Mechanistic Organizational Structure

Although mechanistic organizations once dominated the business landscape, they have largely been relegated to the manufacturing sector. With rigid definition and tightly controlled communication, mechanistic organizations only work for certain types of companies.

Characteristics

Mechanistic organizations, according to a Prentice Hall handout used in business classes at the University of South Florida, typically have tightly controlled and rigidly defined boundaries within the structure. In addition, these organizations attempt to minimize variations in employee traits by strictly enforcing the use of documented procedures.

Applications

A mechanistic organizational structure works well for manufacturing organizations and those in industries with very low tolerance for variation. The structure creates a hierarchical chain of command with directions orally passed from manager to subordinate.

Considerations

Mechanistic organizations do not allow a free flow of information between departments, according to the management website Values Based Management. For this reason, the structure does not work well for organizations with frequently changing objectives, high creativity or the need for extensive information exchange.

References

• Value Based Management: Mechanistic and Organic Systems
• University of South Florida: Organizational Structure and Design
• 12 Management: Explanation of the Theory of Mechanistic and Organic Systems