Differentiate between mechanistic structure and organic structure in organizations.

Answers will vary. The amount of uncertainty in the environment influences the structural dimensions. Burns and Stalker labeled two structural extremes that are appropriate for the extremes of environmental uncertainty: mechanistic structure and organic structure. Mechanistic structure is an organizational design that emphasizes structured activities, specialized tasks, and centralized decision making. Organic structure is an organizational design that emphasizes teamwork, open communication, and decentralized decision making. The mechanistic and organic structures occupy opposite ends of a continuum of organizational design possibilities. Please see the section "Contextual Variables" for more information.