How to Design the Right Organisation Structure [How-To Guide #020]

Applying Mintzberg’s Five Configurations to Organisation Design

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What Is Mintzberg’s Theory and Why It Matters

Origin: Henry Mintzberg introduced his theory of organisational structure in The Structuring of Organisations (1979) and expanded it in Structure in Fives (1983). He proposed that there are five ideal types of organisational structure, each suited to different environments and strategies.

Core Idea: The effectiveness of an organisation depends on aligning its structure with its context, coordination mechanisms, and strategic goals.

Why It Matters: Most restructuring efforts fail because they’re based on vague ideas like “flattening” or “agility” without a coherent model. Mintzberg’s framework forces clear thinking about coordination, authority, and design.

Use Case: A multi-country real estate services firm moved from a divisional structure to a professional bureaucracy to scale efficiently while maintaining high service quality. Coordination shifted from top-down command to standardisation of skills and processes.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Mintzberg’s Configurations

Step 1: Understand the Five Organisational Types

Use this as your diagnostic starting point: