Flatter organisations:
Most progressive organisations have opted in favour of trimming the ‘flab’ at the top level, reducing the traditional pyramidical structures to barely three or four levels. As the remaining managers are left with more people reporting to them, they can supervise them less, so the jobs of subordinates end up bigger in terms of both breadth and depth of responsibilities.
Work teams:
Yesterday’s jobs were dominated by the rigidity associated with them. Workers performed the same tasks daily. Now the situation is different. Work itself is increasingly organised around teams and processes rather than around specialised functions. Cross-functional, self-directed teams handle different jobs at different points of time. Individuals will work with other workers for a specified period of time and then take up another project. The project can be in the organisation as well as outside it. Workers will perform their duties as members of project teams, not necessarily as members of a particular department within the organisation.
