Influence of Structure at Organizational and Group Levels

Abstract

Groups of line managers and supervisors in two organizations having different organizational structures were compared. As was hypothesized, relationships among the members of the groups in the more mechanistic organization were seen as more formal at all levels of the hierarchy, all groups saw themselves as having less autonomy, and the organizational climate was seen as being oriented toward rules and conventionality. Unexpectedly, however, the organizational climate was also seen as developmental, generating at group level greater involvement of managers with the group. The multidimensionality of concepts such as organizational structure and climate is noted, and the complexity of the interrelationships among the various dimensions of these two concepts is stressed.