GSGM7223 & Managing Organisation

Organisational Structure and Communication

Link (to Course

TOPIC 5 SUB-TOPIC(s)
Learning Outcome)
Organisational 5.1 The Definition of Organisational Culture and Different Types of CLO1 - Articulate
Structure and Organisational Culture the essential
Communication 5.2 The Three Levels of Organisational Culture principles of
5.3 The Definition of Organisation, Organisational Structure, and Basic management in an
Types of Organisational Structures organisational
5.4 Communication and The Communication Process Details setting.
5.5 Communication Barriers CLO2 - Analyze
behavior
dimensions
affected by
organisational
dynamics.
CLO3 - Assess the
need for
developing
synergetic forces in
the organisation in
the spirit of
cooperation
instead of
competition.

5.1 The Definition of Organisational Culture and Different Types of Organisational Culture

Organisational Culture is defined as system of shared values and beliefs that builds within a company and drives the
behavior of its participants. It is also called corporate culture in all of textbooks. There are different types of organisational
culture as follows:

Clan Culture which promotes internal focused among employees and emphasize on flexibility instead of stability. Moreover,
it promotes cooperation among employees.

Adhocracy Culture which attempts to produce creative and innovative products by being flexible, creative, and quick to
react to shifts and changes in the environment.

Market Culture concentrates on the external environment of the company, and it is determined by rivalry and a robust
tendency to produce outcomes.

Hierarchy Culture is appropriate to a formal structured job setting which is targeted at attaining success through a range of
control systems.

Hollow Structure in which the organisation has a main core of crucial functions and specialisation, and it outsources other
tasks to suppliers who can perform them less expensive or quicker.

Modular Structure in which company assembles product pieces, or modules, supplied by outside
contractors.

Watch the following videos for definition of Organisational Culture and Different Types of Organisational Culture.

Title:” What is Organizational Culture?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cBN8xH-5Qw

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Organisational Structure and Communication

Title: “Types of Organisational Culture”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgJWsroLxEo

5.2 The Three Levels of Organisational Culture

The Three Levels of Organisational Culture are as follows:

Level 1 which is Observable Artifacts includes physical expressions such as dress code, prizes, myths, and stories regarding the
organisation. These artifacts are observable and detectable behavior displayed by employees and managers

Level 2 which is Espoused Values which are clearly stated values and norms selected and favored by a company. Beside the
espoused values, we have Enacted Values that are the actual values and norms which are actually displayed in the
company.

Level 3 which is Basic Assumptions which are exemplifying the core values of the company's culture. These are values which
are taken for granted and extremely tough to change.

Watch the following video for Levels of Organisational Culture:

Title: “Edgar Schein's 3 Levels of Organizational Culture”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N37Foo0DOgE

5.3 The Definition of Organisation, Organisational Structure, and Basic Types of Organisational Structures

Organisation is defined as a system of deliberately organised and coordinated actions and activities with minimum two or
more people. This organisation can be for-profit or nonprofit, or mutual benefit.

Organisation Chart is box-and-lines drawing which exhibit the formal connections of authority and the company’s official
positions or job specialisations.

Basic Types of Organisational Structures are as follows:

Simple Structure in which authority is concentrated in a single individual with few regulations and low work specialisation.

Functional Structure in which people with similar work-related disciplines are added together in formal groups.

Divisional Structure in which people with varied professional disciplines are added together in formal groups by related,
customers, products, or geographic regions.

Matrix Structure in which an organisation merges functional and divisional chains of command in a grid so that there are
two command structures of horizontal and vertical.

Horizontal Design in which workgroups or teams, either permanent or temporary, are used to enhance work and cooperation
on common shared tasks by cracking down internal limits and borders.

Watch the following video for Organisation Structure and Basic Types of Organisational Structures:

Title: “Types of Organizational Structures”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbcpr1TS9NM

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Organisational Structure and Communication

5.4 Communication and The Communication Process Details

Communication is the transmission of data and info and comprehending from one individual to another one.

The following is how the communication process works and what is the communication process.

Sender is an individual intending to communicate information or particularly a message.

Receiver is an individual who is the intended person to receive the message.
Encoding is converting a message into comprehensible characters or language.
Decoding is interpretation and effort to understand of the message.
Medium is the path a message travels through it to reach its receiver.
Feedback is the recipient conveys his reflection to the sender’s message.
Noise is any disruption that disturbs the communication of a message.

Watch the following videos to understand the communication and communication process details:

Title: “How the Communication Process Works”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6u0AVn-NUM

Title: “What is Communication?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m_u-GSvkPE

5.5 Communication Barriers

Barriers to Communication are as follows:

1. The first barrier to communication is physical barriers which includes space, time, sound, and so on.
2. The second barrier to communication is semantic barriers which includes when words matter. Semantic Barriers
mainly studies the meaning of the words. For example, Jargons are those terminologies that has specific meaning to
a group of people or a particular profession.
3. The third barrier to communication is personal barriers which includes individual characteristics that impede
communication. These personal barriers include a long list as follows:

• Adjustable skills in effective communicating

• Differences in how information is perceived and understood
• Differences in honesty and integrity
• Enormous egos
• Flawed listening abilities and skills
• Propensity to criticize others’ messages and intentions
• Failure to listen with empathy
• Stereotypes
• Preconceptions

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Organisational Structure and Communication

Watch the following video for a more comprehensive communication barriers explanation:
Title: “Barriers to Effective Communication”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slq1nAhZuqE

Additional Reading Materials

Article Titled: “Understanding Organisational Culture”

https://www.managers.org.uk/~/media/Files/PDF/Checklists/CHK-232-Understanding-organisational-culture.pdf

Article Titled: “Communication: The Process, Barriers, and Improving Effectiveness”

http://www.nationalforum.com/Electronic%20Journal%20Volumes/Lunenburg,%20Fred%20C,%20Communication%20Schooling
%20V1%20N1%202010.pdf

- end of topic –

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