1. What Is an Organization?
An Organization Defined
A deliberate arrangement of people who act together to accomplish some specific purpose
Common Characteristics of Organizations
Distinct purpose
Composed of people
Deliberate structure
Learning Objective #3
Chapter 1, Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter, and Nancy Langton, Management, Ninth Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education Canada

2. Exhibit 1.6 Characteristics of Organizations
Chapter 1, Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter, and Nancy Langton, Management, Ninth Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education Canada

3. Exhibit 1.7 The Changing Organization
New Organization
Dynamic
Flexible
Skills-focused
Work is defined in terms of tasks to be done
Team-oriented
Temporary jobs
Involvement-oriented
Employees participate in decision making
Customer-oriented
Diverse workforce
Workdays have no time boundaries
Lateral and networked relationships
Work anywhere, anytime
Traditional
Stable
Inflexible
Job-focused
Work is defined by job positions
Individual-oriented
Permanent jobs
Command-oriented
Managers always make decisions
Rule-oriented
Relatively homogeneous workforce
Workdays defined as 9 to 5
Hierarchical relationships
Work at organizational facility during specific hours
Chapter 1, Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter, and Nancy Langton, Management, Ninth Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education Canada

4. The Types of Organizations
Managers and employees work in a variety of sizes of organizations
Large organizations represent only 2% of the organizations in Canada
Small business represent 98% of all Canadian companies
Managers and employees work in a variety of organizations, and the type of organization has an impact on what managers can do
Publicly held organizations
Privately held organizations
Public sector organizations
Crown Corporations
Subsidiaries of foreign organizations (e.g., Sears, Safeway, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company)
Chapter 1, Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter, and Nancy Langton, Management, Ninth Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education Canada