ABSTRACT
The term ‘organisational structure’ refers to the official allocation of tasks and responsibilities to individuals and groups within that organisation. ‘Centralisation’ is the process of concentrating most or all of the organisation’s formal authority in one place or in a very limited number of places. ‘Specialisation’ refers to how work is divided up among different individuals or units who can then concentrate on their particular area. ‘Professionalisation’ is specialisation of a very particular kind. Hallmarks of professions are monopoly and autonomy. Health professionals see themselves as accountable in at least four ways: to their peers, to managers where they work, to patients and to their professional body. Health professionals will consider themselves answerable to their professional body as much as to their employing organisation. Professions ought to encourage the free exchange of ideas and constructive criticism among peers. Max Weber famously drew up a list of features of an ideal or pure form of bureau-cracy.
