Content
The linear organization It is one in which authority flows from the highest levels of the organization to the lowest: in that sense, the duties and responsibilities of the different members, as well as the relationships that are established and defined early among them.
The linear organization It has a pyramidal type conformation, where each of the chiefs receives and transmits what happens in their area, through communication channels specifically prepared for that: in this way, it is impossible that within the organization there is a decision that no one takes responsibility for. In any case, due to its comprehensive intention, the ultimate responsibility always rests with the top of the pyramid.
Beginning
The principles governing linear type organization (also called centralized) are those of the unit of command and supervision (individuals do not have more than one boss) the unit of direction and the centralization of authority (that for which the responsibility, as well as the direction of the company, does not bifurcates) and the scalar chain, revaluing the importance of hierarchy and subordination accordingly.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of a linear organization can be seen in the simplicity of its structure for the report to a single superior, for the delimitation of responsibilities, the ease of implementation and the good communication mechanisms between the different hierarchical structures, which results in good channels for other purposes.
The disadvantages, Instead, they are more related to problems derived from the constancy of formal relationships, or discipline problems that can be derived from an organization in which the hierarchies are very clear.
A linear organization runs risk of exaggerating the role of leadership and command, and on many occasions the head of the top cannot even have a talk with the sectors below, which are part of his organization. This same boss runs the risk of trying to cover so much, not specializing in anything.
Applications
In general terms, it can be said that the linear organization can serve to small companies, for the easy handling and for the simple economy it provides. As the company grows, with such a system, congestion on formal lines of communication seems imminent, especially at higher levels.
Examples of linear organizations
Here are some types of organizations that use linear schemes:
- Army, in all its areas, it has a form of organization of this type.
- Church, on many occasions, it is governed by linear schemes.
- Usually, managers or entrepreneurs with stronger personalities they choose these systems to focus all decisions on their person. They consider, sometimes erroneously, that due to their nature they will not have problems managing inter-organizational relationships.
- A very small company having three departments and one hundred employees, you should use a linear form of organization.
- Fraudulent economic operations of type ‘Ponzi’, Although they are not organizations in their formal sense, they are related to the linear organization because of that of the only response to the immediate superiors, without taking into account what happens above or below.
It can serve you: Examples of Functional Organization
