Which of the following is not a characteristic of the mechanistic model of organization?

We’ve spent some time now understanding the elements of an organizational structure, and the types of structures an organization might choose to use when organizing their work and employees. Some of those structures are very strict and hierarchal, like the bureaucratic model, and some of the structures, like boundaryless, are pretty loose and free-wheeling. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

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• Organic Organizations
• Mechanistic Organizations
• General Motors
• Practice Question
• Which of the following is typical of mechanistic organizations?
• What is mechanistic structure of organization?
• Which of the following is a feature of a mechanistic structure?
• What is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization quizlet?

When managers combine the basic components and elements of an organizational structure together, the result has certain characteristics that are best understood by looking at it through the lens of organic and mechanistic organizations.

Organic Organizations

Organic organizations look a lot like boundaryless organizations. They allow for employees to cultivate more ideas and be more creative because the business is not as rigidly structured. Organic structures are used in dynamic, unstable environments where the business needs to quickly adapt to change, as the structure gives the organization the flexibility to deal with fast-paced environmental change and many different elements.

A good example of an organization that uses an organic structure might be a consulting firm. A consulting firm responds to customer issues as they come up, and those issues change with the business environment. Consulting firms want to respond to change quickly, so by choosing an organic structure they’re able to be nimble and address their customers’ needs.

Mechanistic Organizations

Mechanistic organizations have centralized decision making and formal, standardized control systems. Essentially, they are bureaucracies.

Mechanistic organizations work well in stable, simple environments. Managers integrate the activities of clearly defined departments through formal channels and in formal meetings. Often, they feature many hierarchical layers and a focus on reporting relationships.

General Motors

General Motors is a good example of an organization using the mechanistic model. Why do they use that? For one, they’re very large, and when that many people and functions are involved, order is needed. But they’re also in a stable, if not somewhat simple, environment. The car market fluctuates with the economy, yes, but the company builds cars and trucks. Across all their divisions, that function is basically the same.

DMV

Another example of a mechanistic model is the Department of Motor Vehicles. When you get your new driver’s license, you go from one department to another, taking a written test, taking an eye exam, taking an actual driving test, filling out the paperwork, and then finally, getting your driver’s license. The structure for this is very mechanistic—every person looking to get a driver’s license has to be treated exactly the same. It’s simple and stable.

Here’s a table comparing the basic characteristics of both models:

OrganicMechanisticGeneral tasksSpecialized tasksLoosely defined departments and hierarchyWell-defined departments with clear hierarchyDecentralized decision making by many individualsCentralized decision making by a few peopleIntegration achieved by managers and employees interacting and exchanging information as neededIntegration achieved by formal manager meetingsFlexibility and capability of rapid changeClear and efficient reporting relationships

Most companies find themselves falling somewhere in between the two extremes of organic and mechanistic. Each organization designs its structure to enable its mission, goals, and strategy. If the structure fits with other contextual elements, it has a better chance of being effective in supporting the organization.

Practice Question

Now that we fully understand the difference between organic and mechanistic structures, let’s use those to gain a better understanding of what kind of organizational structures work best for different organizations—and why.

Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood.

Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and biltong or beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces.

Which of the following is typical of mechanistic organizations?

A mechanistic organization is characterized by a relatively high degree of job specialization, rigid departmentalization, many layers of management (particularly middle management), narrow spans of control, centralized decision-making, and a long chain of command.

What is mechanistic structure of organization?

A mechanistic organization is an organizational structure with centralized authority, divisions between departments and specialized roles that work independently of each other. Companies that have mechanistic structures run similarly to bureaucracies in which an established chain of command manages business operations.

Which of the following is a feature of a mechanistic structure?

The mechanistic structure features heavily specialized jobs, a centralized decision-making process, limited control, vertical management layers, etc. This type of organizational structure involves rigidity in departmentalization.

What is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization quizlet?

Mechanistic organizations are typified by a structure that relies on high levels of formalization, a rigid and hierarchical chain of command, high degrees of work specialization, centralization of decision making, and narrow spans of control.

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

Which of the following is a characteristic of mechanistic organization?

What is mechanistic model of organization?

What is a characteristic of a mechanistic organization quizlet?