An organization that is structured properly is able to make efficient decisions and adapt to changes in the business world much easier. Confused structure, or a structure that creates bottlenecks in the decision-making process, can be counter-productive and have a negative effect on revenue.

Make it Clear

When it comes to improving the structure of a company it is important to communicate the proper flow of information to everyone in the organization. Develop and distribute departmental hierarchy flow charts to everyone so that the managers and their responsibilities are clearly understood by everyone. When the company develops a decision making process make sure it is understood by the entire organization, and hold training classes on work flow if needed. Communication is one of the most powerful tools an organization has to work with, and communication regarding the flow of information and the structure of the company can help to reduce confusion and streamline the process.

In some cases it may be necessary to develop a special task group to take care of a specific issue. If this is the case, then the same structural information that is circulated about other departments needs to be circulated regarding the task group. Assistance on an issue can come from anywhere in the company. As long as people know how to communicate their ideas, they will more likely offer assistance.

You may want to consider investing in work flow software for improved document handling. Work flow software will help to establish the proper path a document must follow in order for that document to be used effectively, and work flow software can report any break downs in the work flow.

Use Management as Support

Decision making for a company is usually reserved for the executives of the company. Middle managers should take on more of a support role to the decisions made by the company, rather than trying to dictate anything to employees. When managers are handed a task, they should pool the resources necessary to assist their employees to get the job done. An effective manager should be the go-between for employees and executives, and a facilitator that is assigned a task to complete.

Put Checks in Place

It is one thing to create an effective flow of information, and it is another thing to ensure that the information is being properly received and instructions are being carried out. When implementing a work flow plan it is essential to include a feedback portion, and a check on progress. Avoid creating systems that point blame at one group or one person, but rather look to improve the structure that broke down and created the problem in the first place. A constant system of checks and feedback can help to ensure that the corporate structure is working properly and that all information is being received.