What to expect from the course:

● Case study Organisational Structure (20%) Monday March 11th, 2024 23:59 teams use
existing data e.g. organisational chart
● Case study Organisational Culture (30%) Monday May 6th, 2024 23:59 teams use data
collected from 1 interview with a manager or employee
● Final Exam (50 %) six open questions; you study four bookchapters Bratton (2020) 1, 11, 8,
13; 1-2 exam questions for each chapter

Structure Case Study, what is it?

Team analysis of the structure of an organisation of our choice. Must comprise of 5 points - “chain is
only as strong as the links” - building up towards a policy recommendation for either keeping the
same design and tweaking 2 core elements or redesigning the organisation by changing 2 core
elements. (from what I understand its about 2 elements from the “7 core elements”, that is for
someone who will be writing a conclusion)

● we identify the organisational design

● explain why managers use it linking to some STEPLE factors
● ‘Organisational structure is not...a physical reality but rather a conceptual one’ (Bratton,
2020, 287)
● As writer you are building on the previous point written by a team member
● Important to discuss findings together in class and review previous section before connecting
yours (chain)

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Guidance to relevant literature is offered and as you will see, each point builds on the
previous one (chain).

● Discuss briefly the seven core elements for the organisation under study
use Bratton (2020, 287-290) and see Table 11.1

● Describe which design(s) are used for the organisation + supply an

organisational chart use Bratton (2020, 297-309) and Anand and Daft, 2007

● Traditional lens: Explain the choice of design(s) with 2 STEPLE factors in the
environment of the organisation use Bratton (2020, 15-19) and see if relevant
Anand and Daft, 2007

● Critical lens: Discuss one possible disadvantage to the chosen design of the
organisation use Bratton Ch. 12 (see disadvantages per design) or 399-310 (on
class and gender) and see if relevant Anand and Daft, 2007

● Conclude on possible needed organisation redesign in 2 core elements (from

point 1)
use Bratton (2020, 287-290) and see Table 11.1.

This conclusion can be either keeping the design based only tweaking 2 elements
from point 1, or advising another design. To make sense, the conclusion should be
based on findings from point 3 or 4 or both.
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What are the 5 points? Sections of our paper (see example of the paper Mili sent in the chat):

1. The seven core elements for the

organisation under study

PART 1: MICHELLE

2. Design(s) are used for our

organisation under study + supply
an organisational chart

PART 2: Marek
Decentralised structure which is also functional and divisional.

3. Traditional lens: Explain the choice of

design(s) with 2 STEPLE factors in the
environment of your organisation
under study. In other words, you
identify the organisational design and
explain why managers use it, linking to
some STEPLE factors
a. Traditional lens: Why would
manager chose this design?
b. Can you explain why a hospital
for example would choose a
functional design?

PART 3: Isa and Mili

 4. Critical lens: Discuss one possible disadvantage to the chosen design for your organisation
under study
a. Discuss one possible disadvantage to the chosen design;
b. Critical lens: What could be a weakness of this design?
c. Can you argue why a functional design may have negative consequences for
employees or society?

PART 4: Isa and Mili

5. Conclude on possible needed organisation redesign in 2 core elements

(option to keep or change design)
a. Conclude on possible needed organisation redesign (2 elements)
b. Write a conclusion for either keeping the design
based only tweaking 2 elements, or moving to another design.
c. This conclusion can be either keeping the design and tweaking 2 elements from
point 1, or advising another design.
d. To make sense, the conclusion should be based on findings from point 3 or 4 or both.

PART 5: Rron the tank driver but it is with equal support as we promised in our very legit
team agreement

Where to start

● How to chose your organisation? • Most important = data availability. Can the team find data
on:
○ 7 core elements
○ organisation chart (readily available or to be created with data)
○ type(s) of design
○ 2 STEPLE factors
● Follow the team’s interests (internships etc.)... ...but let data availability guide the team’s
final choice
● Randstad Uitzendbureau Den Haag

Suggested outline
The team can choose their own headers, as long as all points are covered and the case study is
coherent and accessible for reading and reviewing.

1. Core elements of organisation structure

2. Identification of organisation design
(e.g. horizontal, functional, more than one design can be found)
3. Traditional perspective on structure
4. Critical perspective on structure
5. Policy recommendation for organisation redesign

To do list:

Decide who writes about what (dibs on nr. 1 about core elements)
Decide which organization we want to write about
Figure out a deadline for first drafts (March 2nd/3rd?)