles or job descriptions. They outline what a person is responsible for within an organization or on a smaller team. Clear work specializations allow you to make the best use of talent. They make it clear what an individual person’s responsibilities and measures of success are, and help safeguard against a thinning of resources..

Chain of command

If your organization, like many, relies on a mix of people managers and individual contributors , you need to establish a chain of command. This gives people clear direction on who they should reach out to for support. When people from other departments need to check on the status of cross-functional projects, it makes it easy to find out who’s driving them.

Departmentalization and compartmentalization

Compartmentalizing people into departments creates teams of people whose jobs are organized around a specific type of work. A department could be human resources, sales, marketing, or IT. People in these departments often share common skill sets and work together frequently on projects. Each department is typically led by an executive.

Span of control

The number of team members that report to a given manager is formally referred to as “span of control.” If a manager has a large number of direct reports , the team is often subdivided into smaller departments. This happens often at large companies, where multiple people may fill a similar job function.

Centralization and decentralization

Better thought of as “ top-down vs. bottom-up management ,” the terms centralization and decentralization refer to how much influence upper-level leaders have over an organization. Of course, all leaders have power over their organizations. But decentralized management structures tend to have more agile decision making happening at all levels. Employees are empowered to perform their roles and make decisions as they see fit.

Formalization

Formalization determines how much standardizing there is across the organization. It may affect functions, systems, job descriptions, and the flow of information. Organizations with high formalization are often more mature and highly systematized. Done well, this kind of structure should boost innovation, not stifle it.

The importance of organizational structures

Organizational structures are important because they help businesses implement efficient decision-making processes. By assigning specialized roles to lower-level employees, businesses can make better decisions faster. 

Additionally, organizational structures provide a clear org chart that helps businesses keep track of their human resources. When your company is small, it’s hard to imagine that you’d ever lose track of what everyone is doing. After all, in startups and small businesses, it often feels like everyone is doing everything .

As you grow, these silos become more distinct from each other. At that point, an organizational structure helps you identify gaps in skills and support within your business. People’s roles become more specialized and individual teams grow bigger. Revisiting the allocation of work prevents the duplication of effort and reflects business priorities.

Keep in mind, however, that behind these flowcharts are real people. The leaders and employees represented in an organizational chart each work best under different circumstances and with different leadership styles. If you don’t keep them included in the what and why of your organizational shifts, they’re more likely to resist changes when they occur.

Since change is inevitable, it’s a good idea to communicate early and often as things shift. Strive for as much transparency in the workplace as possible. And if you do make changes in your organization, make time to check in with the people being affected. You can try to minimize the impact to them and help create a transition plan if need be.

Types of organizational structures

There are several different types of organizational structures, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common are functional , divisional , matrix , project team , flat , and network .

Functional organizational structures are best for small businesses because they allow for clear decision-making hierarchies. Each team operates as an individual “silo.” Once teams grow, they benefit from making these functional structures less rigid. Teams often move faster and collaborate better with more overlap.

Divisional structures are best for large businesses because they allow for more specialization. For example, a global company might divide their business into regions (such as EMEA/APAC), or broad service categories (like B2B/D2C).

In the matrix structure , employees work in both functional and project teams which may be structured differently. Employees then typically report to two bosses: one who oversees their day-to-day work, as well as another boss that oversees larger projects or tasks.

A project team approach would include any number of functions working together on a specific project without a permanent hierarchy. Employees report up through their individual bosses. But they also contribute to team efforts led by managers from other departments on the team as needed.

Flat organizations have as little hierarchical structure as possible. Middle managers are largely absent from staff. Instead, the workforce often reports directly to managers or leaders at the “highest” level. Highly-autonomous employees often thrive in these environments. The lack of hierarchy motivates people to make decisions, take ownership, and facilitates problem-solving.

In a network structure , individual freelancers, groups, or associations work together. They each work as separate functional teams, but may share an overarching entity. Professional associations often have this type of structure.

Choosing the best organizational structure for your company

When it comes to organizational structures, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to choose an organizational structure for your company is to first assess your business needs and goals. From there, you can match those needs with one of the common organizational structures. 

Although there isn’t a “right” answer, some organization structures are a better fit for your team than others. And while we normally advocate for trying several solutions until you find what works, that doesn’t work as well with organizational development . 

Company reorganizations (especially repeated ones) tend to destroy employee morale . Even when handled well, reorgs create uncertainty and stress on employees. Since they’re often a precursor to layoffs, people tend to fear losing their jobs — even when the changes are generally positive. And if there’s a pattern of other major changes rapidly coming down the line? That’s a recipe for cynicism and workplace burnout .

When deciding on an organizational structure, it’s important to keep these four factors in mind:

The structure you choose will depend on the type of company you run. For example, companies that rely on a number of front-line employees are structured a lot differently than nonprofit organizations. Each will have a different organizational chart based on what they do and where they need to prioritize their efforts. 

To build an effective organization , you need to know which team members are there to facilitate the work of the people in the field and which employees support the leaders. For example, C-suite executives often have a team dedicated to supporting their efforts. But the customer service team exists to support the end user. Some roles, like marketing or product development, sit squarely in the middle. Your allocation of resources needs to reflect a balance between these two sets of needs.

Company size is critical to consider when determining a formal organizational structure. Smaller companies often have a high deree of overlap in roles. They have less formalized structures. This lack of standardization can present some challenges, but it frees teams to grow rapidly. 

On the other hand, larger organizations tend to grow faster with a more centralized, formal structure. Why? It makes it easier for people to know where to find information, who to talk to in order to get things done, and avoid duplicating efforts needlessly. The challenges and unique strengths of each differently sized organization help inform the best type of arrangement.

3. Stage 

In order to create standardized systems, there (usually) needs to be something to systematize. It’s pretty hard — or deceptively easy — to develop systems for a business that has no clients, no services, and no employees.

In the early stages, not only do small companies benefit from a less formalized structure — they don’t need one. Once workflows emerge, patterns arise, and problems occur, they can reflect those learnings as a formal process. The need for reporting relationships and divisional structure arises as the need for systems does.

4. Systems 

Organizations at every stage — even with just one person — tend to organize their work by function. There’s accounting, marketing, and service right from day one. When this work is handled by a single person, there’s no need to articulate systems. More people means more need to define how, when, and why teamwork happens. 

Both the existing and desired systems play a role in organization structure. If you need or want faster collaboration and communication across teams, you’ll want to design a “flatter” structure. If leaders need to be removed from day-to-day activities, it will help to have a structure that delegates authority and accountability to others .

Building a healthy organization means more than just functioning well — although that is important. It means creating plans to support your employees and the workplace in their growth. Giving some thought to the types of authority that currently exist can help you choose the right organizational structure. But knowing where you want to go and the outcomes you want to achieve in the future will help you get there.

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Allaya Cooks-Campbell

With over 15 years of content experience, Allaya Cooks Campbell has written for outlets such as ScaryMommy, HRzone, and HuffPost. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and is a certified yoga instructor as well as a certified Integrative Wellness & Life Coach. Allaya is passionate about whole-person wellness, yoga, and mental health.

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Organizing Your Writing

Learning objectives.

• Understand how and why organizational techniques help writers and readers stay focused.
• Assess how and when to use chronological order to organize an essay.
• Recognize how and when to use order of importance to organize an essay.
• Determine how and when to use spatial order to organize an essay.

The method of organization you choose for your essay is just as important as its content. Without a clear organizational pattern, your reader could become confused and lose interest. The way you structure your essay helps your readers draw connections between the body and the thesis, and the structure also keeps you focused as you plan and write the essay. Choosing your organizational pattern before you outline ensures that each body paragraph works to support and develop your thesis.

This section covers three ways to organize body paragraphs:

• Chronological order
• Order of importance
• Spatial order

When you begin to draft your essay, your ideas may seem to flow from your mind in a seemingly random manner. Your readers, who bring to the table different backgrounds, viewpoints, and ideas, need you to clearly organize these ideas in order to help process and accept them.

A solid organizational pattern gives your ideas a path that you can follow as you develop your draft. Knowing how you will organize your paragraphs allows you to better express and analyze your thoughts. Planning the structure of your essay before you choose supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and targeted research.

Chronological Order

In Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?”, you learned that chronological arrangement has the following purposes:

• To explain the history of an event or a topic
• To tell a story or relate an experience
• To explain how to do or to make something
• To explain the steps in a process

Chronological order is mostly used in expository writing , which is a form of writing that narrates, describes, informs, or explains a process. When using chronological order, arrange the events in the order that they actually happened, or will happen if you are giving instructions. This method requires you to use words such as first , second , then , after that , later , and finally . These transition words guide you and your reader through the paper as you expand your thesis.

For example, if you are writing an essay about the history of the airline industry, you would begin with its conception and detail the essential timeline events up until present day. You would follow the chain of events using words such as first , then , next , and so on.

Writing at Work

Choose an accomplishment you have achieved in your life. The important moment could be in sports, schooling, or extracurricular activities. On your own sheet of paper, list the steps you took to reach your goal. Try to be as specific as possible with the steps you took. Pay attention to using transition words to focus your writing.

Keep in mind that chronological order is most appropriate for the following purposes:

• Writing essays containing heavy research
• Writing essays with the aim of listing, explaining, or narrating
• Writing essays that analyze literary works such as poems, plays, or books

When using chronological order, your introduction should indicate the information you will cover and in what order, and the introduction should also establish the relevance of the information. Your body paragraphs should then provide clear divisions or steps in chronology. You can divide your paragraphs by time (such as decades, wars, or other historical events) or by the same structure of the work you are examining (such as a line-by-line explication of a poem).

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that describes a process you are familiar with and can do well. Assume that your reader is unfamiliar with the procedure. Remember to use the chronological key words, such as first , second , then , and finally .

Order of Importance

Recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” that order of importance is best used for the following purposes:

• Persuading and convincing
• Ranking items by their importance, benefit, or significance
• Illustrating a situation, problem, or solution

Most essays move from the least to the most important point, and the paragraphs are arranged in an effort to build the essay’s strength. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to begin with your most important supporting point, such as in an essay that contains a thesis that is highly debatable. When writing a persuasive essay, it is best to begin with the most important point because it immediately captivates your readers and compels them to continue reading.

For example, if you were supporting your thesis that homework is detrimental to the education of high school students, you would want to present your most convincing argument first, and then move on to the less important points for your case.

Some key transitional words you should use with this method of organization are most importantly , almost as importantly , just as importantly , and finally .

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that discusses a passion of yours. Your passion could be music, a particular sport, filmmaking, and so on. Your paragraph should be built upon the reasons why you feel so strongly. Briefly discuss your reasons in the order of least to greatest importance.

Spatial Order

As stated in Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?”, spatial order is best used for the following purposes:

• Helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it
• Evoking a scene using the senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound)
• Writing a descriptive essay

Spatial order means that you explain or describe objects as they are arranged around you in your space, for example in a bedroom. As the writer, you create a picture for your reader, and their perspective is the viewpoint from which you describe what is around you.

The view must move in an orderly, logical progression, giving the reader clear directional signals to follow from place to place. The key to using this method is to choose a specific starting point and then guide the reader to follow your eye as it moves in an orderly trajectory from your starting point.

Pay attention to the following student’s description of her bedroom and how she guides the reader through the viewing process, foot by foot.

Click Image to Enlarge

The paragraph incorporates two objectives you have learned in this chapter: using an implied topic sentence and applying spatial order. Often in a descriptive essay, the two work together.

The following are possible transition words to include when using spatial order:

• Just to the left or just to the right
• On the left or on the right
• Across from
• A little further down
• To the south, to the east, and so on
• A few yards away
• Turning left or turning right

Key Takeaways

• The way you organize your body paragraphs ensures you and your readers stay focused on and draw connections to, your thesis statement.
• A strong organizational pattern allows you to articulate, analyze, and clarify your thoughts.
• Planning the organizational structure for your essay before you begin to search for supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and directed research.
• Chronological order is most commonly used in expository writing. It is useful for explaining the history of your subject, for telling a story, or for explaining a process.
• Order of importance is most appropriate in a persuasion paper as well as for essays in which you rank things, people, or events by their significance.
• Spatial order describes things as they are arranged in space and is best for helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it; it creates a dominant impression.
• Successful Writing. Authored by : Anonymous. Provided by : Anonymous. Located at : http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/successful-writing/ . License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

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• Section 1. Organizational Structure: An Overview

Chapter 9 Sections

• Section 2. Creating and Gathering a Group to Guide Your Initiative
• Section 3. Developing Multisector Task Forces or Action Committees for the Initiative
• Section 4. Developing an Ongoing Board of Directors
• Section 5. Welcoming and Training New Members to a Board of Directors
• Section 6. Maintaining a Board of Directors
• Section 7. Writing Bylaws
• Section 8. Including Youth on Your Board, Commission, or Committee
• Section 9. Understanding and Writing Contracts and Memoranda of Agreement
• Main Section

What is organizational structure?

Why should you develop a structure for your organization, when should you develop a structure for your organization.

By structure, we mean the framework around which the group is organized, the underpinnings which keep the coalition functioning. It's the operating manual that tells members how the organization is put together and how it works. More specifically, structure describes how members are accepted, how leadership is chosen, and how decisions are made.

• Structure gives members clear guidelines for how to proceed. A clearly-established structure gives the group a means to maintain order and resolve disagreements.
• Structure binds members together. It gives meaning and identity to the people who join the group, as well as to the group itself.
• Structure in any organization is inevitable -- an organization, by definition , implies a structure. Your group is going to have some structure whether it chooses to or not. It might as well be the structure which best matches up with what kind of organization you have, what kind of people are in it, and what you see yourself doing.

It is important to deal with structure early in the organization's development. Structural development can occur in proportion to other work the organization is doing, so that it does not crowd out that work. And it can occur in parallel with, at the same time as, your organization's growing accomplishments, so they take place in tandem, side by side. This means that you should think about structure from the beginning of your organization's life. As your group grows and changes, so should your thinking on the group's structure.

Elements of Structure

While the need for structure is clear, the best structure for a particular coalition is harder to determine. The best structure for any organization will depend upon who its members are, what the setting is, and how far the organization has come in its development.

Regardless of what type of structure your organization decides upon, three elements will always be there. They are inherent in the very idea of an organizational structure.

• Some kind of governance

Rules by which the organization operates

• A distribution of work

The first element of structure is governance - some person or group has to make the decisions within the organization.

Another important part of structure is having rules by which the organization operates. Many of these rules may be explicitly stated, while others may be implicit and unstated, though not necessarily any less powerful.

Distribution of work

Inherent in any organizational structure also is a distribution of work. The distribution can be formal or informal, temporary or enduring, but every organization will have some type of division of labor.

There are four tasks that are key to any group:

• Envisioning desired changes . The group needs someone who looks at the world in a slightly different way and believes he or she can make others look at things from the same point of view.
• Transforming the community . The group needs people who will go out and do the work that has been envisioned.
• Planning for integration . Someone needs to take the vision and figure out how to accomplish it by breaking it up into strategies and goals.
• Supporting the efforts of those working to promote change . The group needs support from the community to raise money for the organization, champion the initiative in the state legislature, and ensure that they continue working towards their vision.

Common Roles

Every group is different, and so each will have slightly different terms for the roles individuals play in their organization, but below are some common terms, along with definitions and their typical functions.

• An initial steering committee is the group of people who get things started. Often, this group will create plans for funding, and organizational and board development. It may also generate by-laws, and then dissolve. If they continue to meet after approximately the first six months, we might say they have metamorphosed into a coordinating council .
• A coordinating council (also referred to as a coordinating committee, executive committee , and executive council ), modifies broad, organization-wide objectives and strategies in response to input from individuals or committees.
• Often, one person will take the place of the coordinating council, or may serve as its head. Such a person may be known as the Executive Director, Project Coordinator, Program Director, or President . He or she sometimes has a paid position, and may coordinate, manage, inspire, supervise, and support the work of other members of the organization.
• Task forces are made up of members who work together around broad objectives. Task forces integrate the ideas set forward with the community work being done.

For example, from the director of a coalition to reduce violence in a medium-sized city: "Currently, we have three operational task forces. Members of each have an ongoing dialogue with members of the coordinating council, and also with their action committees. The oldest was formed with the goal of eliminating domestic violence about fifteen years ago, when a local woman was killed by her husband. Then, after several outbreaks of violence in the schools a few years back, our group offered to help, and a second task force sprung up around reducing youth violence. We've just started a third, with the goal of increasing gun safety. "All of it is interrelated, and all of it applies to our mission of increasing the safety of residents of South Haven, as well as that of our visitors. But each task force is contributing to that mission in vastly different ways, with different objectives, and using different strategies. 'Cause, you know, the strategies you use to stop a ninth grader from bringing a gun to school just aren't the same as the ones you use to stop a 40-year-old man on unemployment from beating his wife."

•   Action committees bring about specific changes in programs, policies, and practices in the sectors in which they work.

For example, the task force on domestic violence mentioned above has the following action committees: A government and law enforcement committee . Members include police officers, lawyers, a judge, and a state representative. Currently, they are trying to pass laws with stronger penalties for those convicted of domestic violence, especially repeat offenders. They are also training officers to be better able to spot an abusive relationship, and better able to inform a victim of his or her options. A social services committee . Members (who include representatives from most of the service agencies in town) work to assure that staff members know where to send someone for the resources he or she needs. They are also trying to increase the number of trained volunteer counselors who work at the battered women's shelter. A media committee . Members include local journalists, writers, and graphic designers. They keep the project and the issue in the public's minds as much as possible with editorials, articles and news clips of events, as well as advertisements and public service announcements.

•   Support committees are groups that help ensure that action committees or other individuals will have the resources and opportunities necessary to realize their vision. Financial and media committees are examples of committees formed to help support or facilitate your work.
• Community trustees , also known as the board of trustees or as the board of directors , provide overall support, advice, and resources to members of the action groups. They are often either people who are directly affected by the issue or have stature in the community. That way, they are able to make contacts, network with other community leaders, and generally remove or weaken barriers to meeting organizational objectives.
• Grantmakers are another part of the picture. Grantmakers exist on an international, national, state, and local level and may be private companies and foundations, or local, county, state, or federal government organizations (for example, block grants given by the city would fall into this category).
• Support organizations (not to be confused with the support committees listed above) are groups that can give your organization the technical assistance it needs.
• Partner organizations are other groups working on some of the same issues as your organization.

Although this list is pretty extensive, your organization may only use two or three of the above mentioned roles, especially at the beginning. It's not uncommon for a group to start with a steering committee, ask others to serve as board members, and then recruit volunteers who will serve as members of action committees. In this broad spectrum of possibilities, consider: Where does your organization fit in? Where do you want to be?

Examples of Structure

So how can all of these pieces be put together? Again, the form a community group takes should be based on what it does , and not the other way around. The structures given are simply meant to serve as examples that have been found to be effective for some community-based organizations; they can and should be adapted and modified for your own group's purposes.

  A relatively complex structure

Example - The Ste. Genevieve's Children's Coalition The Ste. Genevieve's Children's Coalition is a relatively large community-based group. They have a coordinating council, a media committee, and three task forces, dealing with adolescent pregnancy, immunization, and child hunger. Each of the task forces has action committees as well. For example, the adolescent pregnancy reduction task force has a schools committee that focuses on keeping teen parents in school and modifying the human sexuality curriculum. A health organizations committee focuses on increasing access and use of the youth clinic. The media committee works to keep children's issues in the news, and includes professionals from the local television stations, radio stations, newspaper, and a marketing professional. The coordinating council is composed of the executive director, her assistant, the media committee chair, and the chairs of each of the three task forces. A board of directors has been invaluable in helping keep the coalition financially viable.

In diagram form, a complex organization might look like this:

And in diagram form:

As smaller size means fewer people, these groups are usually less complex, as they have less need for a formal hierarchy and instead have governance that is consensus-based. A diagram of such a small group might look something like this, with each of the circles representing an individual member:

What type of structure should you choose?

First, decide upon the formality your organization will have. The following table, adapted from The Spirit of Coalition Building can help you make this first decision.

Organizational structure is something that is best decided upon internally, through a process of critical thinking and discussion by members of the group.

In your discussions, your answers to the following list of questions may guide your decisions.

• What is your common purpose? How broad is it? Groups with broader purposes often have more complicated structures, complete with many layers and parts, than do groups with more narrow purposes.
• Is your group advocacy oriented or service oriented? Service organizations use "top down," one-person-in-charge structure much more often than do advocacy based groups.
• Is your organization more centralized (e.g., through the work of a specific agency ) or decentralized (e.g., different neighborhoods working independently on the same problem)? A decentralized group might find a "top-down" structure inappropriate, as such a group often has several peers working together on an issue.
• How large is your organization? How large do you envision it becoming? A very small organization may wish to remain relatively informal, while a community-wide group might require a more formal structure. A related question, with similar consequences, is:
• How large is the community in which you work?
• How old is your organization? How long do you envision it lasting? A group formed to resolve a single issue might not need a formal structure at all, while an organization with long-term goals may want something more concrete, with clearer divisional responsibilities and authority.
• Is the organization entirely volunteer, or are there (or will there be) paid staff? How many? An organization with many paid staff members may find it more necessary to have people "in charge," as there are generally more rules and responsibilities for paid staff members, and thus, there must be more supervision in carrying out these roles.
• Should yours be a new organization, or part of an existing structure? Do you really need to form a new structure, or would it be better to work within existing structures? Sometimes, your goals may be better met if you are part of (or linked with) another organization.

Structure is what ensures that your organization will function smoothly and as you intended. You should think about structure early in the development of your organization, but be aware that the type that fits best may change as your organization grows.

Online Resources

How to Develop an Organization Structure , by Tara Duggan, Demand Media, is an informational article on how to develop organization structure with a short step-by-step analysis.

It's All About the Base: A Guide to Building a Grassroots Organizing Program   from Community Catalyst.

Module 2: Organizational Structure , by Pathfinder International, is a concise manual describing pros and cons, together with suggestions for how one might change the organizational structure one has.

Print Resources

Berkowitz, W., & Wolff, T. (1999). The spirit of coalition building. Washington , DC: American Public Health Association.

Unterman, I. & Davis, R. (1984). Strategic management of not-for-profit organizations: From survival to success . New York, NY: Praeger.

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Many types of writing follow some version of the basic shape described above. This shape is most obvious in the form of the traditional five-paragraph essay: a model for college writing in which the writer argues his or her viewpoint (thesis) on a topic and uses three reasons or subtopics to support that position. In the five-paragraph model, as illustrated below, the introductory paragraph mentions the three main points or subtopics, and each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence dealing with one of those main points.

SAMPLE ESSAY USING THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH MODEL

Remember, this is a very simplistic model. It presents a basic idea of essay organization and may certainly be helpful in learning to structure an argument, but it should not be followed religiously as an ideal form.

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6.2: The importance of organization

• Last updated
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• Page ID 25400

• Alexandra Glynn, Kelli Hallsten-Erickson & Amy Jo Swing
• North Hennepin Community College & Lake Superior College

Humans like routine, and some even expect it so much that deviation from the routine can throw off an entire day.

One area where we all expect routine is in an essay. But in all writing modes, not just in an essay, there is some kind of organization pattern, just as there is in every architectural structure.

The routine, or organization, of a piece creates a framework that guides the reader through your excellent ideas. Of course, you can find examples of writers who twist their writing in unexpected ways, but those are exceptions that are difficult to pull off effectively. And you often find them in the creative modes, rather than the researchlike modes. In general, you’ll find using an accepted organizational format not only useful for the reader, but satisfying for you as the structure will lend strength to your ideas.

Why is organization important?

• Readers expect it.
• It helps make your ideas clearer.
• It shows you're credible; you know how to organize, so you know what you're doing.
• It helps the flow of your writing, removing reading "stumbling blocks."

Essay on Organizational Structures

Introduction

The existence of various internal and external factors shape organizations in the corporate world. These factors determine the strengths and weaknesses of an organization. The organization’s success is also based on strategies used to develop and sustain a good relationship among organizational stakeholders. When starting a company, choosing a relevant structure that suits the organization is the best idea, although these structures present some challenges. This paper explores various concepts, theories, and frameworks, which form part of organizational structures.

Factors Determining Stability and Uncertainty in an Organization

Organizational success or failures are based on various factors that determine stability and uncertainty in an organizational setting. Factors include socio-cultural differences, organization legal frameworks, technological aspects, political environment, shareholders, and economic base influence organization stability and uncertainty. Madinda (2014) classified four environmental forces: competitive environment, internal environment, external environment, and general environment, as forces that influence the organizational environment. Below is descriptions of these forces.

Technological Factor

Technology is an emerging trend in the organizational setting and the entire corporate world. Technology involved processes in which various kinds of work in an organization are conducted. It comprises machines, devices, operating systems, hardware, or software. Technology improves access and provision of organizational services to benefit customers, employees, and business associates. Technology enhances the organization’s stability by producing high-quality products and services, allowing the organization to remain competitive in the market. In contrast, technology leads to uncertainty, especially to administrators, when deciding on technological choices due to dynamic and ever-changing technology (Madinda, 2014).

Legal Factor

Madinda (2014) explores legal factors by demonstrating the significance of employment laws that regulate employee’s lives at the organization. These laws safeguard employees from exploitation, including financial, unfair dismissal, discrimination, safety environment, and unbiased decision. These laws protect the welfare of employees, thus increasing their productivity in the workplace. However, these laws present uncertainties to the organization since they are not fixed. The laws subject to amendments over and again based on the employee’s well-being. Besides, these laws are characterized by concerns like inequalities in employment relationship between employers and employees.

Socio-Cultural Factor

Social factors, including leadership approaches and attitudes towards work, are attributed as leading factors to environmental uncertainty. Also, the issues of gender sensitivity and equality pose a challenge to policymakers and administrators. In the workplace, there is a challenge in maintaining an optimum balance between men and women in a leadership position (Madinda, 2014).

Political Factor

The introduction of political systems and reforms has significantly influenced the organizational environment. For example, the introduction of deregulation policies and privatization has negatively undermined various organizations. For example, privatization has given the private sector more freedom to venture into productions initially controlled by the government. As a result, this has motivated investors to impose a high cost of products and services, thus undermining some organizations’ operations and existence, leading to uncertainties (Madinda, 2014).

Comparisons between Open and Closed Systems

As open or closed, the classification of systems in organization is based on systems capacity to interrelate with the environment. An open system can describe as a system that interrelates with its environment and exchanges resources and information with the environment. An open system can be ascribed a ‘self-organizing,’ since the system changes the organization according to changing situations. In contrast, a closed system is one that does not correlate with its environment (Allen & Sawhney, 2015).

From the humanistic management perspective, an open system depicts workers as a team of work organizations that contribute to external influences through values and behaviors, which positively reinforce internal organizational functioning. At the heart of this system, an organization forms part of the external environment. The models of open systems are entrenched on human relations theory, whose characteristics differentiate the open system models from models of closed systems, such as mutual respect, human dignity, motivation, and individual difference. In contrast, the closed system models assume that the external environment, including technological advancement, legal decisions, and demographic features, does not affect the organization’s functioning. As such, models of close systems do not rely on the external environment to solve managerial issues or provide any other explanations. The strategies of central management are believed to be key to solving any issue. In open systems, the external environment contributes significantly to solving organizations’ issues (Allen & Sawhney, 2015).

Additionally, unlike closed systems, open systems are very difficult to understand because of complexities and dynamic interrelationships from external factors. Moreover, employees in an open system are driven by the desire to achieve more for the organization. In case of any issue, every employee expresses commitment to the solution to the issue. However, employees in a closed system do not participate actively in development and providing a solution to problems. This model states that organizational problems shall be addressed only by the management; hence employees have no role. Lastly, a closed system is associated with Max Weber’s bureaucratic model. This model emphasized that highly rational bureaucracy is important in attaining the objectives of the society. In a closed system, bureaucracy gives departments and those in authority to developed mentality that departments and management are more important than the organization. In contrast, open system theorists have a different perception of organizational structure and its role in society. To them, models of open systems perceive organization roles in society to be interrelating and interlocking (Allen & Sawhney, 2015).

Strategies for Enhancing Inter-Organizational Relationships

Building and maintaining a good relationship are at the heart of every organization. Strong inter-organizational relationships among employers, employees, and other stakeholders is key to attaining or organizational goals. The strength of an organization is anchored on the power of connections among organizational stakeholders. Below are ways of building and sustaining the inter-organizational relationship.

A good relationship is based on understanding and learning about other people’s cultures. Knowing one another could lead to increase concern and caring for each other. This will minimize cases of oppression or discrimination in the workplace. A strong relationship is built when employees act boldly on behalf of one another. Besides, establishing collaboration enhance good relations. Collaboration fosters good relations in which individuals communicate effectively and share their thoughts and emotions without any concerns or fear. Likewise, collaboration allows workers to make more informed and profitable decisions. Also, establishing trust among workers is key to creating a healthy setting where relationship-building can be nurtured. Trust builds transparency by enabling employees to understand organizations’ strategies, goals, expectations, and paths for individual development (University of Kansas, 2018).

These relationships can be sustained through various approaches. For example, paying attention to another and helping each other in accomplishing the organizational task. Also, communicating openly encourages good relations by avoiding misunderstandings that could build tensions among workers. Also, scheduling regular meetings sessions brings together workers to share their ideas, perspectives, and suggestions to improve operations within the organization. Regular meetings allows organization stakeholders to read from the same script and provide a win-win relationship among them. Lastly, loyalty is an important value that sustains a healthy relationship. Regardless of the disagreement, with loyalty, workers would respect each other’s opinions (University of Kansas, 2018).

Implications of Organizational Structures

The four basic organizational structures include functional, divisional, matrix, and flatarchy structures. Each organizational structure has different advantages and disadvantages, as discuss below;

This structure is based on an organization being subdivided into smaller units with certain roles and responsibilities. For instance, an organization may have a unit working in finance, another in information technology, and another in public relations. Each unit has a manager or supervisor who reports to an executive. One of the advantages of a functional structure is that employees are clustered according to their skills and experience, thus allowing them to concentrate and contribute their competencies. Also, workers are dedicated and committed to a single role. However, one of the challenges presented by this structure is the lack of inter-departmental communication, whereby decision-making only occurs in the managerial position (Point Park University, 2019).

Many larger corporate institutions use this structure. The divisional structure offers more autonomy to employees within the organization. Also, every unit functions by controlling its financers and resources, thus providing more flexibility to the organization. Under this structure, sub-division can be established geographically, with many units in various parts of the world. This structure is disadvantageous on issues to do with high tax implication and accounting practices.

Matrix structure comprises the functional structure blending with the projected structure. Employees can report to more than one boss, including project managers and department managers. Also, this structure has a lot of flexibility and well-adjusted to decision-making. Employees can also share their expertise across various divisions, leading to the widening of their professional development. However, reporting to various managers lead to confusion. Failure to establish clear functions causes employees to get confused about their duties (Point Park University, 2019).

Flatarchy structure works well with startups or small organizations. This structure provide foundation for more decision making process since there is no bureaucracies or hierarchies involved. Also, this structure encourages innovation since employees are constantly motivated to suggest ideas. Just like other structures, flatarchy could be confusing and inconvenient, especially when everybody is involved in decision-making disagree (Point Park University, 2019).

Various structures influence modern businesses or companies in an organization. Factors including technology, social-cultural factors, among others, determine the company’s stability and uncertainty. The company’s success is also based on developing strategies that create and maintain a good inter-organizational relationship. Based on the basics of organizational structures, each structure has benefits and limitations, as discussed in the paper.

Allen, J. M., & Sawhney, R. (2015). Chapter 2: Open Versus Closed Systems.  SAGE Publications, Inc ,  9781483350707/ , 27–43.  https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/33001_2.pdf

Madinda, A. S. (2014). THE UNCERTAINTY OF ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.  International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology ,  1 (5), 774–782.  https://doi.org/ISSN 2348-9480

Point Park University. (2019, January 28).  4 Types of Organizational Structures . Point Park University Online.  https://online.pointpark.edu/business/types-of-organizational-structures/

The University of Kansas. (2018).  Chapter 14. Core Functions in Leadership | Section 7. Building and Sustaining Relationships | Main Section | Community Tool Box . Ku.Edu.  https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/leadership-functions/build-sustain-relationships/main

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Why Is Organizational Structure Important?

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Company Reporting Structure

Organizational structure guidelines, about corporate management.

• What Is a Bureaucratic Organization?
• The Five Types of Business Structures

There are a number of factors that differentiate small-business operations from large-business operations, one of which is the implementation of a formal organizational structure. Organizational structure is important for any growing company to provide guidance and clarity on specific human resource issues, such as managerial authority. Small-business owners should begin thinking about a formal structure early in the growth stage of their business.

Guidance from Organizational Purpose

Organizational structure provides guidance to all employees by laying out the official reporting relationships that govern the workflow of the company. A formal outline of a company's structure makes it easier to add new positions in the company, as well, providing a flexible and ready means for growth.

Significance of Formal Structure

Without a formal organizational structure, employees may find it difficult to know who they officially report to in different situations, and it may become unclear exactly who has the final responsibility for what. Organizational structure improves operational efficiency by providing clarity to employees at all levels of a company. By paying mind to the organizational structure, departments can work more like well-oiled machines, focusing time and energy on productive tasks. A thoroughly outlined structure can also provide a roadmap for internal promotions, allowing companies to create solid employee advancement tracks for entry-level workers.

Flat Organizational Structure

There are relatively few layers of management in what is termed a flat organizational structure. In a flat structure, front-line employees are empowered to make a range of decisions on their own. Information flows from the top down and from the bottom up in a flat structure, meaning communication flows from top-level management to front-line employees and from front-line employees back to top management.

Tall Organizational Structure

There are numerous layers of management in a tall organizational structure, and often inefficient bureaucracies. In a tall structure, managers make most operational decisions, and authority must be gained from several layers up before taking action. Information flows are generally one-way in a tall structure – from the top down.

Other Organizational Considerations

It is common for small businesses to lack a solid organizational structure. All employees in startup companies can be required to perform a range of tasks outside of their official job descriptions, and a good number of employees in startups have generous leeway in making decisions. Aside from that, all employees in a startup generally know who they report to, since it is usually a single person or group – the owner or partners. It is very important to have a formal organizational structure in place before your company grows so large that your unstructured workforce becomes unwieldy.

• Reference For Business: Organizational Structure
• Harvard Business Review:Hierarchy Is Overrated
• Vertex 42: Organizational Chart Templates

David Ingram has written for multiple publications since 2009, including "The Houston Chronicle" and online at Business.com. As a small-business owner, Ingram regularly confronts modern issues in management, marketing, finance and business law. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in management from Walsh University.

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The Amazon Firm’s Organizational Structure Essay

Being one of the largest multinational corporations in the world, Amazon.com has an organizational structure that reflects the complexity of governing a business on that scale. First and foremost, it is important to note that Amazon’s structure is functional rather than divisional. The company creates departments, such as “worldwide Consumer,” Web Services,” or “Media & Entertainment” based on their function rather than geographical affinity (Amazon, 2021). The advantage of this model is that it offers greater centralization than the divisional structure, in which regional divisions may even begin conflicting with each other to the detriment of global value creation (Luo & Shenkar, 2017). At the same time, functional structure, especially in the business of Amazon’s size, often comes at the cost of restricted adaptability to the specific conditions of regional markets (Luo & Shenkar, 2017). In short, Amazon’s functional structure reflects the leadership’s preference for centralized control and global guidance as opposed to the greater autonomy of regional divisions.

This preference also manifests in the company’s dedication to ensuring stable long-term leadership. Amazon is known for very limited turnover when it comes to its principal executives, such as Jeff Bezos, Andy Jassy, Jamie Gorelick, and others (Kim, 2019). Moreover, research indicates that the high level of trust and camaraderie built over the years among Amazon’s senior managers is one of the defining features of the company’s organizational structure (Kim, 2019). Maintaining a cohesive team with very little turnover signifies Amazon’s dedication to centralization and concentration of control on the top level at the expense of unit autonomy. With this in mind, one may conclude that Amazon maintains a functional organizational structure with a strong emphasis on centralization and top-down control.

Amazon. (2021). Org chart – The official board . Web.

Kim. E. (2019). Amazon’s executive org chart, revealed . CNBC. Web.

Luo, Y., & Shenkar, O. 92017). The multinational corporation as a multilingual community: Language and organization in a global context. In M. Y. Branen & T. Mughan (Eds.), Language in International Business (pp. 59-92). Springer.

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Importance of Organizational Structure – You Need To Know

In today’s fast-paced business world, the importance of organizational structure cannot be overstated. It is the backbone of any successful company, providing the framework for effective communication, efficient decision-making, and streamlined operations. A well-designed organizational structure not only clarifies roles and responsibilities but also fosters a sense of purpose and direction among employees. From small startups to large corporations, understanding and implementing the right organizational structure can make all the difference in achieving business goals.

In this article, we will delve into the key reasons why you need to know about the importance of organizational structure. We will explore how it impacts productivity, employee engagement, and overall organizational efficiency. So, whether you are a business owner, a manager, or an aspiring entrepreneur, read on to discover why organizational structure is a crucial aspect of your business strategy.

Table of Contents

Why is organizational structure important?

A well-designed organizational structure not only clarifies roles and responsibilities but also fosters a sense of purpose and direction among employees. It establishes a clear hierarchy, ensuring that everyone knows who reports to whom and who is accountable for what. This clarity helps to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts, promoting efficiency and productivity within the organization.

Moreover, an organizational structure defines the flow of information and decision-making processes. It establishes lines of communication and ensures that information is shared in a timely and effective manner. This allows for faster decision-making, as employees know who to consult and where to seek approvals. It also facilitates collaboration and coordination among different teams and departments, leading to better overall performance.

Types of organizational structures

There are several types of organizational structures, each suited to different types of businesses and industries. The choice of structure depends on factors such as the size of the organization, the nature of its operations, and its strategic goals. Let’s explore some of the most common types of organizational structures.

Functional organizational structure

In a functional organizational structure, employees are grouped based on their specific functions or areas of expertise. For example, there may be separate departments for finance, marketing, operations, and human resources. This structure allows for specialization and deep knowledge within each department, as employees focus on their respective areas. It also promotes coordination and collaboration within departments, as employees with similar roles work closely together.

However, one drawback of the functional structure is that it can lead to silos, where departments become isolated and focused solely on their own objectives. This can hinder cross-functional collaboration and slow down decision-making. Additionally, communication between departments may become fragmented, impacting the overall efficiency of the organization.

Divisional organizational structure

In a divisional organizational structure, the organization is divided into semi-autonomous divisions, each responsible for a specific product, service, or geographical region. Each division operates like a separate business unit, with its own functional departments, such as finance, marketing, and operations. This structure allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to market demands, as each division can adapt its strategies and operations to its specific context.

The divisional structure also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within each division, as managers have greater autonomy and decision-making authority. This can lead to increased employee engagement and motivation, as employees feel a greater sense of responsibility for the success of their division.

However, the divisional structure can also result in duplication of resources and efforts, as each division may have its own support functions. It can also create competition and conflicts between divisions, especially if there is a lack of clear communication and coordination between them.

Matrix organizational structure

A matrix organizational structure combines elements of both functional and divisional structures. In a matrix structure, employees are grouped both by function and by project or product. This allows for a high degree of flexibility and cross-functional collaboration, as employees work on multiple projects or products simultaneously.

The matrix structure is particularly suited to organizations that operate in complex and dynamic environments, where multiple stakeholders and diverse expertise are required. It promotes innovation and creativity, as employees from different functions and backgrounds come together to solve problems and drive projects forward.

However, the matrix structure can also be challenging to manage, as employees may have multiple reporting lines and conflicting priorities. It requires strong communication and coordination skills to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.

Importance of clear organizational structure

A clear organizational structure is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to avoid confusion and ambiguity regarding roles and responsibilities. When everyone knows their role and what is expected of them, they can focus on their work and contribute to the overall success of the organization. Clear structure also helps to prevent duplication of efforts and reduces the likelihood of tasks falling through the cracks.

Secondly, a clear organizational structure fosters a sense of purpose and direction among employees. When they understand how their role fits into the bigger picture, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged. They can see how their work contributes to the achievement of organizational goals, which gives them a sense of meaning and satisfaction.

Finally, a clear organizational structure enables effective decision-making and communication. When employees know who to consult and where to seek approvals, they can make decisions faster and with more confidence. It also ensures that information flows smoothly within the organization, preventing bottlenecks and delays.

How organizational structure affects productivity

Organizational structure has a direct impact on productivity. A well-designed structure promotes efficiency by minimizing duplication of efforts and optimizing resource allocation. When roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, employees can work more effectively, knowing exactly what is expected of them.

Moreover, a clear structure enables effective coordination and collaboration. When teams and departments know who they need to work with and how to communicate, they can collaborate seamlessly towards common goals. This leads to faster decision-making, reduced conflicts, and improved overall performance.

On the other hand, a poorly designed or outdated structure can hinder productivity. It can create confusion and frustration among employees, as they struggle to navigate unclear reporting lines and communication channels. It can also lead to inefficiencies, as tasks get delayed or duplicated due to lack of coordination.

Challenges and drawbacks of organizational structure

While organizational structure is crucial for success, it also presents challenges and drawbacks. One common challenge is the resistance to change. Implementing a new structure or making significant changes to an existing one can be met with resistance from employees who are comfortable with the status quo. Overcoming this resistance requires effective change management strategies and clear communication about the benefits of the new structure.

Another challenge is the need for continuous improvement. Organizational structures should evolve along with the changing needs of the business and the industry. What works today may not work tomorrow, as market conditions and technology advancements require organizations to adapt. Continuous evaluation and improvement of the structure are necessary to ensure it remains effective and aligned with strategic objectives.

Additionally, some structures may be more suitable for certain industries or stages of growth. What works for a small startup may not work for a large multinational corporation. Organizations need to carefully consider their unique context and goals when choosing or designing their structure.

Implementing and improving organizational structure

Implementing and improving organizational structure requires a systematic approach. It starts with a thorough analysis of the current structure and its alignment with organizational goals. This analysis involves evaluating the effectiveness of communication channels, decision-making processes, and coordination mechanisms.

Based on the analysis, organizations can identify areas for improvement and develop an action plan. This may involve changes to reporting lines, departmental structures, or the introduction of cross-functional teams. It is important to involve employees in the process and ensure clear communication about the reasons for the changes.

Organizations should also invest in training and development programs to support the implementation of the new structure. This includes providing employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to new roles and responsibilities. Ongoing feedback and performance evaluation are also crucial to ensure that the structure is working effectively and to identify areas for further improvement.

In conclusion, organizational structure plays a vital role in the success of any business. It provides the framework for effective communication, efficient decision-making, and streamlined operations. A well-designed structure clarifies roles and responsibilities, fosters a sense of purpose and direction among employees, and promotes productivity and engagement.

While there are different types of organizational structures, each suited to different contexts, the choice of structure should be aligned with the organization’s goals and needs. Continuous evaluation and improvement of the structure are necessary to ensure its effectiveness in a rapidly changing business environment.

As a business owner, manager, or aspiring entrepreneur, understanding and implementing the right organizational structure can make all the difference in achieving your business goals. By recognizing the importance of organizational structure and taking proactive steps to design and improve it, you are setting your organization up for success in today’s competitive landscape.

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Essay on Importance of Organizational Structures

Published by admin on december 30, 2021 december 30, 2021.

Sample Essay

Most business organizations including various financial institutions need to cope with high levels of competition due to globalization and the rise of information technology, these organizations needed to have effective organizational structures which according to Arce (2001), all organizations need to possess in order to be flexible and receptive enough to innovations and acquire an adaptable and responsive structure management and staffing.

The official reporting connections that regulate the company’s workflow are laid out in the organizational structure, which offers advice to all workers. A clear design of a company’s structure makes it easy to create new roles and provides a flexible and ready means of expansion. Communication, productivity, and creativity are all aided by good organizational structure and design. It offers a conducive setting for productive work. Poor organizational design is to blame for the majority of productivity and performance difficulties.

Also, Goulding (1996) mentioned that having an effective organizational structure is also important for the management to gain understanding of people’s feeling, behaviour and response in relation to various changes brought about by globalization and the rise of technology.

Borgatti (2001) further adds that the main reason why organizational structures are important is simply because in most firms or organizations, the overall structure and the arrangement of functions play a significant role in either the success or failure of organizations.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is structure important in an essay.

An essay isn’t just a loose collection of facts and ideas. Instead, it should be centered on an overarching argument (summarized in your thesis statement ) that every part of the essay relates to.

The way you structure your essay is crucial to presenting your argument coherently. A well-structured essay helps your reader follow the logic of your ideas and understand your overall point.

Frequently asked questions: Writing an essay

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

• Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
• Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
• Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

• A rephrased version of your overall thesis
• A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
• An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph  essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :

• Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
• However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
• It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.

Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.

The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .

However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

If you’re not given a specific prompt for your descriptive essay , think about places and objects you know well, that you can think of interesting ways to describe, or that have strong personal significance for you.

The best kind of object for a descriptive essay is one specific enough that you can describe its particular features in detail—don’t choose something too vague or general.

If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

An expository essay is a common assignment in high-school and university composition classes. It might be assigned as coursework, in class, or as part of an exam.

Sometimes you might not be told explicitly to write an expository essay. Look out for prompts containing keywords like “explain” and “define.” An expository essay is usually the right response to these prompts.

An expository essay is a broad form that varies in length according to the scope of the assignment.

Expository essays are often assigned as a writing exercise or as part of an exam, in which case a five-paragraph essay of around 800 words may be appropriate.

You’ll usually be given guidelines regarding length; if you’re not sure, ask.

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