What is a divisional structure? Discuss its advantages and limitations.

A divisional structure in an organisation comprises of separate business units and division. Each unit has a divisional manager who has the authority of the unit and is responsible for the performances of the unit.

The advantages of divisional structure are as follows:-

• Product Specialisation helps in the development of the skills as it gains experience from all forms regarding that product. This helps in achieving high aims with it.

• Divisional heads are accountable for profits, as revenues, cost related to different departments can be easily identified and assigned to them. This provides a proper basis for management. It also takes responsibility in poor performances and takes actions accordingly.

• It promotes flexibility and initiative as each division functions as an autonomous unit and it leads to further decision making.

• It provides expansion and growth as new divisions can be added without interrupting the existing ones by assigning new head and staff for the new division.

Limitations of divisional structure are as follows:-

• It may lead to a conflict because of formation of similar divisions due to different policies and different allocation of funds and each division will try to maximise its profit at the cost of the other.

• Creation of similar type of divisions leads to increase in the expenditure as there may be duplication of activities across products.

• It grants the manager the supreme authority to exercise his controls related to a particular division. In course of time such a manager may become selfish and see his own interests ignoring the organisations interest.