Sources of Conflict
Some view conflict as an inevitable outgrowth of the combative side of human nature. In the business world, a basic source of conflict is competition for resources or recognition within an organization. But conflicts can also be driven by outside so...
Organizational Structure: Traditional vs. Non-Traditional
Although specific organizational designs vary from company to company, there has been a broad trend away from what might be called mechanistic organizational designs toward more organic ones. Mechanistic designs depend on centralized authority and m...
Informal Communications Network, The
The informal communications network plays a powerful role in any organization. Communication of this nature frequently takes place prior to the formal communication process and is often driven by personal relationships.
Conflict That's Positive
For companies that are aggressively pursuing opportunities in changing markets, conflict over different ideas can be a tremendous asset. While it would be absurd to argue that all or even most conflict is good, some forms of conflict, particularly t...
Matrix Structure
One type of organizational structure, known as matrix structure, involves an overlay of two different forms of structure. It temporarily groups together specialists from different functional departments or divisions to work on special project or pro...
Managerial Skills and Functions
While there is a wide range of general skills required of nearly all managers, there are some differences in emphasis from one level of management to another, from supervisory or operating level managers up through senior, top level managers.
Values, Goals, and Employee Morale
The values an organization stands for can exert a strong influence on morale. Unfortunately, many companies profess to value one type of behavior, but actually reward behavior that is very different and represents very different values.