Beyond structure: integration of organization theory and organizational design for strategic flexibility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26661/2522-1566/2025-3/33-07Keywords:
organization theory, organizational design, strategic flexibility, adaptability, digital transformation, ambidexterityAbstract
In today's turbulent and digital transformation environment, traditional approaches to organizational design that focus on formal structures are increasingly proving insufficient to ensure strategic flexibility of enterprises. At the same time, the provisions of Organization Theory offer a deeper explanation of behavioral and institutional mechanisms, but remain fragmentarily integrated into management practice. The article attempts to synthesize these two planes – scientific and applied – by developing a conceptual framework “beyond structure”, which goes beyond the traditional idea of the organizational chart as the main adaptation tool.
The authors focus on the key contradictions of modern organizational design: finding a balance between stability and adaptability, form and mechanisms, static “fit” and dynamic “fitness”. The vision of strategic flexibility is proposed as the ability of an organization to quickly reallocate resources, reduce the decision-making cycle, scale innovations and maintain manageability in the process of change. The article identifies micromechanisms that mediate this process: role design, coordination protocols, information flow architecture, decision-making rights distribution, and digital infrastructure.
The practical value of the study lies in the formation of a toolkit for managers that allows them to diagnose “rigidity nodes,” apply design principles to increase flexibility without radical restructuring, and integrate scientific insights from Organization Theory into specific management practices. The theoretical significance lies in the development of an interdisciplinary approach to organizational design that takes into account the dynamics of the environment, microfoundations of adaptation, and digital architecture as a basic element of modern organizational systems.
JEL Classification: L2, L21, L22, M1, M10
References
1. Baldwin C. Y., Clark K. B. Modularity in the Design of Complex Engineering Systems. Complex Engineered Systems. 2000. Pp. 175-205.
2. Bower J. L., Christensen C. M. Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave. Harvard Business Review. 1995. Issue 73(1). Pp. 43-53.
3. Burns T., Stalker G. M. The Management of Innovation. London: Tavistock, 1961. 269 p.
4. Burton R., Obel B., Håkonsson D. D. Organizational Design: A Step-by-Step Approach (4 ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.
5. Chandler A. D. Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the Industrial Enterprise. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1962. 463 p.
6. Davenport T. H. Process Innovation: Reengineering Work through Information Technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1993. 337 p.
7. Eisenhardt K. M., Martin J. A. Dynamic capabilities: What are they? Strategic Management Journal. 2000. Випуск. 21(10-11). Pp. 1105-1121.
8. Galbraith J. R. Designing Organizations: Strategy, Structure, and Process at the Business Unit and Enterprise Levels. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2014. 352 p.
9. Gulati R., Puranam P., Tushman M. L. Meta-organization design: Rethinking design in interorganizational and community contexts. Strategic Management Journal. 2012. Випуск 33(6). Pp. 571-586.
10. Lawrence P. R., Lorsch J. W. Organization and Environment: Managing Differentiation and Integration. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1967. 279 p.
11. Mintzberg H. Structure in Fives: Designing Effective Organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983. 312 p.
12. Morgan G. Images of Organization. London: Sage Publications, 1986. 424 p.
13. Nadler D. A., Tushman M. L. Competing by Design: The Power of Organizational Architecture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. 384 p.
14. Okhuysen G. A., Bechky B. A. Coordination in organizations: An integrative perspective. The Academy of Management Annals. 2009. Issue 3(1). Pp. 463-502.
15. Teece D. J. Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management: Organizing for Innovation and Growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 278 p.
16. Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. Ambidextrous Organizations: Managing Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change. California Management Review. 1996. Issue 38(4). Pp. 8-30.
17. Yoo Y., Henfridsson O., Lyytinen K. The New Organizing Logics of Digital Innovation: An Agenda for Information Systems Research. Information Systems Research. 2010. Issue 21(4). Pp. 724-735.
18. Долгова Л. І. Застосування адаптивних організаційних структур в сучасному підприємництві. Ефективна економіка. 2021. № 3. URL: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8747 (дата звернення: 10.06.2025). DOI: 10.32702/2307-2105-2021.3.77.
19. Дудкіна О., Чикало І. Сучасні технології організаційного проектування діяльності органу місцевого самоврядування. Регіональні аспекти розвитку продуктивних сил України. 2021. Випуск 26. С. 55-61. DOI: 10.35774/rarrpsu2021.26.055.
20. Завадський Й. С. Менеджмент: підручник для вузів. Київ : УФІМБ, 1997. 544 с.
21. Колот А. М. Соціальна відповідальність: теорія і практика розвитку : монографія. Київ : КНЕУ, 2012. 501 с.
22. Кощій О. Оптимізація організаційних структур вітчизняних підприємств. Economic Forum. 2021. Випуск 11(4). С. 70-78. URL: https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-2021-4-10 (дата звернення: 08.06.2025).
23. Монастирський Г.Л. Теорія організації: підручник. 2-е видання, доповнене й перероблене. Тернопіль: “Крок”, 2019. 368 с.
24. Осовська Г. В., Осовський О. А. Основи менеджменту: підручник. Видання 3-є, перероблене і доповнене. Київ : «Кондор», 2006. 664 с.
25. Приварникова І., Голей Ю. Сучасні аспекти корпоративного менеджменту транснаціональних компаній, які працюють в Україні. Економічний простір. 2024. Випуск 190. С. 416-424. https://doi.org/10.32782/2224-6282/190-73.
REFERENCES (TRANSLATED AND TRANSLITERATED)
Baldwin, C. Y., & Clark, K. B. (2000). Modularity in the design of complex engineering systems. In Complex engineered systems (pp. 175-205). Springer.
Bower, J. L., & Christensen, C. M. (1995). Disruptive technologies: Catching the wave. Harvard Business Review, 73(1), 43-53.
Burns T., Stalker G. M. The Management of Innovation. London: Tavistock, 1961. 269 p.
Burton, R., Obel, B., & Håkonsson, D. D. (2020). Organizational Design: A Step-by-Step Approach (4 ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chandler, A. D. (1962). Strategy and structure: Chapters in the history of the industrial enterprise. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Davenport, T. H. (1993). Process innovation: Reengineering work through information technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Eisenhardt, K. M., & Martin, J. A. (2000). Dynamic capabilities: What are they? Strategic Management Journal, 21 (10-11), 1105-1121.
Galbraith, J. R. (2014). Designing organizations: Strategy, structure, and process at the business unit and enterprise levels (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Gulati, R., Puranam, P., & Tushman, M. L. (2012). Meta-organization design: Rethinking design in interorganizational and community contexts. Strategic Management Journal, 33(6), 571-586.
Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Organization and environment: Managing differentiation and integration. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Mintzberg, H. (1983). Structure in fives: Designing effective organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Morgan, G. (1986). Images of organization. London: Sage Publications.
Nadler, D. A., & Tushman, M. L. (1997). Competing by design: The power of organizational architecture. New York: Oxford University Press.
Okhuysen, G. A., & Bechky, B. A. (2009). Coordination in organizations: An integrative perspective. The Academy of Management Annals, 3(1), 463-502.
Teece, D. J. (2009). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management: Organizing for innovation and growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous organizations: Managing evolutionary and revolutionary change. California Management Review, 38(4), 8-30.
Yoo, Y., Henfridsson, O., & Lyytinen, K. (2010). The new organizing logics of digital innovation: An agenda for information systems research. Information Systems Research, 21(4), 724-735.
Dolgova, L. I. (2021). Zastosuvannia adaptivnykh orhanizatsiinykh struktur v suchasnomu pidpryiemnytstvi [Application of adaptive organizational structures in modern entrepreneurship]. Efektyvna ekonomika, (3). http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8747. https://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2105-2021.3.77 [in Ukrainian].
Dudkina, O., & Chykalo, I. (2021). Suchasni tekhnolohii orhanizatsiinoho proektuvannia diialnosti orhanu mistsevoho samovriaduvannia [Modern technologies of organizational design of local government activities]. Rehionalni aspekty rozvytku produktyvnykh syl Ukrainy, 26, 55-61. https://doi.org/10.35774/rarrpsu2021.26.055 [in Ukrainian].
Zavadskyi, Y. S. (1997). Menedzhment: pidruchnyk dlia vuziv [Management: textbook for universities]. Kyiv: UFIMB. [in Ukrainian].
Kolot, A. M. (2012). Sotsialna vidpovidalnist: teoriia i praktyka rozvytku [Social responsibility: theory and practice of development]. Kyiv: KNEU. [in Ukrainian].
Koshchii, O. (2021). Optymizatsiia orhanizatsiinykh struktur vitchyznianykh pidpryiemstv [Optimization of organizational structures of domestic enterprises]. Economic Forum, 11(4), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-2021-4-10 [in Ukrainian].
Monastyrskyi, H. L. (2019). Teoriia orhanizatsii: pidruchnyk [Theory of organization: textbook] (2nd ed., revised and updated). Ternopil: Krok. [in Ukrainian].
Osovska, H. V., & Osovskyi, O. A. (2006). Osnovy menedzhmentu: pidruchnyk [Fundamentals of management: textbook] (3rd ed., revised and updated). Kyiv: Kondor. [in Ukrainian].
Privarnykova, I., & Holei, Yu. (2024). Suchasni aspekty korporatyvnoho menedzhmentu transnatsionalnykh kompaniy, yaki pratsiuut v Ukraini [Modern aspects of corporate management of transnational companies operating in Ukraine]. Ekonomichnyi prostir, 190, 416-424. https://doi.org/10.32782/2224-6282/190-73 [in Ukrainian].
2. Bower J. L., Christensen C. M. Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave. Harvard Business Review. 1995. Issue 73(1). Pp. 43-53.
3. Burns T., Stalker G. M. The Management of Innovation. London: Tavistock, 1961. 269 p.
4. Burton R., Obel B., Håkonsson D. D. Organizational Design: A Step-by-Step Approach (4 ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.
5. Chandler A. D. Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the Industrial Enterprise. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1962. 463 p.
6. Davenport T. H. Process Innovation: Reengineering Work through Information Technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1993. 337 p.
7. Eisenhardt K. M., Martin J. A. Dynamic capabilities: What are they? Strategic Management Journal. 2000. Випуск. 21(10-11). Pp. 1105-1121.
8. Galbraith J. R. Designing Organizations: Strategy, Structure, and Process at the Business Unit and Enterprise Levels. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2014. 352 p.
9. Gulati R., Puranam P., Tushman M. L. Meta-organization design: Rethinking design in interorganizational and community contexts. Strategic Management Journal. 2012. Випуск 33(6). Pp. 571-586.
10. Lawrence P. R., Lorsch J. W. Organization and Environment: Managing Differentiation and Integration. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1967. 279 p.
11. Mintzberg H. Structure in Fives: Designing Effective Organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983. 312 p.
12. Morgan G. Images of Organization. London: Sage Publications, 1986. 424 p.
13. Nadler D. A., Tushman M. L. Competing by Design: The Power of Organizational Architecture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. 384 p.
14. Okhuysen G. A., Bechky B. A. Coordination in organizations: An integrative perspective. The Academy of Management Annals. 2009. Issue 3(1). Pp. 463-502.
15. Teece D. J. Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management: Organizing for Innovation and Growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 278 p.
16. Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. Ambidextrous Organizations: Managing Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change. California Management Review. 1996. Issue 38(4). Pp. 8-30.
17. Yoo Y., Henfridsson O., Lyytinen K. The New Organizing Logics of Digital Innovation: An Agenda for Information Systems Research. Information Systems Research. 2010. Issue 21(4). Pp. 724-735.
18. Долгова Л. І. Застосування адаптивних організаційних структур в сучасному підприємництві. Ефективна економіка. 2021. № 3. URL: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8747 (дата звернення: 10.06.2025). DOI: 10.32702/2307-2105-2021.3.77.
19. Дудкіна О., Чикало І. Сучасні технології організаційного проектування діяльності органу місцевого самоврядування. Регіональні аспекти розвитку продуктивних сил України. 2021. Випуск 26. С. 55-61. DOI: 10.35774/rarrpsu2021.26.055.
20. Завадський Й. С. Менеджмент: підручник для вузів. Київ : УФІМБ, 1997. 544 с.
21. Колот А. М. Соціальна відповідальність: теорія і практика розвитку : монографія. Київ : КНЕУ, 2012. 501 с.
22. Кощій О. Оптимізація організаційних структур вітчизняних підприємств. Economic Forum. 2021. Випуск 11(4). С. 70-78. URL: https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-2021-4-10 (дата звернення: 08.06.2025).
23. Монастирський Г.Л. Теорія організації: підручник. 2-е видання, доповнене й перероблене. Тернопіль: “Крок”, 2019. 368 с.
24. Осовська Г. В., Осовський О. А. Основи менеджменту: підручник. Видання 3-є, перероблене і доповнене. Київ : «Кондор», 2006. 664 с.
25. Приварникова І., Голей Ю. Сучасні аспекти корпоративного менеджменту транснаціональних компаній, які працюють в Україні. Економічний простір. 2024. Випуск 190. С. 416-424. https://doi.org/10.32782/2224-6282/190-73.
REFERENCES (TRANSLATED AND TRANSLITERATED)
Baldwin, C. Y., & Clark, K. B. (2000). Modularity in the design of complex engineering systems. In Complex engineered systems (pp. 175-205). Springer.
Bower, J. L., & Christensen, C. M. (1995). Disruptive technologies: Catching the wave. Harvard Business Review, 73(1), 43-53.
Burns T., Stalker G. M. The Management of Innovation. London: Tavistock, 1961. 269 p.
Burton, R., Obel, B., & Håkonsson, D. D. (2020). Organizational Design: A Step-by-Step Approach (4 ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chandler, A. D. (1962). Strategy and structure: Chapters in the history of the industrial enterprise. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Davenport, T. H. (1993). Process innovation: Reengineering work through information technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Eisenhardt, K. M., & Martin, J. A. (2000). Dynamic capabilities: What are they? Strategic Management Journal, 21 (10-11), 1105-1121.
Galbraith, J. R. (2014). Designing organizations: Strategy, structure, and process at the business unit and enterprise levels (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Gulati, R., Puranam, P., & Tushman, M. L. (2012). Meta-organization design: Rethinking design in interorganizational and community contexts. Strategic Management Journal, 33(6), 571-586.
Lawrence, P. R., & Lorsch, J. W. (1967). Organization and environment: Managing differentiation and integration. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Mintzberg, H. (1983). Structure in fives: Designing effective organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Morgan, G. (1986). Images of organization. London: Sage Publications.
Nadler, D. A., & Tushman, M. L. (1997). Competing by design: The power of organizational architecture. New York: Oxford University Press.
Okhuysen, G. A., & Bechky, B. A. (2009). Coordination in organizations: An integrative perspective. The Academy of Management Annals, 3(1), 463-502.
Teece, D. J. (2009). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management: Organizing for innovation and growth. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous organizations: Managing evolutionary and revolutionary change. California Management Review, 38(4), 8-30.
Yoo, Y., Henfridsson, O., & Lyytinen, K. (2010). The new organizing logics of digital innovation: An agenda for information systems research. Information Systems Research, 21(4), 724-735.
Dolgova, L. I. (2021). Zastosuvannia adaptivnykh orhanizatsiinykh struktur v suchasnomu pidpryiemnytstvi [Application of adaptive organizational structures in modern entrepreneurship]. Efektyvna ekonomika, (3). http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8747. https://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2105-2021.3.77 [in Ukrainian].
Dudkina, O., & Chykalo, I. (2021). Suchasni tekhnolohii orhanizatsiinoho proektuvannia diialnosti orhanu mistsevoho samovriaduvannia [Modern technologies of organizational design of local government activities]. Rehionalni aspekty rozvytku produktyvnykh syl Ukrainy, 26, 55-61. https://doi.org/10.35774/rarrpsu2021.26.055 [in Ukrainian].
Zavadskyi, Y. S. (1997). Menedzhment: pidruchnyk dlia vuziv [Management: textbook for universities]. Kyiv: UFIMB. [in Ukrainian].
Kolot, A. M. (2012). Sotsialna vidpovidalnist: teoriia i praktyka rozvytku [Social responsibility: theory and practice of development]. Kyiv: KNEU. [in Ukrainian].
Koshchii, O. (2021). Optymizatsiia orhanizatsiinykh struktur vitchyznianykh pidpryiemstv [Optimization of organizational structures of domestic enterprises]. Economic Forum, 11(4), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2308-8559-2021-4-10 [in Ukrainian].
Monastyrskyi, H. L. (2019). Teoriia orhanizatsii: pidruchnyk [Theory of organization: textbook] (2nd ed., revised and updated). Ternopil: Krok. [in Ukrainian].
Osovska, H. V., & Osovskyi, O. A. (2006). Osnovy menedzhmentu: pidruchnyk [Fundamentals of management: textbook] (3rd ed., revised and updated). Kyiv: Kondor. [in Ukrainian].
Privarnykova, I., & Holei, Yu. (2024). Suchasni aspekty korporatyvnoho menedzhmentu transnatsionalnykh kompaniy, yaki pratsiuut v Ukraini [Modern aspects of corporate management of transnational companies operating in Ukraine]. Ekonomichnyi prostir, 190, 416-424. https://doi.org/10.32782/2224-6282/190-73 [in Ukrainian].
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Published
2025-10-20
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Section
Management
How to Cite
Onyshchenko, O. (2025) “Beyond structure: integration of organization theory and organizational design for strategic flexibility”, Management and Entrepreneurship: Trends of Development, 3(33), pp. 84–99. doi:10.26661/2522-1566/2025-3/33-07.
