Structural Frame

1
Structural Frame

• Fall 2005

2
Reading Discussion

• Briefly, summarize the 3-5 major themes of this
  frame.
• Be ready to report out.

3
Benefits of the Structural Frame

• Well suited to straightforward tasks
• Stable environments
• Production of similar goods repeatedly
• Precision
• Efficiency
• Predictability
• Calculability

4
Limitations of the Structural

• Difficulty in adapting quickly to change
• Can result in mindless and unquestioning employee
  behaviors
• Dehumanizing
• Efficiency can undermine other organizational
  goals
• Loose Coupling

5
Tight Coupling

• Rules
• Agreement on rules
• System inspections
• Feedback to improve conditions

6
Loose Coupling

• Preserves novelty
• Adapt to small changes
• Challenge to balance adaptation and adaptability
  stability and flexibility

7
FeaturesThe good and the not so good

• Division of Labor
• Hierarchy of Offices
• Explicit set of rules
• Training in specialization
• Job as primary-specialization
• Written knowledge

• Jack of all trades
• Haphazard roles
• Individual choice
• Inconsistent training and development
• Generalists
• Oral Culture

8
Metaphors

• Organization as a machine
• Control based on rules and regs.
• Role of the individual subordinate to the
  schools interests
• Routine tasks equal success
• Leaders manage

9
Case

• District must close one high school
• Closing will cause re-districting of staff and
  students
• Concern rises in those who believe the atmosphere
  will be difficult to create elsewhere others
  ambivalent.
• How would a strict structural leader handle this
  situation?