Understanding the structure of an organization plays a vital role in establishing the blueprint for how a business will be managed and organized. It provides a well-defined framework that describes the roles and responsibilities of each employee in a particular company. It shows how each employee interacts and works with each other to achieve a company's goals. In other words, organizational structure is a reflection of the employment relationships that govern the workflow of the company. This has a profound effect on the structural dimensions of a business, which include formalization, specialization, hierarchy and centralization. This essay will describe the structure of my current work organization, characterize the structural dimensions, and explain in detail how effective this design is for my organization in today's world. Current Structure I currently work at a university in the Washington DC metropolitan area. With 37,000 students, 25,000 jobs, and 13 different colleges and schools, the hybrid organizational structure is most conducive to this university's setting. The current structure encompasses functional and divisional structural designs. According to Harris and Raviv (2002), in a functional organizational design, also known as a U-shape (unitary), activities are grouped by common function from the bottom to the top of the organization. In other words, individuals are grouped together based on their shared expertise and experience. For example, I work in the university's Research Compliance Office, as a research compliance analyst for the Institutional Review Board. This office is responsible for reviewing and approving research studies that will be implemented at the university. Employees who work in the office...... middle of paper ...... is the most conscious and necessary choice because the organization will face different phases of growth and performance levels and it will have to s “adapt to unforeseen, unexpected and disruptive changes” (Zatarain 2012). Conclusion At university, a hybrid organization is the most effective. It encompasses both functional and divisional organizational designs. This allows each division and department autonomy in the dimensions of formalization, specialization, hierarchy and centralization of the university. It enables employees, at all levels, to make an essential contribution to the functioning of the university. This creates an environment of inclusion rather than exclusivity. This helps lay the foundation for teamwork and collective decision-making. Employees feel empowered knowing they are contributing to the university's mission and vision..