The Structural Frame
The structural frame of an organization communicates how activities are directed and delegated to achieve goals that are aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the organization. There are many different structures such as horizontal, vertical, matrix, hierarchical, functional, divisional, network and team based. Your organization likely uses one of those or a combination of two or more depending on who you work for. As you can imagine, there are many moving parts within an organization such as roles and responsibilities, job titles and teams. Structure is what determines how those are assigned. When you think of who you report to, the chain of command, and how you navigate the flow of communication in your workplace, you are actually thinking about your organizations structure.
The Structural Frame Case Analysis
Reflection
The reason why the structural frame is so important for every organization is because it organizes everyday business operations. Without structure, there would be a very free-flowing communication style and that is not necessarily effective in an organization. If we wish to communicate effectively, we must ensure that our communications are passed through the appropriate channels to reach the correct party. Structure is how you do that. This frame is important from an organizational leadership perspective because structure determines the flow of communication, and without it there is sure to be lost information, role ambiguity, and confusion amongst employees. Structure is especially crucial in teams and group environments. The two types of structure that I think most people would be familiar with are hierarchical and divisional. Starbucks is setup with a matrix organizational structure which utilizes a mix of top-down and horizontal communication. It is a mix of these two because there are many different product-divisions and functional groups within this structure that overlap. I believe that this structure has been effective for Starbucks' operations, but I can also see how it has contributed to bottom-level employees feeling ignored.