A mechanistic organization would be characterized by which of the following?

A new company’s small size may not require a strict organization of work and workers, growth demands order. Organizing tasks and employees produces a company structure. “Mechanistic” describes the strictest and most formal of these structures. A mechanistic organization has fine divisions of labor, resulting in highly specialized jobs. As reported in Reference for Business, mechanistic organization also relies on management for control, creating a bureaucracy, and implementing a strict chain of command. The company can be likened to a machine, its many parts synchronized to produce a standard and predictable output.

History to Mechanistic Organization

In the early twentieth century, the Industrial Age was well underway and mass production had taken hold. Business thinkers were studying work and workplaces, coming up with ideas on how to best promote the highest possible efficiency and productivity. They viewed workplaces like machines. The mechanistic organization evolved from this, featuring job specialization, a bureaucratic management hierarchy, centralized power resting at the top of the organization and many rules. As reported by the University of Minnesota Libraries, the mechanistic structure with characteristics such as job specialization, accountability and chain of command would produce efficiency and productivity. The mechanistic organizational structure also lets a company benefit through economies of scale, especially as applied to mass production.

Mechanistic Structure Definition

Because of their hierarchy, mechanistic structures are vertically oriented. The most mechanistic is the functional organizational structure, with its tall, triangular shape. The mechanistic organization has many workers forming the structure’s foundation, grouped into departments by similar activities such as production, marketing and finance. Above them sits their managers. When each employee narrowly specializes in some limited part of a larger whole, one manager can easily supervise many employees and has a wide “span of control.” The span of control gets smaller moving up the organization, where managers manage other managers. The central power of the company crowns it all.

Mechanistic Organizational Structure Disadvantages

As the mechanistic structure gained widespread and prolonged use, researchers and organizational designers found that the very mechanization that allows for productivity, economy and efficiency also causes problems. The structure’s inherent bureaucracy hampers efforts to quickly respond to outside market forces. Innovation has to wait on red tape. Rigid control and job specialization mean employees aren’t free to be creative problem-solvers. As mere cogs, employees’ morale may be impacted. Finally, grouping employees by function contributes to departmental isolation. Interdepartmental cooperation and communication suffer in mechanistic structures.

Continued Relevance to 21st Century

Despite the disadvantages, the mechanistic organization continues to have relevance to the 21st century’s business environment. Complex or international firms may need the divisional structure, which is the most mechanistic after the functional structure. The divisional structure creates autonomous divisions based on products or geographical lines, and then further subdivides by function. A division’s autonomy grants some adaptability without sacrificing functional control. Companies employing the divisional or functional structures find that the mechanistic structure is a good fit in stable industries. Mechanistic structures are also a valid choice when a company’s strategy requires efficiency, steadiness and cost leadership.

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of the mechanistic model of organization? A) low formalization B) rigid departmentalization C) decentralized management D) wide spans of control E) low specialization

For the most part, mechanistic organization is applied to most all business structures but is predominant in manufacturing while organic organization is best applied to businesses that apply a more open business structure such as online business platforms.

MECHANISTIC ORGANIZATION DEFINITION: According to Black’s Law Dictionary mechanistic organization is “the organization is hierarchical and bureaucratic. It is characterized by its (1) highly centralized authority, (2) formalized procedures and practices, and (3) specialized functions. Mechanistic organization is relatively easier and simpler to organize, but rapid change is very challenging. Contrast to organic organization.”

CHARACTERISTICS: Employees are found to work separately and on their own assigned tasks. There is a definite chain of command and decisions are kept as high up the chain as possible. Communication is a process between managers and supervisors up to executives, there is little daily interaction if any. There are strict company policies or operating standards with an abundance of documentation. This structure is considered the more stable of the two structures.

STRUCTURE: Companies in a mechanistic organization structure typically hold tight control, over processes and employees; with an iron fist so to speak. Rules are implemented and rarely deviated from while there is also a very clear chain of command to delegate responsibilities and power throughout the organization. Again, it is manufacturing companies that are well known for this type of structure but there are other groups that benefit from mechanistic organization; like universities.

ORGANIC ORGANIZATION DEFINITION: According to BusinessDictionary.com, organic organization is characterized by “(1) Flatness: communicationsand interactions are horizontal, (2) Lowspecialization: knowledgeresideswherever it is most useful, and (3) Decentralization: great dealof formaland informal participationin decision making.”

CHARACTERISTICS: Employees are often found working in groups and share input on tasks. There are usually teams that handle one task. Communication is open between employees, managers and executives though they are typically just known as ‘the owner’. There is a greater scale of verbal communication between parties. There is also more face-to-face time within the hierarchy of power.

STRUCTURE: Companies in an organic organization structure typically have a more open communication and contribution to tasks at hand. The structure of the business is more adaptable and flexible to changes. The environment is unpredictable but because of the freedom afforded the employees and management it is better maintained. Good examples of this type of structure would be Google and the coveted positions that lie within the Facebook Corporation. Organic organizations have quickly realized that a happy workplace makes for a happy employee.

What is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization quizlet?

What is mechanistic organization?

Which of the following is typically a characteristic of the mechanistic model?

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mechanistic organisation?