What type of organisational structure does The Silver Line charity have?

Question

What type of organisational structure does The Silver Line charity have?

Answer

There are a plethora of different organisational structures, including: functional, project-based, divisional, matrix or holistic. These structures expand beyond traditional perspectives, such as the flat-structure or traditional hierarchy (Felstead & Ashton, 2000). Within the modern business environment, several different organisational structures can be found to be beneficial, depending on the type of organisation and industry they operate within (Dugdale & Lyne, 2010). The Silver Line charity operates a confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK, that is accessible seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It offers a unique service that is driven through two main bodies: the board of trustees and employed staff. Although there is a clear distinction between these two bodies within the organisation, they operate holistically, with the board presenting a strategic direction which employees will implement (The Silver Line, 2016). This holistic approach is effective at ensuring all of the employees in the company understand the ambition and values of the firm, and will strive to achieve strategic success. However, there is still a power structure inherent with a board of trustees, yet this is minimised through their communication with lower-level employees to ensure strategic ambitions are precise and effective (Chew & Osborne, 2008). This helps drive the duty of care that The Silver Line charity provides, and can be seen as an attributable factor to the plethora of awards and accolades the company has already acquired (The Silver Line, 2016).

References

Chew, C. & Osborne, S. P., 2008. Strategic positioning in UK charities that provide public services: Implications of a new integrating model. Public Money and Management , 28(5), pp. 283-290. Dugdale, D. & Lyne, S., 2010. Budgeting Practice and Organisational Structure. New York: Elsevier. Felstead, A. & Ashton, D., 2000. Tracing the link: organisational structures and skill demands. Human Resource Management Journal , 10(3), pp. 5-21. The Silver Line, 2016. Annual Report & Financial Statements, London: The Silver Line.