Organising human resources

In this chapter, the many factors and variables that determine organisational structure are considered. The importance of these decisions for culture, HR management and interpersonal behaviours is stressed, along with specific implications for service in the hospitality industry. Different types of organisation structure are explored, examining the impact different formats have for such managerial characteristics as decision-making and lines of authority. Centralisation, decentralisation and spans of control are covered, along with the need to review structures as organisations grow and the external environment changes. The impact of technology on new hospitality organisational structures will be considered along with some insight into the design of future organisations.