In this course, we have set the stage for more detailed investigation of organisations and how they exist in today’s business environment. We look at the functioning of organisations and relate these ideas back to the early researchers and theorists.

In this course, we help you to explore the nature and purpose of organisations and to understand and identify different organisational structures. We aim also to give you an understanding of the factors that must be considered when an organisational structure is designed.

Key choices and issues concerning organisational structure design include:

• how jobs and departments should be differentiated and grouped
   

• how organisational activities should be co-ordinated and controlled.

By the end of the curse, you should be able to:

• define an organisation.
   

• distinguish between the formal and informal elements of organisational life.
   

• identify the importance of organisation structures and what they do.
   

• identify the key processes that take place in the structuring of an organisation.
   

• analyse and evaluate in practical examples

• the extent to which jobs or departments within the organisation are specialised or differentiated

• the ways in which the organisation’s jobs and departments are grouped together, and

• the appropriateness of those groupings

• the integrative processes at work within the organisation

• the forms, levels and spans of managerial control used within the organisation.

• explain the nature of organisational missions and goals.
   

• evaluate the relevance of particular organisational goals and missions and their importance for organisational effectiveness.
   

• identify the use and value of organisation theory.
   

• evaluate the influence of size, technology and environment on an organisation’s structure.