Meaning & use
organizational model
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablebusiness
A framework that describes how an organization is structured, who reports to whom and how work and decisions are shared.
Grammar: Countable: a flat organizational model, several organizational models.
Patterns
- adopt an organizational model
- an organizational model for something
The startup chose a flat organizational model with few managers.
A traditional organizational model has many levels of management.
The charity changed its organizational model after merging with another group.
Word forms
| plural | organizational models |
|---|
Common combinations
- adopt an organizational model
- The firm adopted a new organizational model last year.
- hierarchical organizational model
- A hierarchical organizational model has clear levels.
- flat organizational model
- A flat organizational model gives teams more freedom.
- change the organizational model
- They changed the organizational model to speed up decisions.
- organizational model for a team
- We need a clearer organizational model for the design team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- organizational structure
- Organizational structure describes the actual arrangement of roles, while organizational model often means the broader design or type being followed.
- management model
- Management model focuses on how leaders manage, while organizational model includes the layout of the whole organization.
- framework
- Framework is much more general and can apply to any plan, whereas organizational model refers to groups of people.
Word family
- organize verb
- to arrange in an orderly way
- organization noun
- a group with a common purpose
- organizational adjective
- relating to an organization
- model noun
- a pattern or framework to follow
Commonly confused: organizational model or organizational culture?
organizational model vs organizational culture
Organizational culture is the shared habits and values of a group, while the organizational model is the formal structure.
Practice
A company with no layers of middle management, where teams make their own decisions, is using a flat ___.
Choose one answer.
Organizational model describes how a company is structured. Product model is a different kind of model, and fashion model refers to a person who displays clothes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “organizational model”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.