Distinguish between bureaucratic and organic organisational structures.

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Organisational Behaviour                Sukhdeep Bhullar        

                P02250918

Distinguish between bureaucratic and organic organisational structures. From your knowledge of structural influences on organisational behaviour, which do you think is more effective and why?


In order that a firm can perform its functions effectively and achieve its objectives, it is important that the firm finds the right way to structure itself internally i.e. find the right organisational structure.

The organisational structure of a firm is the way in which that particular firm is structured in terms of the way in which the different layers of that firm communicate with each other and perform its functions.  

There are a number of ways in which an organisation can structure itself. Two examples of this are the bureaucratic structure (role culture or mechanistic) and the organic structure. These two examples represent the two extreme polarisations in which a firm can structure itself.

To have a bureaucratic structure means that the organisation will have a formal structure and be extremely hierarchical. This is appropriate to stable conditions in both the external market and the internal organisation.

The emphasis will be based upon the employee having specific objectives and achievement of these will be done with a set of tasks that the employee is not allowed to stray from. This is achieved by the organisation having a set of strict rules that each employee must abide by.

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The lines of communication within a ‘pure’ bureaucracy are always vertical i.e. each employee will only report to his or her immediate superior. Orders are always given from the top of the hierarchy downwards. Given this, there will always be a sharp distinction between the levels of command within the hierarchy.

The bureaucratic structure also provides impersonality for those involved. This is due to the fact that the structure will not enable the employee to communicate with colleagues on a personal level and the functions of those employees are clearly defined.

The monetary rewards for the ...

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