Vývojové trendy organizačních struktur velkých podniků a jejich projevy v ČR

Abstract

The aim of the thesis entitled „Development trends in organizational structure of large corporations and their manifestations in the Czech Republic”, is to capture the global development trends in organizational structures, to verify whether these trends influence the organizational structure of large enterprises in the Czech Republic and to identify the factors affecting the organizational structure in companies in the Czech Republic. The organizational structure is seen as one of the success factors of a company (McKinsey 7S model, Leavitt´s diagram), and therefore it can be expected that the appropriate organizational structure will lead to a higher business performance. The theoretical part of this thesis is based on the description and analysis of both foreign and Czech literary and web sources. This part of the thesis provides definitions of terms and explanation of the relationship between organizational development, organizational design and organizational structure. According to the contingency school the organizational structure and methods of operation are a function of the circumstances in which companies exist. Therefore the factors whose influence upon the organizational structure is considered significant are also characterized in this part. As various foreign studies examining the relationship between organizational structure and organizational performance differ in their findings, one of the partial aims is focused on the hypothesis verification whether or not this relationship exists in enterprises in the Czech Republic. A simplified model abstracts from other factors influencing the company's performance in the real environment. The chapter also characterizes some modern (flexible) organizational structures, their application and functioning. The empirical part is based on the data obtained by a questionnaire survey. The data were processed with statistical program SPSS. The hypotheses were verified by using statistical methods. To analyze the factors influencing the organizational structure, factor analysis and ANOVA methods were used. The results of the empirical survey are summarized according to the partial aims and hypotheses. The empirical survey results suggest that the development of organizational structures is directed from the hierarchical structures through the matrix structures towards the networks of the decentralized business units. However, it must be said that the set trend towards flat and decentralized structures, with the predominant horizontal communication and supporting the employee independence and initiative is correct, but slow and it cannot be considered widespread either in Europe or in the world. This conclusion can also be applied to the sample of companies in the Czech Republic. Although the relationship between organizational structure and performance has been found, it appears to be very weak. The results of the empirical survey suggest that the technological environment, turbulent changes and the creation of partnerships and alliances are the strongest external factors influencing the organizational structure of a company. The strongest internal factors seem to be the changes in strategy, management style and technology used in a company.