This article relates to the organizational structure competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. It shows how structural concerns can affect the typical employee workday, as well as feelings towards your organization's management hierarchy and reporting structure. A healthy organizational structure is one that arranges the activities of the enterprise in such a way that they contribute to the goals of the organization. Specifically, this competency looks to see if your employees clearly understand who they report to, as well as measure their sense of accountability to the organization. Evaluating this competency can be especially useful if your organization has recently experienced an organizational restructuring or might be considering one in the future.
This short story, The Organizational Structure of our Growing Business, was part of EngagedMetrics' compilation, Tales From the Corporate Frontlines. It illustrates how business growth affects every employee in the organization and lists some signals that a review and revision of organizational structure is necessary.
Anonymous Submission
My brother and I own and operate a mid sized manufacturing business that was passed down to us by our elderly uncles. Over the years, the business has experienced significant growth. The workforce alone has doubled since we added four new production lines just a few years ago.
At that time, we hired a group of consultants to help us analyze and optimize the flow of work through the facility. The new processes and employees were integrated quite easily, and the production areas of the plant ran smoothly.
Looking back, we see now that more attention should have been focused on the fulfillment and shipping areas of the business, as well as the HR and office functions. Several signs have appeared over the past year or so to tell us that we need to seriously consider rearranging our organizational structure:
* Morale in the above areas has deteriorated measurably.
* Paperwork, reporting, forms and correspondence are often late and incomplete.
* Turnover rates in the affected departments are rising.
* Certain areas are often severely understaffed, especially during popular vacation and holiday periods.
* The reporting structures in these areas have become confusing, some employees express concern about vague accountability.
Although productivity in our shop area remains high, it does appear to be limited by the dysfunctions occurring in other integral areas of the business. We decided that now is the time to conduct a thorough evaluation of our organizational structure and develop a plan to adapt and change it to more closely fit the needs of our growing business.
If we need outside help, we'll engage it. But the time has definitely come to address the effects of expansion on our entire organization and act accordingly to preserve and grow the business we've inherited. It's more than just a business to us---it's a family tradition.
© 2005 EngagedMetrics, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
This article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes the author bio information, and all links remain active.
Measure. Report. Improve your organization with EngagedMetrics Employee Survey System.
Josh Greenberg is President of EngagedMetrics, Inc.
EngagedMetrics provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.
Launch your EngagedMetrics Employee Survey System with EngagedMetrics.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
As a manager our role is to:1. Establish the vision,... Read More
The use of cultural awareness training has increased rapidly in... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Today's employees are not only interested in security or in... Read More
Inventory management may seem complicated to some, but if one... Read More
Steven Covey had the right idea. There are discreet skills... Read More
Creativity Starts Here!The ability of an organisation to create new... Read More
There are wild variances in how much involvement organisations are... Read More
At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business... Read More
How long does it take your customers, clients or patients... Read More
We all have been in meetings with certain people who... Read More
What is factoring?Accounts receivable financing, also known as factoring, is... Read More
It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job... Read More
In our fast paced work culture, manned by technology savvy... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More
A recent Washington Post article, described the life of temporary... Read More
It is becoming more common for employers to require employees... Read More
Answer: Starting one.Most of us realize that there is probably... Read More
Once working and focused in tune with what they do... Read More
During a recent seminar I gave located in the suburbs... Read More
The title implies that some people are and others not.This... Read More
These factors where determined by interviews with and books from... Read More
Interrogated on a beach in Barbados by friends insistent that... Read More
Here are some quick thoughts on ways to turn things... Read More
Many of you will recognise this quote from the 1960s... Read More
Imagine for a moment this scenario from a frustrated Senior... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
You can use this step-by-step method to hire applicants who... Read More
There seems to be an assumption that change is a... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
MANAGING SMALL MEETINGS: Keep the size of the meeting as... Read More
Did you know that business executives spend about half their... Read More
Purpose: Show how immersion leadership training makes strategic initiative success... Read More
Several years ago, I took over the supervision of a... Read More
In our current world of rapid and amazing technological advances,... Read More
Interrogated on a beach in Barbados by friends insistent that... Read More
I see a PR firm has done a survey on... Read More
Okay, be honest!Are you guilty of sticking in a few... Read More
What IS assertive communication? Assertive communication is the... Read More
Last week I was confused and frustrated about a few... Read More
Learning to be assertive takes time, courage and the ability... Read More
How many times have the management consultants been 'in' and... Read More
In today's business environment with increases in staff reductions and... Read More
Companies are welcoming a diverse range of employees (The Sunday... Read More
Integrity is very important to me, and I try hard... Read More
A few weeks ago, a couple of colleagues and I... Read More
How would you handle communication if your business or practice... Read More
The term crisis management has different connotations. In this article,... Read More
One of the first things I look at when I... Read More
Whether you run your own business or manage a team,... Read More
The Security Consultant's Perspective...Implementing Personnel Security Initiatives should be the... Read More
ACCOUNTING AND BILLINGCHECK BOOKSWe recommend that you maintain a business... Read More
There are papers on the floor, across the desk and... Read More
Insanity in the Sign & Graphics IndustryEinstein's DefinitionAlbert Einstein once... Read More
Whether you choose to do your own books and accounting... Read More
Many business people and managers are spending too much time... Read More
If you have company delivery vehicles at your small or... Read More
Acknowledgement is about recognition or attention from another person. It... Read More
Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More
I've seen several articles that begin with lines like "the... Read More
Are you the position or the person?Bosses can lose their... Read More
The other day someone asked me for one of my... Read More
To release creativity in employees, managers must get involved in... Read More
"Become the Squeaky Wheel", a new book just published, explains... Read More
How do you as a manager, supervisor or team leader... Read More
Business Management |