Corporate strategy and structure

Abstract

This chapter describes how organizations can form complex networks in order to facilitate actions that would be difficult to do alone. The way that tasks are divided, and sub-tasks are managed to fulfil overall goals is call structuring. This chapter explores how an organization’s structure enables activities to be carried out in a way that is consistent with its purpose. It goes on to consider organizational structure at different levels, and considers how, from a process-practise perspective, analysis of structure helps us to better understand how decisions are made, how stakeholders interact and how information and resources flow. Finally, the chapter considers systems and organizational cultures as alternative control mechanisms and considers the relationship between internationalization and organizational structure.