This document discusses flat organizational structures. It defines a flat structure as having few or no levels of intervening management between staff and managers. Flat structures promote employee involvement in decision making and eliminate layers of middle management. They allow for better communication and faster response times. However, flat structures are limited to smaller organizations and may hinder growth. Examples of organizations that could effectively use flat structures include independent restaurants and coffee shop chains aiming for direct employee involvement.

1. FLAT
ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE

2. FLAT ORGANISATION
 Also known as horizontal organization
 Few or no levels of intervening management
between staff and managers
 Well-trained workers are more productive when
directly involved in the decision making process
 Not closely supervised by many layers of
management.
 Possible only in smaller organizations or
individual units within larger organizations

3. FLAT ORGANISATION
 Promotes employee involvement through a
decentralized decision-making process
 Elevates the level of responsibility of
baseline employees and eliminating layers of
middle management
 Comments and feedback reach all personnel
involved in decisions more quickly
 Response to customer feedback becomes
more rapid
 Depends upon a much more personal
relationship between workers and managers

4. DIAGRAM: FLAT STRUCTURE

5. ADVANTAGES OF FLAT
ORGANISATIONS
 More/Greater communication between
management and workers.
 Better team sprit.
 Less bureaucracy and easier decision
making.
 Fewer levels of management which
includes benefits such as lower costs as
managers are generally paid more than
worker.

6. DISADVANTAGES OF FLAT
ORGANISATIONS
 May limit/hinder the growth of the
organisation.
 Structure limited to small organisations
such as partnerships, co-operatives and
some private limited companies.
 Function of each department/person could
be blurred and merge into the job roles of
others.

7. BARISTA STORES
 Structure
– Functional in structure and relatively flat
– Corporate organization is tall with four levels
of management above store management
Store Manager
Assistant Manager
Shift Supervisors
Baristas Baristas Baristas

8. RESTAURANT ORGANISATION
CHART
OWNER/GM
EXEC CHEF DR MANAGER
SOUS CHEF PASTRY CHEF ASST D R MANAGER BAR
HOST(ESS)
FLAT ORGANISATION STRUCTURE APPROPRIATE FOR :
• LARGE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT
• SMALL INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT
• A CHAIN ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN LEVEL SALES IN ALL
RESTAURANTS
• A RESTAURANT ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM BAD SALES
PERFORMANCE