The informal organization consists of the social structures and relationships that govern how people work together and get work done outside of official job roles and hierarchies. It evolves organically based on changes in the work environment and the dynamics between members. When supported, the informal organization can enhance collaboration, innovation, and problem solving. It is distinct from the formal organization in that it is evolving, grassroots-driven, responsive to change, and based on trust and reciprocity rather than codified rules.

1. Informal organization<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />Jump to: navigation, search <br />The informal organization is the interlocking social structure that governs how people work together in practice. It is the aggregate of behaviors, interactions, norms, personal and professional connections through which work gets done and relationships are built among people who share a common organizational affiliation or cluster of affiliations. It consists of a dynamic set of personal relationships, social networks, communities of common interest, and emotional sources of motivation. The informal organization evolves organically and spontaneously in response to changes in the work environment, the flux of people through its porous boundaries, and the complex social dynamics of its members.<br />Tended effectively, the informal organization complements the more explicit structures, plans, and processes of the formal organization: it can accelerate and enhance responses to unanticipated events, foster innovation, enable people to solve problems that require collaboration across boundaries, and create footpaths showing where the formal organization may someday need to pave a way.<br />The nature of the informal organization becomes more distinct when its key characteristics are juxtaposed with those of the formal organization.<br />Key characteristics of the informal organization:<br />evolving constantly <br />grass roots <br />dynamic and responsive <br />excellent at motivation <br />requires insider knowledge to be seen <br />treats people as individuals <br />flat and fluid <br />cohered by trust and reciprocity <br />difficult to pin down <br />essential for situations that change quickly or are not yet fully understood <br />Key characteristics of the formal organization:<br />enduring, unless deliberately altered <br />top-down <br />missionary <br />static <br />excellent at alignment <br />plain to see <br />equates “person” with “role” <br />hierarchical <br />bound together by codified rules and order <br />easily understood and explained <br />critical for dealing with situations that are known and consistent <br />Nature of IO<br />Best Answer - Chosen by Voters<br />Informal organisations are formed mainly for non-commercial purposes, to legitimately avoid legal and tax tangles, and are preferably (not always) among known persons.These kind of organisations are for social and religious cause, community well being and alike kind of objectives. No formal or written charter is available for such organisations and work is conducted as per the Prudence of the convener or Chief.Morning health clubs in parks, kitty party groups, neighbourhood associations of individuals, religious groups for discourses and spiritual meetings could some of the examples of such informal organisations.<br />