As described in Chapter 4 of Re-framing Organizations, Herbert Mintzberg
developed a five-sector “logo” in order to categorize how organizations can be
structured. Five specific structural types are pictured: simple structure, machine
bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, divisionalized form, and adhocracy.
- Explain the role of each of the five components of Mintzberg’s “logo” (write
your explanations using your own words – don’t simply copy the descriptions
verbatim from the text or other source):
a. strategic apex (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. technostructure (Type answer here, using blue font.)
c. support staff (Type answer here, using blue font.)
d. middle line (Type answer here, using blue font.)
e. operating core (Type answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to different components of this question should total about 1-2
pages, single spaced. - Bergmann Cleaners is probably the best established dry cleaning company in
the Washington, DC area. It was founded in 1917. It currently employs 150
people, most of whom are involved with dry cleaning and laundry chores. It
also uses a fleet of 20 vans to deliver laundry to its patrons.
a. Which of Mintzberg’s five structural types likely describes the
Bergmann Cleaners structure? (i.e., simple, machine bureaucracy,
divisionalized bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, adhocracy.)
Explain your rationale in detail. (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. Name two other companies from your community that employ the
same structural type. (Type answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the different components of this question should total about 1-
2 pages long, single spaced. - ABC Co. is a 200-person company that specializes in conducting
environmental impact analyses associated with the construction of Federal,
state, and local government structures. Its sales group constantly monitors
government announcements to see whether requests-for-proposals (RFP) will
be issued, seeking contractors to bid on environmental impact assessments.
When the sales group sees an interesting prospect, they review the RFP then
assemble a team to write a proposal. Typically, the proposal must be written
in a very short time frame. The proposal writing team is comprised of
corporate employees who have have appropriate technical expertise,
Leadership and Organization
2
marketing/sales people, a business manager, and editor/writers who can put
together a well-articulated proposal. Each year ABC Co. writes some 20-30
proposals in this fashion and wins 5-10 contracts.
a. Which of Mintzberg’s five structural types is the proposal writing team
most likely to reflect? Explain your rationale in detail. (Type answer
here, using blue font.)
b. Give another example of where this structure is appropriate. (Type
answer here, using blue font.)
Your answer to the two components of this question should total about 1-2
pages, single spaced. - Chapter 5 in Reframing Organizations describes high performing teams
a. What is a high performing team? How is it different from an average
team? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. What are the six distinguishing characteristics of a high performing
team as discussed in the book? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
c. Katzenbach and Smith – authors of The Wisdom of Teams and
discussed in the book – point out that the true test of whether a team is
good is tied to the extent to which it achieves its performance
objectives. What do they mean by this? (Type answer here, using blue
font.)
d. It seems that everyone strives to develop high performing teams, but in
practice we encounter few such teams. Why do you think it is so
difficult to develop high performing teams? (Type answer here, using
blue font.)
Your answer to the different components of this question should total about 1-
2 pages, single spaced. - In Chapter 5, the authors of Reframing Organizations discuss an all-channel
network. (Note: This design is similar to Helgesen’s web of inclusion as
described in the Bolman and Deal book.)
a. When people try to get work done through wikis and other social
networking techniques, they employ an all-channel network approach.
Describe why this is so? (Type answer here, using blue font.)
b. A significant problem with all channel networks is that when the
number of participants grows beyond a critical mass, they cease to
function effectively. Why is this so? (Type answer here, using blue
font.)
Your answer to the two components of this question should total about 1 page
in length, single spaced.