This article will help you to differentiate between mechanistic and organic organisation structure.
Difference # Mechanistic Organisation Structure:
1. Mechanistic organisation structure is pyramid shaped with authority centralised at the top.
2. It follows hierarchy of command.
3. Mechanistic organisation structure emphasises on narrow span of control.
4. There is intense division of labour and work is divided into specialised tasks.
5. People consider individual goals as different from organisational goals.
6. Tasks are performed according to position in the hierarchy. People at lower levels perform comparatively simpler tasks.
7. Tasks are performed according to discretions and desires of managers at the top.
8. Communication is hierarchical; orders, instructions and commands flow from top to bottom.
9. Mechanistic organisation structure expects subordinates to obey and be loyal to superiors and the organisation.
10. Control is exercised from the top.
11. Mechanistic organisation structure is an appropriate form of structure for organisations operating in a stable environment.
Difference # Organic Organisation Structure:
1. Organic organisation structure is flat shaped with authority decentralised to lower levels of management.
2. Organic organisation structure does not follow hierarchy of command.
3. It emphasises on wide span of control.
4. Work is divided into general tasks and there is little or no specialisation.
5. There is synchronization of individual goals with organisational goals.
6. Tasks are assigned to people according to their capabilities and skills and not hierarchical positions.
7. Tasks are flexible; they keep changing according to situations. They are performed through constant interaction of people.
8. Communication is a network. It flows in all directions in the form of suggestions, advises and information rather than orders.
9. Organic organisation structure expects commitment to the organisational goals and not obedience from subordinates.
10. There is self-control.
11. Organic organisation structure is more suitable for organisations operating in a dynamic environment.
- What is Mechanistic organization?
- What is organic organization?
- Difference between Mechanistic and Organic organization
The mechanistic organizational structure is one of the formal structures as it is an amalgamation of bureaucratic as well as hierarchal systems. The organizations that deal in mass production are most equipped to handle this kind of structure as it can take advantage of economies of scale. The organization is named mechanistic because of its similarity to a machine that works systematically without any divergence from its standard path.
What is organic organization?
The organic organizational structure is a flat structure where every activity is horizontal by nature. It is a complex system because there are no formal rules, regulations, and guidance in place. Every employee has treated equal hence interactions; communications dealings are placed at the same levels.
The organic organization structure is most suitable for external environments that are unpredictable by nature as the structure can adapt itself to any given situation.
Difference between Mechanistic and Organic organization
Both mechanistic and organic are two of the most common types of organizational structures. They are very different from each other in terms of structure, characteristics and even in the matter of guidelines which it follows. The points of difference between the two organizations are described below.
| Mechanistic organizational structure is shaped like a pyramid with the power and authority resting at the top. | Organic organizational structure is shaped like a flat surface with the power and authority distributed evenly amongst the members. |
| The mechanistic organization follows a bureaucratic and hierarchical format of organizational structure. | The organic organization does not follow the bureaucratic or hierarchal format of organizational structure. |
| Mechanistic organizational structure is best suited for companies that operate in a stable environment as it has minimal options of adapting to changes. | Organic organizational structure is best suited for companies that operate in an unstable and dynamic environment as it can make changes accordingly to suit any situation. It has the option to gather, understand and process information quickly to make changes. |
| In a mechanistic organizational structure, the rules and regulations are systemized, and the hierarchy level is clear-cut. Every employee is aware of them from the onset and has to follow them diligently. For instance, at the top is the CEO, followed by executives, supervisors, managers and support personnel. Employees at a lower level have no or very little interaction with people at a level higher than their own. | In an organic organizational structure, a network of multi-talented individuals performs several tasks when needed. The organic organization is all about teamwork as the organization encourages group leadership. It means that now several people are entrusted with leadership qualities. It is now the responsibility of the group and not a single individual to handle and manage the rest of the employees. |
| There is an intensive division of labour in a mechanistic organization, and the work is separated into specialized tasks. | There is no such concept of intense division of labour the work is separated into general tasks with minimum or little specialization. |
| At every level, the instructions are provided by their immediate supervisors and the employees have to work accordingly. In a mechanistic organizational structure, the employees are concerned with their task. They do not have any authority over their work. | Very little instruction is offered to the team, which is entrusted with a project. The team members have full authority and control over the project. |
| The employees have set boundaries and remain within the frame working separately at their work stations. Everything is handed down the chain of command from the top to the next until it reaches the bottom. The managers are not interested in the ideas and suggestions of their juniors and do not encourage any such initiative from the employees. | The employees can easily shift from one project to another if help is required. They do not have any set boundaries. An organic organizational structure takes into account the ideas of the employees so that they can feel a part of the system. It acts as an incentive for better efficiency, productivity and cooperation. |
| The mechanistic organizational structure has a rigid and stable environment as it encourages routine technologies and tasks. It has defined, clear, centralized and vertical hierarchies of command, control, power and authority. Formalization, standardization, specialization is its integral parts that leads to efficiency and predictability. | Organic organizational structure has a flexible approach that can quickly meet the changing demands of the customer and the financial environment. Flexibility is a benefit for organic organizational structure as it emphasizes on specialized jobs. The best thing is that these jobs are not rigid and can change if a new requirement is needed at any moment. |
| Mechanistic organizational structure has employees that have been hired for a selected job profile. They are not equipped to handle other roles in the organization, nor are they encouraged to do so. Their responsibility is clear, and there is no confusion in their role. | Organic organizational structure has employees that are handy at several jobs, and they do not have a specific role to play in an organic organization. Lack of a particular job profile and personal role and responsibility can create confusion and result in uncertainties. |
| In a mechanistic organizational structure, only the higher management is involved in making decisions. People at the top-level do not invite nor encourage employees from other levels to take part in discussions or decision-making process. | In an organic organizational structure, every employee is involved in the decision-making process. The senior members invite and encourage everyone to share their input and take part in the decision-making process. |
| The mechanistic organizational structure follows a centralized system where power and authority rests at the top. | The organic organizational structure follows a decentralized system where power and authority is shared. |
| Mechanistic organizational structure has a vertical flow of information which passes from top to down or vice-versa. | Organic organizational structure has a horizontal flow of information which is shared amongst all the members. |
| The rules and regulations are written and explained in detail. Thus it is easy and straightforward to work in a mechanistic organization . | There are no specific rules and regulations in an organic organization. The team creates and leaves them to suit particular tasks and projects. |
| In a mechanistic organization, it is only the top-level or the head of a company who has the authority to make a decision. This structure proves beneficial in making quick decisions as there is no need to consult lower-level management in the decision-making process. This also helps a company to implement its conclusions at a faster pace. | In an organic organizational structure, the onus is on participative decision-making. As everyone has the right to put forward their views, it increases the chances of options and useful suggestions. The only drawback is that the process becomes lengthy and sometimes unclear and vague. |
| Mechanistic organizational structure is a formalized structure that prevents the employees from being creative or using their skills to fulfil some other task. Each employee has to work according to specific rules that do not allow them to be independent or creative. | The employees feel a part of the organization in the organic organizational structure, and this encourages them to be more imaginative and creative during their tasks. |
| The regulated activities in a controlled structure make the mechanistic organization static and rigid. There is no provision to make any changes or suggestions in this dynamic environment. | An organic organization has an open and informal structure and flexible approach that can quickly meet the changing demands of the customer or environment. |
| The employees in a mechanistic organizational structure are not involved in any problem-solving process. | The employees of an organic organization are involved in the problem-solving process. |
| There is no feeling of ownership in a mechanistic organizational structure. | There is a feeling of ownership towards the company in an organic organization |
| Mechanistic organizational structure puts its onus on a narrow span of control. | Organic organizational structure puts its onus on a wide span of control. |
| In a mechanistic organizational structure, the individual and organizational goals are different. | In an organic organizational structure, there is an alignment of both individual and organizational goals. |
| In a mechanistic organizational structure, each employee corresponds to one task only. | In an organic organizational structure, employees can be assigned to different tasks. |
| Mechanistic organizational structure has simple integrating mechanisms. | Organic organizational structure has complex integrating mechanisms |
| In a mechanist, organization employees work separately to complete a task | In an organic organizational structure, employees work together to complete a task |