Structure of Organizations in Occupational Interest Associations

Abstract

This paper reports an extension of the Aston studies of organizational structure to the field of occupational interest associations. The sample consisted of six trade unions and one professional association. The fundamental relationships of the dimensions of organizational structure to each other, and to size (whether number of employees, members or branches), were shown to hold in this new context. A greater Centralization of occupational interest associations than business firms was observed and this was seen as facilitating the exercise of control by the members through the representative institutions. The political processes of representation within such associations is briefly discussed.