Managing change – flexible organisation 15/11/2022
Flexible organisation – one that is able to adapt and respond relatively quickly to change in
its external environment in order to gain advantage and sustain its competitive position.
Identify the need for change
Respond to the necessary change
Flexible organisation is more likely to have adopted a ‘organic structure compared with a
‘mechanic’ structure.
Organic structure:
Informal
Flexible and fluid (easy to change)
Favours verbal communication
Associated with decentralised decision-making and empowerment
Find change easier to handle
Mechanistic structure:
Formal
Bureaucratic (find it hard to change)
Formal communication methods
Associated with centralised decision-making and supervision
Favours standardised policies and procedures
Little perceived need to change
Flexible organisation – one that is able to adapt and respond relatively quickly to change in
its external environment in order to gain advantage and sustain its competitive position.
Identify the need for change
Respond to the necessary change
Flexible organisation is more likely to have adopted a ‘organic structure compared with a
‘mechanic’ structure.
Organic structure:
Informal
Flexible and fluid (easy to change)
Favours verbal communication
Associated with decentralised decision-making and empowerment
Find change easier to handle
Mechanistic structure:
Formal
Bureaucratic (find it hard to change)
Formal communication methods
Associated with centralised decision-making and supervision
Favours standardised policies and procedures
Little perceived need to change
