. Owing to rapid changes in the environment (IT, globalisation, customer needs, etc.), modern organisations need to be flexible in order to accommodate the changes.2.2.1. Describe the characteristics of traditional and modern organisations designs.

Answer 1

Traditional organizational designs are hierarchical in nature, with a clear chain of command and a top-down decision-making process. The authority and responsibility are concentrated at the top level, and employees are assigned to specific roles and tasks. Communication flows vertically through different levels of management, and decisions are made by superiors and passed down to subordinates.

On the other hand, modern organizational designs are more flexible and adaptable to changes. They are characterized by a flatter hierarchy, where decision-making can occur at various levels within the organization. The authority and responsibility are more distributed, allowing for more autonomy and empowerment for employees. Cross-functional teams are common, where individuals from different departments collaborate to achieve common objectives.

In traditional designs, employees have specialized roles and perform specific tasks within their department. There is limited interaction and collaboration between departments. Whereas in modern designs, there is a focus on teamwork and collaboration, with employees encouraged to share knowledge and ideas across departments. This promotes a more integrated and cohesive approach to achieving organizational goals.

Traditional designs often have rigid and bureaucratic structures, with strict rules and procedures that can hinder innovation and creativity. In contrast, modern designs prioritize flexibility, openness, and innovation. They encourage experimentation, continuous learning, and the adoption of new technologies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment.

Overall, the characteristics of traditional organizational designs include hierarchical structure, top-down decision-making, specialized roles, limited collaboration, and rigid rules. Modern organizational designs, on the other hand, are characterized by flatter hierarchies, distributed decision-making, teamwork, collaboration, flexibility, and a focus on innovation.