mechanistic (adjective, mech-a-nis-tic, \ ˌmekəˈnɪstɪk◂ \) organization (noun, or-gan-i-za-tion, \ˌɔːrɡənəɪˈzeɪʃən \)
Definition: is an organization structure, adopted by companies possessing a hierarchical, bureaucratic business model, that can be defined by the following: a) consolidation of authority, as all the power is in the hands of the highest ranking officer(s), b) tendency to formalize most company-wide procedures, practices, and policies, and c) specialization of functions, with each employee being designed to a specific role, leaving little to no room for improvisation or innovation. Companies that adopt mechanistic organization are relatively easier to organize and manage, but they struggle in situations when a drastic change is required or occurs in the external environment.
In a Sentence:
- I’ve never been a fan of mechanistic organization. I hate seeing our employees walk around like robots, weighed down by our overly bureaucratic policies and requirements.
- As a highly individualistic person, Mrs. Gladder always believed that having a mechanistic organization structure is the most efficient way to run a firm. Rachel couldn’t bear the thought of someone else making the executive decisions without her permission.
Synonyms and related words: organic organization, adaptive organization, formal organization, market-focused organization
