As we go through each frame, we will be looking at the four frames from the perspective of Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal in their book Reframing Organizations. Bolman and Deal explain the structural frame by saying, "The central beliefs of the structural frame reflect confidence in rationality and faith that an appropriate array of roles and responsibilities will minimize distracting personal static and maximize people's focus on the job." (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 51) The structural frame is the foundation of the organization. It is how the organization is run, the procedures set in place, and the culture of the workplace are all defined within this frame. Bolman further their focus on the structural frame by saying, "The structural perspective advocates pointing people in the right direction, defining jobs, and stipulating how they work together." (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 51) In the worksheet below, I analyze the challenging conflict situation I explained previously from the perspective of the structural frame of organization. In this analysis you will find a recap of the situation, how the structure of the organization influenced the situation, how I would use an alternative structure in this scenario, and finally, what I would have or would not have changed about the situation.
Structural Frame Personal Analysis - Worksheet
Reflection
The structural frame is important to an organization because it is the foundation of the organization. It is how the organization is ran, the morals and values that play an important role in the decision-making process, and what direction the organization is going. This personal analysis allowed me to dive deeper into why this organization chose to do their operations the way they did. What I have learned about the structure of an organization through this analysis is that having strong values, standards, and procedures that are carried out by every individual. I believe this is when you know the structural foundation is working for the organization.
Reference: Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass