Mechanistic Structure:

• Authority is delegated through a hierarchical management structure. Power over decision-making is obtained from a person’s position in the management hierarchy.
• A bureaucracy is typical of a mechanistic structure.
• Communication is vertical, up and down the chain of command.
• Jobs are specialized, and individuals focus on their specialist areas.
• Job descriptions are precise, and tasks are governed by instructions from superior managers.

Organic Structure:

• There is a network structure of control where individuals influence decisions based on their knowledge and skills, regardless of their position in the organization.
• Control is cultural, not bureaucratic.
• Communication is more horizontal, and specialist knowledge is shared to contribute to the entity’s common task.
• Job descriptions are less precise, and there is a focus on contributing to the common task, not just specific job roles.

Suitability for LCH:

• Burns and Stalker found that an organic structure is better suited to an entity that needs to be responsive to changes in its products and markets, and in its environment.
• A mechanistic structure is more suited to an entity in a stable environment where change is gradual.
• Hospitals like LCH typically operate within a mechanistic structure due to their hierarchical and divisional setup. The structured nature of task performance and role distribution makes LCH a mechanistic organization.
  (8 marks for discussion and explanation; 2 marks for conclusion)