...Wal-Mart’s Organizational Structure Damaris Medina MGT/230 September 13, 2012 Dan Kassmeier Every company has their own form of organizational structure. Whether the business is big or small, an organizational structure is needed in order to have a successful business. An organizational structure helps put the business in order to make sure there are no problems in the future, but what is an organizational structure? It is how the reporting structure is organized. There are many types of organizational structures. Some examples of organizational structures are, the functional, matrix, and divisional structures (Bateman & Snell, , 2011). When business owners are planning a structure for their business, it is important to know just how complex the business will be. If the business is a major corporation, such as Wal-Mart, then the structure should be able to support the complexity of the business. When a major corporation does not have a structure that supports their complexity, they are likely to have issues with the organization of the business. Thus causing for the business to lack the proper management and potentially fail. An organizational structure will determine how all employees work together. If the business is not under a strong structure, then there will be confusion throughout the whole business. An organizational structure also determines the decisions that the business will make as a whole (, , 1991).If there is no structure, there is no business. There...
Words: 1398 - Pages: 6
...statements of Force Protected Structures and how these statements are helpful in making the business different and effective from its competitors. It will further highlight core values through the mission and vision statements. These values help in directing the strategies and hence enhance profitability, maintain competitive edge and attract stakeholders. Analysis The business plan involves developing a Force Protected Structures company for forward deployed United States, and Coalition Forces service members. This forward deployed based business will provide safety and save lives of Soldiers on the front lines by providing fortified Combat Outposts (COPs). The fortified structures will provide value added as Soldiers returning to their COPs will be able to rest and relax without worrying about incoming fires as they will be constructed to withstand the enemies most lethal weapon systems through a carefully thought out engineer and design plan. Mission Statement • Industry: Defense Operations • Product: Force Protected Structures • Service: Provide force protected structures in the form of Combat Outposts to forward deployed United States and Coalition Force Soldiers. • Customers: United States and Coalition Force Soldiers The mission statement of Force Protected Structures will be directed towards the overall aim of the company, with respect to the product sold and to partner with service members by providing the ultimate in survivability structures. The target audience of...
Words: 1174 - Pages: 5
...Organizational Design Paper INTRODUCTION “Organizational structure is about definition and clarity. Think of structure as the skeleton supporting the organization and giving it shape. Just as each bone in a skeleton has a function, so does each branch and level of the organizational chart. The various departments and job roles that make up an organizational structure are part of the plan to ensure the organization performs its vital tasks and goals” (Feigenbaum, 2012). Organizational structures define the tasks to be done, and to ensure effective results they need employees prepare to handle each one. It is imperative for the company to create a structure with clearly defined roles and functions, where everybody work together to accomplish everything the business must do. To create a productive structure the organization has to identify the tasks to be accomplished in order to create the functions and delegate responsibilities among the employees. This structure is the tool that the company uses to create the organizational chart and create hierarchies; employees do best when they know who to report to and who is responsible. To implement an effective organizational structure, you need to take in consideration a number of factors that are going to intervene. “Some of the forces impacting your small business are more challenging to master than others. The degree to which you can control them varies. At the same time, you can improve the state of internal and external...
Words: 1816 - Pages: 8
... “Beijing EAPS Consulting, Inc.” in the Custom Book, (2011), examines the project management structure of the Beijing EAPS Consulting (BEC) company. This case study also addresses about project plan itself and how the co-workers are struggling with this communication between both mangers. This project plan has demonstrated many strengths and weakness. The one thing that the project plan needs put into action are safeguards to insure that the project is completed on time. BEC has taken on the matrix organizational structure. This type of structure combines functional and divisional organization structure styles. There are advantages and disadvantages in utilizing this type of organizational structure. Advantages include resource utilization, specialization, cross functional areas, communication and flexibility. Resource utilization allows for the project departmental managers to focus on their strengths. Also, it allows for the managers to all the workers to specialize in an area of important for that project. In turn, it uses people across the company who specialize in a field that relates to the project at hand. This matrix structure permits cross departmental communication and flexibility to work on different projects across the company structure.( Guzman, 2012) However, with advantages come disadvantage with this type of matrix organizational structure. This structure increases complexity within the organization by leading to confusion among both workers and managers...
Words: 1477 - Pages: 6
...four organizational structures I was ask to do research on is departmentalization, matrix organizations, the project team and collegial model. All four organizational structures have advantages and disadvantages and my findings are listed with my conclusion on the one that is best for our clients. There are several different advantages for using a departmentalization structure within an organizations. Departmentalization is divide into different sections to meet the needs of their clients. This organizational structure is divide into sections such as program, function, process, market, consumer and client and geographic to handle the client’s needs for their particular problems. The different sections of departmentalization are able served a population and other factors to assist with client’s needs. The people in this organizational structure are knowledgeable and skillful so they are able assist clients with any kinds of problems they may have. The disadvantages of departmentalization you may have to refer clients to outside sources to help them with their problems. This can upset clients because they would have communicate with someone who not associated with their problems. The biggest down size to this department is working with one person to meets the needs of a population. One person cannot meets the needs of a populations and some clients may have serve problems that needs immediately attention. Another disadvantages in departmentalization structure is trusting one person...
Words: 918 - Pages: 4
...Organizational Structure Organizational Structure The company that I work for is a construction company, just as with most construction companies, the organizational structure of the company is a matrix organizational structure. The way that the hierarchical levels are in this company is; the owner/CEO occupies the highest position. The next position down the vertical structure is a shared level of management, which is occupied by a project manager, and a super intendant. Each project has their own project manager and super intendant that report to the owner/CEO. The company that I work for is a decentralized organization, where “decision making occurs at the level of the people who are most directly affected and have the most intimate knowledge about the problem” (Bateman & Snell, 2011). The reason that this is the most effective for this company is, because of the need in the construction industry for decisions made in a timely manner, in order for the project at hand to effectively and efficiently get done. In some instances it would not be conducive to go through the process of the decision going up the vertical structure. The company that I work for employs two different trades- sheet metal workers, and carpenters- this is the reason that if the company were organized with the functional structure or divisional structure, it would be less efficient. In the matrix structure, there is only one project manager, and one super intendant for each project. All of the...
Words: 1116 - Pages: 5
...risky implication for them. Sherman Computer Repair must first hire a new professional staff and obtain new technological expertise to make their company transformation successful. This paper will analyze how SRC can meet their goals and grow from the future business prospect. Sherman Computer Repair Organizational Design The Business Directory defines organizational design as formal and informal framework of policies and rules, within which an organization arranges its lines of authority and communications, and allocates rights and duties. Organizational structure is found to determine the manner and extent to which roles, power, and responsibilities are delegated, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between the many levels of management. This structure depends entirely on the organization's visions, objectives and the strategy chosen to achieve them (The Business Directory, 2010). The structure of the Sherman Computer Repair business will operate as the backbone in relation to their decision...
Words: 2012 - Pages: 9
...that control organizational design are structure, strategy, and processes. Each individual organization needs to determine its own design based on its needs and mission. Every plan has its own advantages and disadvantages which are weighed carefully in making the corporate design decision. Importance of Organizational Design Choices In order for an organization to remain effective throughout changes and growth it must continuously evaluate the organizations design. “Organizational design involves difficult choices about how to control—that is, coordinate organizational tasks and motivate the people who perform them—to maximize an organization’s ability to create value” (Jones,2004, p. 4). Organizational design involves the process of aligning the organizational structure with its mission. Organizational design looks at the complex relationships between workflow, tasks, authority, and responsibility. Organizational design makes sure they all support the organizations objectives. Companies with good organizational design tend to have effective communication, increased productivity, and substantial innovation. Companies with poor organizational design tend to have performance and productivity issues. An organizations design depends a great deal on its organizational structure. Organizational Structures There are several types of organizational structure. According to (2011), organizational structure can be defined as “The framework within...
Words: 1860 - Pages: 8
...Chapter 10 Organizational Structure and Design |ANNOTATED OUTLINE | | 1. INTRODUCTION Designing organizational structure involves the process of organizing (the second management function) and plays an important role in the success of a company. 2. DEFINING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Managers need to establish structural designs that will best support and allow employees to do their work effectively and efficiently. A. Several important terms must be defined in order to understand the elements of organizational structure and design: 1. Organizing is arranging and structuring work to accomplish the organization’s goals. This process has several purposes, as shown in Exhibit 10-1 and PowerPoint slide 10-6. 2. Organizational structure is the formal arrangement of jobs within an organization. 3. Organizational design is developing or changing an organization’s structure. This process involves decisions about six key elements: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization/ decentralization, and formalization. Chapter Ten examines each of these structural elements. B. Work specialization is dividing work activities into separate job tasks. Most of today’s managers regard work specialization as an important organizing mechanism, but not as a source of ever-increasing...
Words: 1777 - Pages: 8
...Organizational Structure Paper MGT/230 May 19, 2014 University of Phoenix Organizational Structure Many corporations around the world makes use and recognizes the effectiveness of using an organizational structure within their organizations. Organizational structure gives a reflection of how an organization positions their jobs and their employees that gives an end result of accomplishing the company’s direction and goals. In larger companies they benefit more due to the multiple task that they present as for smaller companies may not have many task or find it unnecessary for company. Due to this, plans of action need to be set into place so that they can establish and tackle responsibilities for the many different functions that are used by the organization. Typically, and organization is responsible for creating or establishing the skills that the employees have, hoe their duties are preformed, and who those employees need to report to. Different factors play a huge role in what type of organizational structure and organization makes use of. Few factors include; what kind of work the company performs, how big or small the company is, geographic location of the company, the various products the company has, and even what kind of revenue dose the company manage to produce. In this paper, it will discuss the organizational structure for Wal-Mart. The comparison and contrast of different types of organizational structures that differs from Wal-Mart’s type....
Words: 1238 - Pages: 5
...Organizational Architecture? * Organizational architecture is the totality of a firm’s organization including: 1. Organizational structure * the formal division of the organization into subunits * the location of decision-making responsibilities within that structure - centralized versus decentralized * the establishment of integrating mechanisms to coordinate the activities of subunits including cross-functional teams or pan-regional committees 2. Control systems and incentives * control systems - the metrics used to measure performance of subunits * incentives - the devices used to reward managerial behavior 3. Processes, organizational culture, and people * Processes - the manner in which decisions are made and work is performed within the organization * Organizational culture - the norms and value systems that are shared among the employees of an organization * People - the employees and the strategy used to recruit, compensate, and retain those individuals and the type of people they are in terms of their skills, values, and orientation Figure of Organization Architecture What Are The Dimensions Of Organizational Structure? * Organizational structure has three dimensions: 1. Vertical differentiation - the location of decision-making responsibilities within a structure 2. Horizontal differentiation - the formal division of the organization into sub-units 3. Integrating mechanisms - the...
Words: 1392 - Pages: 6
...of resources. This chapter opens by examining the four critical factors that help managers to determine the most appropriate organizational structure their organization. Next, it discusses three components of organizational design: job design, grouping jobs into functions and divisions, and the coordination of functions and divisions. The chapter closes with a discussion of integrating mechanisms and the growing popularity of global strategic alliances and business-to-business network structures. LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Identify the factors that influence managers’ choice of an organizational structure. (LO1) 2. Explain how managers group tasks into jobs that are motivating and satisfying for employees. (LO2) 3. Describe the types of organizational structures managers can design, and explain why they choose one structure over another. (LO3) 4. Explain why managers must coordinate and integrate between jobs, functions, and divisions as an organization grows.(LO4) LECTURE OUTLINE MANAGEMENT SNAPSHOT: MICROSOFT CENTRALIZES TO MEET GOOGLE’S CHALLENGE Microsoft has been working hard to compete with Yahoo and especially Google, which are developing innovative Web-based software products to attract broadband users. Because Microsoft’s managers realize their decision making is slowed by its decentralized structure, they have decided to reorganize. Seven business units are being consolidated into three principal divisions, each of which will be headed by...
Words: 11018 - Pages: 45
...Table of Contents 1. Understand the relationship between organizational structure and culture: 2 1.1 Compare and contrast different organizational structure and cultures: 2 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organization’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business: 4 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behavior at work: 4 2. Understand different approaches to management and leadership: 5 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations: 5 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management: 5 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations: 6 3. Understand ways of using motivational theories in organizations 7 3.1 Discuss the impact that different leadership styles may have on motivation in organizations in period of change: 7 3.2 Compare the application of different motivational theories within the workplace: 8 3.3 Evaluate the usefulness of a motivation theory for managers: 9 4. Understand mechanism for developing effective teamwork in organizations 10 4.1 Explain the nature of groups and group behavior within organizations: 10 4.2 Discuss factors that may promote or inhibit the development of effective teamwork in organizations: 10 4.3 evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within a given organization: 11 References: 12 Introduction: Organization is the combination of people for...
Words: 3641 - Pages: 15
...organizational designs can elicit predictable attitudes and motivations. Lastly, I will propose an answer to whether it is possible to generalize and say that a certain structure is better than others. Defining the Issue An organization’s structure plays a large role in how things will get accomplished by employees within the structure. “The process of design must be complementary with the objectives. This means the design and implementation process is critical.” (Smith, n.d.) If you want flexibility, responsibility, etc. then these elements must be involved in the design of the organization’s structure. “We do not get participative highly effective organizations by fiat.” (Smith, n.d.) There are many positive and negative effects that a structure can have depending on how it is implemented in an organization. “Task and organization design has to be oriented toward improving both the technical and the human components of the organization. The process of design must address the need for variation and meaning in work. It has to take into account the needs for continuous learning, involvement in decision-making, help and support between colleagues, and meaningful relationship between work and outside society, a desirable future.” (Smith, n.d.) The key to any changes and flexibility within the structure of an organization requires constant training of employees in order to maintain relevant skill sets. Everyone from management to employees have to be adaptive to any and...
Words: 1655 - Pages: 7
...Power Structure, not something I would have thought about, but it is a must know when communicating with your community. The power structures of a community according to Moore, Gallagher and Bagin “are an interrelationship among individuals with a vested interest who have the ability or authority to control other people, to obtain conformity, or to command their services.” (School and Community Relations pg. 23) The power structures of a community are people who have the most influence in the community, and to find this power structure a school district needs to conduct a sociological inventory of the community. Members of this structure should be from “all walks of life,” which does not always happen. Members of the power structure need to be dedicated to the community. They need to realize that their actions will affect the community....
Words: 317 - Pages: 2
