Optimizing the organization's structure

Manager, employee, or consultant-we all have to contend with and understand the structure of a business organization to get our jobs done. Ideally, such structure reinforces behavior that support business objectives. In reality, we all know of instances in which structure either failed to produce the desired employee performance or in fact deterred performance. The article is not a guide to the right structure. Rather, the author presents a basis for thinking about how to structure an organization to get desired employee behavior-and, more importantly, to get the business results the company wants.