Project Management Organizational Structures Paper

Matrix and project based organizational structures are relatively new within organizations of the three organizational structures. In the past organizational structures were very restrictive and job definitions, and work and tasks allocated were all decided and implemented by the management. The prevalent belief was that workers did not really want to perform his task or duties and it was up to the manager to ensure that the task was completed. Comparing and contrasting the various organizational structures will provide a better understanding of the importance of choosing the structure best suited for a particular organization.

Small businesses generally do not require a large scale organizational structure. A good example is the Parent-Teacher Supply Company. The Parent-Teacher Supply Company is a sole proprietorship business that provides various educational supplies, art and crafts, and Christian materials. Purchasing supplies from various suppliers and manufacturers, the Parent-Teacher Supply Company stocks a large supply of books, compact discs, and educational toys.

English: an example of a simple organizational str...

English: Triad organizational structure

English: SBTVD Forum Organizational Structure

The Parent-Teacher Supply Company supplies are used by churches for Sunday school lessons and Vacation Bible School materials, by schools to support the state mandated curriculum, by parents to reinforce the curriculum taught in school and for home-schooling purposes, and by daycare providers to teach the fundamentals of education. The Parent-Teacher Supply Company opened its doors in 1990 in Yorktown, Virginia. Three years ago, a new location opened in Newport News, Virginia (a neighboring city of Yorktown) which is a small business with one owner, one manager, and seven employees. The organizational structure for such a business does not need to be complex.

Of the two types of organizational structures, vertical and horizontal, The Parent-Teacher Supply Company has a vertical structure which addresses the levels of authority within a business. In the Parent-Teacher Supply Company, the owner (Helen) is the upper level of management...