Organization Design Simplifying complex systems

A well-designed organization is an effective organization. Decisions about organization design determine the shape and form of the organization – not only the reporting structure and authority relations, but also the number and size of sub-units and the interfaces between the sub-units. Indirectly, such decisions affect individual productivity as well as the organization’s ability to attain strategic goals. Organization Design equips the reader with advanced tools and frameworks, based on both research and practical experience, for understanding and re-designing organisations. Particular emphasis is placed on how one can improve effectiveness by simplifying complex roles, processes, and structures. This updated second edition includes a new chapter about traditional organizational forms, and is complemented by a companion website. Students will find thorough conceptual explanations combined with case studies from different industries. This textbook will be essential reading for students, scholars, and practitioners.

1. Why design matters 2. Organisational complexity 3. Traditional organizational forms 4. Designing multidimensional organisations 5. Designing sub-units 6. Defining the vertical structure 7. Configuring interfaces 8. Managing the organisation design process 9. Resolving organization design dilemmas 10. Appendix: Glossary

Nicolay Worren is an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Before entering academia in 2015, he was a management consultant and participated in more than 25 organization re-design projects.