Structural Theory

• Harry Mintzberg proposed how organizations evolve to reach a certain form and shape (structure) which permits the organization to function in its surroundings
• The structure of an organization is an adaptive mechanism that permits the organization to function in its surroundings
• Operating Core: Responsible for conducting basic work duties that give the organization its defining purpose, transforming raw goods into a sellable products.
• Strategic Apex: Responsible for the overall success of the entire organization, associated with executive leadership.
• Middle Line: Ensures that overall goals set by strategic apex are being carried out by the operating core.
• Technostructure: Possesses specific technical expertise that facilitates overall operation of the organization, including accounting, HR, IT, law departments.
• Support Staff: Aid the basic mission of the organization and typically includes the mailroom, security, and janitorial services.
• Ideology: Belief system that compels commitment to a particular value, organizations should have a singularly devoted to a particular mission, and all its actions are in pursuit of that mission, employees behave in accordance with their sincere conviction in the ideology of the organization, and can perform their work relatively independent of each other.
• Politics: Side effect of ideology, causes divisiveness and conflict, the basis is the use of power that is neither formally authorized or widely accepted in the organization.