Experiencing the Impact of Organizational Structure on Planning and Visioning Tasks

Abstract

The various ways natural resource agencies and programs are structured and how that impacts leadership style and products is an important concept for students to understand. Leadership style and organizational structure determine visions, missions, goals and objectives that set the tone for organizations. This exercise demonstrates organizational structure and the impact of leadership style by having students work collaboratively to write a mission statement, goals and objectives within the confines of assigned structures. The class was divided into organizations with different structures by using role cards. The groups had contrasting experiences resulting in dissimilar products. The partnership group for example, was very collaborative and had a comprehensive, well-planned product as a result of shared input. The students deemed the activity as an engaging, helpful and fun way to experience and learn about the implications of organizational structure; while writing the mission, goals and objectives helped students learn the concepts.

KEYWORDS:

• Experiential learning
• management
• organizational structure
• planning
• visioning