Describe
the boundaryless organization. What types of boundaries are there? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of this organizational design?
Answer
Another approach
to contemporary organizational design is the concept of a boundaryless
organization, an organization whose design is not defined by, or limited to,
the horizontal, vertical, or external boundaries imposed by a predefined
structure. Although the idea of eliminating boundaries may seem odd, many of
today’s most successful organizations are finding that they can operate most
effectively by remaining flexible and unstructured: that the ideal structure
for them is not having a rigid, bounded, and predefined structure. There are
two types: internal boundaries—the horizontal boundaries imposed by work
specialization and departmentalization and the vertical boundaries that
separate employees into organizational levels and hierarchies; and external
boundaries—the boundaries that separate the organization from its customers,
suppliers, and other stakeholders. To minimize or eliminate these boundaries,
managers might use virtual or network structural designs. The advantages of a
boundaryless organization are that it is highly flexible and responsive and
draws on talent wherever it is found. The disadvantages are that there is a
lack of control and it presents communication difficulties.
Source: Management,
11e (Robbins/Coulter)
