Sometimes, management may desire to maintain an overall mechanistic structure but the gain the flexibility that the organic structure provides. An alternative is to append an organic structural unit to a mechanistic organisation. examples of such appendages are the "task force" and the "committee structure".
The Task Force Structure
The task force structure is a temporary structure created to accomplish a specific, will-defined, and complex task that requires the involvement of personnel from a number of organisational sub-units. It is quite similar to a "temporary matrix". Members serve the task force until its goal is achieved, at which time the task force is disbanded. Then the members move on to a new task force, return to their permanent functional department, or leave the organisation. Because the task force is temporary, it can be used to attack problems that cut across functional lines with only minimal disturbance to the organisation's mechanistic main frame.
Example
A Breakfast Cereal manufacturing company decides to create a 'hew breakfast cereal". This company can bring together people with expertise from product design, food research, marketing, manufacturing, finance, and other relevant functions to formulate the product, design its package, determine its market, compute its manufacturing costs, and project its profits. Once the problems have been worked out of the product and it is ready to be mass produced, the task force disbands and the cereal is integrated into permanent structure.
The Committee Structure
This is another option which combines a range of individual experiences and backgrounds for dealing with problems that cut across functional lines.
Committees may be of a temporary or permanent nature. A temporary committee typically is the same as the task force. Permanent committees, however, facilitate the bringing together of diverse inputs like the task force, plus they offer the stability and consistency of the matrix. Members of the committee are permanently attached to a functional department. They can meet at regular or irregular intervals to analyse problems, make recommendations or final decisions, coordinate activities, or oversee projects.
Example
An audit committee to objectively evaluate the organisation's operations.
No comments:
Post a Comment