ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

     The typically hierarcial arragement of lines of authority,communications rights and duties of an organization.Organizational structure determines how the roles,power and responsibilities are assigned, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between the different levels of management.

A structure depends on the organization's objectives and strategy. In a centralized structure, the top layer of management has most of the decision making power and has tight control over departments and divisions. In a decentralized structure, the decision making power is distributed and the departments and divisions may have different degrees of independence.

     A company such as Proctor & Gamble that sells multiple products may organize their structure so that groups are divided according to each product and depending on geographical area as well.

    An organizational chart illustrates the organizational structure.