AED 512 LECTURE Dr. 03/11/2014WHAT IS AN ORGANIZATION?Organization has been defined as a specific configuration of structure, people, task and techniques.Structure: this describes the form of departments, hierarchy and committees.People: it refers to the skills, attitudes and social interactions of members of the organization.Task: these are goals that individuals and the organization intend to achieve.Techniques: it refers to the methods/ approaches used to perform tasks.Agricultural extension organizationAn agricultural extension organization is therefore a formalized planned structure of roles or position directed towards achieving extension activities.Organizational structure: it refers to the institutional arrangement and mechanisms for mobilizing humanOrganizational structure is a plan that shows the organization of work and the systematic arrangement of work. It is the arrangement and interrelationship of component parts and positions in an organization.Functions of organizational structures1. Linkage between different functions2. Hierarchy: authority structure and authority relationship.3. Division of work into activities4. Coordination within the environment.Characteristics of an organizational structure.1. Complexity: talks about the degree to which the work/ task is differentiated/splitted.2. Formalization: clear role of specialization in the structure by making things look formal.3. Centralization: this has to do with who takes the decision.Design of an organizational structure An organization can be structured in different ways, based on their objectives. Its structure determines its mode of operation and performance.Factors to consider in the design of an organizational structure.1. Clarity: people, goal, task, functions, relationship and information sources should be well defined.Types of organizational structureOrganizations structure can either be simple or complex, traditional (bureaucratic) or modern (organic), depending on strategic decisions within the organization, nature of the environment and at times needs of the organization.Traditional organizational structure1. Bureaucratic organization: the traditional bureaucratic organizational structure is mechanistic, highly complex, highly formalized and centralized, its a type of structure common in a large organization. It is characterized by a high degree of control to ensure standard performance and the use of standard methods and procedures to perform task.2. Classical: in a simple centralized organization structure, power, decision making authority and responsibility for goal setting are vested in one person at the top. This structure is usually found in small and single person owned organizations. The manager is versatile and coordinates all activities. Such organizations have two hierarchical levels.Modern organization designs1. Project: this is also called the team or the task force type. It is used to coordinate across departments for temporary, specific and complex problems which cannot be handled by a single department. This design facilitates inputs from different areas and it exists in a traditional organizational design.2. Matrix: 3. Adhocracy types: