CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:

The purpose of structure is the division of work among members of the

organization and the Co-ordination of their activities so they are directed

towards the goals and objectives of the organization.

An organizational structure is a mostly hierarchical concept of

subordination of entities that collaborate and contribute to some one

common aim. Organizations are a number of clustered entities the structure

of an organization is usually set up in one of a variety of style dependent on

their objectives and ambiance the structure of an organization will determine

the modes in which it shall operate and will perform.

Organization structure allows the expressed allocation of responsibilities

for different entities ordinary description of such entities is as branch site

department workgroup and single people. An organizations structure is the

set of formal the planned relationships between the physical factors and

personal required for the performance at these function. In the words of

mullins ( 2007:564). Organization structure is the pattern of relationship

among positions in the organization an among members of the organization

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Organizational structures make possible the application of the process of

management and creates a frame work of order and command through

which the activities of the organization be planned organized directed and

controlled. He went further to say that organizational structure define tasks

and responsibilities work roles relationships and channels communication.

Organizational structure is primarily set up for the purpose of promoting

co-operation and facilitating the exercise of executive leadership. It permit

the relation of co-coordinated thought and action even though

organizational relationship become more complete with growth. Birkinshaw

(2001:75) said that organizational structure is never the whole story it is just

a way of dividing responsibilities among executive. It is meaningless unless

supported appropriate systems and a consistent culture.

However organization structure is still surprisingly informative about

strategic priorities and the work going on so it is as good a place to start as

any” the type of organization structure depend on the nature of that

particular organization. The form which the organizations structure take may

be are presented pictorially by an organization chart. The chart is useful

since it aids in locating properly either positions or functions and it shows

the lines of responsibility authority and accountability.

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Organizational structure shall be adaptive to process requirement aiming

to optimize the ratio at effort and in put to output. In effective organization

structure shall facility working relationship between various entities in the

organizational units. Organizations shall support commands for coping with

a mix of orders and a change of conditions while performing works.

Organization structure is clearly important for any organization there

are likely to be fewer problem of structure the distribution of task the

definition of authority and responsibility and the relationship between

members of the organization an be stabilized on a more personal and

informal basis with in creasing size however there is greater need for a

carefully designed and purposeful form organization there is need for a

formal organizational structure. There is also need for a continual receive of

structure to ensure that it is the most appropriate form for the particular

organization and in keeping with the growth and development there is

likely to be of particular importance for the way large organizations. In the

words Drucker (1999:11) it is the correct design of structure that is of most

significance in determining organizational performance. He further

explained that good organization structure does not by itself produce good

performance. But a poor organization structure makes good performance

impossible no matter how good the individual managers may be. Coming to

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the task that structure in the present day organization presents complex

relationship there is the need for people to organize their efforts. Hence

organization structure defines the format of allocation of work roles to

identify the members of the organization. It establishes the line of authority

for integrating and co-coordinating activities.

We can therefore describe functional structure in terms of dividing

tasks jobs and delegating authority thus this provides some aspect of major

challenges faced by management. Management is expected to make the

appropriate analysis that will help in the designing of an effective

organizational structure for any organization. A sound organizational

structure activities are directed towards co-ordinating and controlling the

overall outset of an organization and its members. Therefore it becomes a

sanctioned network of interaction and relationships between positions

functions and occupants and also a means through which management

attempt to achieve organizational goals. This emphasizes the fact the

structure is the result from organizational design. Thus it is far from surprise

that it has been the subject of intensive study. All organizations have some

form of more or less formalized structure which has been defined by Child

(1997:284) as comprising all the tangible and regularly occurring features

which help to shape their member’s behaviour”. Structures incorporate a

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network of roles and relationships that collective effort is explicitly

organized to achieve specified ends. The structure of an organization can be

regarded as a framework for getting things done. It consists of units

function division department and formally constituted work teams unto

which activities related to particular processes projects products markets

customer geographical areas or professional disciplines are grouped

together. The structure indicates who is accountable for directing co-

ordinating and carrying out these activities and defines management

hierarchies. The chain of command – thus spelling out broadly who is

responsible to whom for what and each level in the organization. The

classical theorist passed the idea of one best way of structuring an

organization effectively. Unfortunately the answer provided by the decades

of systematic research has proved that this notion is impossible because

organizations form wide range of internal and external conditions that there

cannot be a single structure or design that will prove successful for all. This

idea has been confirmed by the modern theorists stating that the best

organizational structure is the one that works for the firm’s situation that

moment. As this basic fact have become increasingly apparent a new

perspective on organizational design known as the contingency approach has

taken form. People and environment in the above factor function with the

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key dimensions of organization structure which includes department chain

of command span of control and centralization. The above facts present a

lot of challenges for modern managers. For the purpose of this project

research work structural designment should plan the organization structure

to suit with the organization’s goals in both implicit and explicit manner and

to understand the foreign factors of nature models dimensional level

determinant variables and the classification of structure which will bring

efficiency and effectiveness in all levels.

Firms wishing to slow their entire organizational set up usually do so

by preparing a company manual containing policy and objective chart for

major and minor organizational units. Job descriptions and specifications

and standard procedures.

Their portion of the structure presented in the chart shows two types

of dimensions. The first is the Verticut dimension which is cut into a number

of levels of authority known as service levels. The second is the horizontal

dimension which is cut into functions or groups of functions. The structure

of an organization affects not only productivity and economic efficiency but

also the morale and job satisfaction of the workforce. Getting the structure

right is the first step in organizational days.

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Structure should be designed therefore so as to encourage the willing

participation of members of the organization and effective organizational

performance.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

An organizational structure is primarily set up for the purpose of

promoting co-operation and facilitating the exercise of executive leadership.

It permits the retention of co-ordinated thought and action every though

organizational relationship become more complex with growth.

(2001.75) said that organizational structure is never the whole story. It

is just a way of dividing responsibility among executives.

Organizational structure is meaningless unless supported by

appropriate systems and a consistent culture. However organizational

structure is still surprising information about strategic priorities and the work

going on so its as good as place to start as anytime.

The type of organizational structure depends on the nature of the

particular organization.

The form which the organizational structure takes may be represented

periodically by an organizational chart.

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Based on the significant of the organization structure the researcher

wish to investigate more on the impact of organizational structure in

effective management of Nigerian organization.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This study is to examine the relationship among some elements of

organizational structure and management effectiveness in Nigerian business

organization. Therefore it will like to

(1) Identity factors in the organizational structure the could affect

managerial effectiveness.

(2) To determine whether there is a problem in the structural design of the

departments within the organization.

(3) To find out if the level of education of subordinates influence the way

a major structure is department.

(4) To identity the links between the above variable and the manager’s

degree of effectiveness in meeting up to the objectives he is expected

to achieve.

(5) Determine whether these variables have the same or different affects

or managerial effectiveness in the different department.

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1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

On every research project there should be questions which will enable

the project to be realistic. The questions are as follows:

(1) What are the factors in the organizational structure that could affect

managerial effectiveness.

(2) Is there a problem in the structural design of the departments within

the organization.

(3) To what extent do the level of education of the subordinates influence

the way a manager structures his departments.

(4) What is the link between the above variable and the managers degree

of effectiveness in meeting up to the objectives he is expected to

achieve.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Proper organizational structure in the organization will reduce role

conflicts and avoid stress to managers it will also specify span of

control. It will encourage job specialization in the organization and

easy job analysis the research will also help management during job

evaluation and performance appraisal. The study will help many

corporate organizations and government institutions to know what

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type of structure will suit then end help them to manage the

organization effectiveness.

1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Some difficulties were noticed in getting information listed in the

project.

(a) Financial Constraints

The cost involved in research project is very high considering

the state of the economy. The little amount of pocket money to

me by my parents is not sufficient enough to carry out a

research project extensively.

(b) Time Constraints

The most important using to note is the time limitation

combining lectures assignment and also coupled with term

paper makes getting materials for the research project difficult.

(c) Unavailability of Textbooks and Journals

The information gathered in writing research project must come

from several textbooks and journal but most of these textbooks

were hard to find and the ones found were outdated editions.

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(d) Secrecy of Information

Most of the information used in this research work were gotten from

the case study. Due to principles of the organization

Some information where utilized. Some were disclosed after much

persistence.

(e) Lack pf research skill.

Being the first time I’m writing a research project I lack the skill

required to go about a research project.

(f) Lack of data storage and retrieval budgets.

Getting access to computers connected to the internal is a big problem

for me considering the type of school environment. Most data that

should be gotten from the computer are not there because of the lack

of it.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Due to the nature of this research it will not be feasible to study the

effect of organization.

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REFERENCES

Birkinshaw .J. (2001) Financial Times Mastering

Child J. (1977). Organization Contemporary Principles and Practice London

Blackwell Publishing

Drucker P. D. (1999) Management Challenges for the 21st Century

Mullius L. (2007) Management and Organizational behaviour Bulterworth

Heremann publish

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