Organizational structure can inhibit or foster creativity and innovation. The problem with organizational structure though, is that it is resultant of many factors, including history, organic growth, strategy, operational design, product diversity, logistics, marketing, client base, supplier base and so forth. Therefore, what managers need, are not recipes for complete structural change, but insights into the properties of fostering structures that can be adapted into the existing structure.
To start, it is useful to analyse the preferred structures against the not so preferred. There are many definitions of types of organizational structure, but one example is:
a) Mechanistic structures (generally not preferred) ? includes centralised control and authority, clearly defined tasks, vertical communication links, obedience to supervisors, rigidity and inflexibility.
b) Organic structures (generally preferred) ? decentralisation of authority, tasks loosely defined, horizontal communications, greater individual authority, flexible, adaptable.
Experience shows that the above can be misleading. For example, flat organisations are generally preferred and hierarchical ones not preferred, however, even flat organisations are in reality hierarchical.
Importantly, if we have a mechanistic structure, what factors allow us to move in the right direction without wholesale change?
Some answers include:
a) Direct communication links to decision makers.
b) Communication and information flow between departments.
c) Tangible progression of ideas from problem to solution, product development to commercialisation.
d) Creative teams working outside but linked into the organization, whose culture, processes etc diffuse into the existing structure.
These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
Please rate this article below.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com.
Many business owners are sabotaging their business without even realizing... Read More
It is vain to do with more what can be... Read More
Sooner or later, most business owners need to look for... Read More
Sexual Harassment Policy Guidelines ? Part IPermission is hereby granted... Read More
The term crisis management has different connotations. In this article,... Read More
In these days of restricted head count and tight budgets,... Read More
I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
This article, Job Security in Today's Workplace, was part of... Read More
Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However,... Read More
Do this simple excercise, and transform your life.First, Make a... Read More
Every day, everyone can make the world a better place.... Read More
Do you have more projects than time? Help might be... Read More
Being able to communicate effectively with others requires people skills,... Read More
The goal of perfection is a challenge. It is often... Read More
Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More
The use of temporary services to stock a farm of... Read More
There are many reasons why good employees quit and go... Read More
"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the... Read More
Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More
It is when the going gets better, that the going... Read More
If you search on Google for "virtual assistant", you'll find... Read More
In my organisational career, I had budgets from the age... Read More
Starting your own business is a great undertaking but running... Read More
Where does the time go? Billable time. As a consultant,... Read More
To develop and deliver a great Leadership Talk, you must... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
So you did such a good job in 2003 at... Read More
Have you ever hired someone who did not live up... Read More
This is a bottom-line environment.Decreasing the downtime of revenue producing... Read More
Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More
The time will come when you'll need to interview someone... Read More
A major problem for employers today is attracting the best... Read More
The challenge of managing difficult managers can be rather daunting,... Read More
A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas,... Read More
Employers have become so concerned about seeming "unfair" or worse... Read More
MANAGING SMALL MEETINGS: Keep the size of the meeting as... Read More
Before you start your own business one of the first... Read More
Following is a brief definition of core competencies and competitive... Read More
It seemed like a good decision at the time. A... Read More
Nothing has changed. Your ancestors lived by faith. Some planted... Read More
The quickest way to cancel out all the thought, work,... Read More
This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More
With client expectations higher than ever before, and the gradual... Read More
The following nursing home collections report outlines 11 guidelines you... Read More
Can you imagine playing hockey without a goal? Basketball without... Read More
Understanding where you can spend time most effectively requires concentration... Read More
In any organisation, progress is frequently impaired by the time... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Meetings ? they are a fact of our business lives.... Read More
Do you own or manage a computer consulting company? Are... Read More
Managing a meeting is like setting off on a long... Read More
Inventory management may seem complicated to some, but if one... Read More
Imagine that you open a meeting by saying, "We need... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Seduced by the publicity surrounding the impact of Lean on... Read More
Swiftness is the key to collecting past due commercial accounts... Read More
You open your computer, the flashing button says, "We have... Read More
I read a report in the Toronto Star stated that... Read More
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION PROCEDUREEvery complaint will be thoroughly investigated.... Read More
How should you keep track of meetings?Have you ever wanted... Read More
The game of chess has been applauded and taught in... Read More
Meetings, whether they're regularly scheduled routines in your company or... Read More
I believe the media and our culture sends the wrong... Read More
It's clear to me that a workplace is a better... Read More
Business Management |