Remind yourself of key features in the text of this chapter relating to:

* Technical, managerial and community levels

* Task and element functions

* Centralisation and decentralisation;

* Project teams and matrix structures

* Mechanistic and organic structures of organisation. Now observe your own university and any other organisation with which you are familiar.

1. Prepare a detailed report with specific examples on the manner in which these features are manifested in your university (and/or some other organisation well known to you).

2. Comment on how these features impact upon the apparent effectiveness of structure and influence various activities of the university, styles of management, the people employed, and you as students.

3. Give examples of tensions and conflicts which arise from the implementation of these features, for example between task and element functions or from a mix of mechanistic and organic structures.

4. Explain fully what changes you would recommend to organisation structure and actions to help overcome these tensions and conflicts.

Discussion

* To what extent does organisational structure influence the actions, behaviour and effectiveness of:

(i) Lecturing staff

(ii) Non-teaching staff

(iii) Students?

* Who should realistically be involved in decision-making relating to structure?

* Explain what specific changes you expect to see in the organisation structure of universities in the next five to ten years.