ABSTRACT
This chapter contains organic versus mechanistic management styles; the principles on which it is based; underlying assumptions; guidance on application, and relevant issues; and related models. Managers and organizations can be classified into one of two broad categories. Organizations and their managements are mechanistic or organic, to varying degrees. There are two principal contrasting management styles which are functions of the manager, the people they manage, the work activities, systems and the organizational culture. The mechanistic management style is a bureaucratic approach to organization, based on clear structure, procedures, formal communications and controls. The model provides a framework for assessing organizational and management styles. The model may be applied at unit or function level. For example, a research and development unit would almost certainly benefit from an organic approach but with certain mechanistic features, such as rigorous cost control.
