Introduction to Organizational Theory and Structure

All organizations have one thing in common: they are comprised of people who have to be managed in such a way as to enable them to meet organizational needs, pursue collective goals, and adapt to a changing environment. Are you looking for ways to make your organization function better? Are you in search of scientific theories and case studies that you can experiment with and then, based on the results, make thoughtful decisions that will impact your organization positively? If so, sign up for this free course. It provides key insights that are easy to grasp and you will develop your managerial and coordinating skills for managing your team. The course begins with an overview of organizational theory, and defines the terms ‘organization’, ‘organizational structure’, ‘organization design’ and ‘organizational behaviour’. It compares organizational theory and behaviour and explains the useful reasons for studying organizational theory. Then, you will examine a biological metaphor as a popular way of overviewing organizations, with two types of perspectives under it. These perspectives - the systems perspective and the life-cycle perspective - will be discussed in detail, reviewing their stages, importance, and limitations.

Next, you explore the evolution of organizations, which include the pre-industrial, industrial, and post-industrial societies. This leads to a discussion of the evolution of organizational theories from the 1900s, to the 1940s and 1970s. The historical and social context in which organizations have evolved allowed not only for their development but also for their spread and growth from individuals, families, and small-group productions and regulations, to large organizations and structures. Each of the evolutionary stages resulting in this growth will be evaluated to see how they transformed organizations over time. You will consider various notable theorists such as Adam Smith, Henry Fayol, Ralph Davis, and others who have had an impact on organizational theory.

Finally, you will examine organizational effectiveness, the degree to which an organization attains its short- and long-term goals. This includes a discussion of the different approaches to organizational effectiveness, describing their values, how managers can execute them, the key problems they have, and a comparison of all four. The dimensions of organizational structure will also be addressed, focusing on complexity, formalization, and centralization as the three core parts. Start this course today if you want to make your business more structured and successful.