Strategic HRM and Organizational Structure

This assignment delves into the crucial connection between strategic human resource management (HRM) and organizational structure. Students are tasked with analyzing various HR policies, practices, and their impact on organizational effectiveness. It encourages critical thinking about how different structural models influence HRM strategies and vice versa. Key concepts like boundaryless organizations, knowledge management, and the aspirational framework for strategic HRM are likely to be discussed.

STRATEGIC HUMAN
RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.................................................................................................................................................3
1.1....................................................................................................................................................3
1.2....................................................................................................................................................4
1.3....................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 2 ................................................................................................................................................5
2.1....................................................................................................................................................5
2.2 ...................................................................................................................................................6
2.3 ...................................................................................................................................................7
2.4 ...................................................................................................................................................7
TASK 3 ................................................................................................................................................8
3.1....................................................................................................................................................8
3.2....................................................................................................................................................9
TASK 4.................................................................................................................................................9
4.1....................................................................................................................................................9
4.2..................................................................................................................................................10
4.3..................................................................................................................................................10
4.4..................................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Strategic human resource management is defined as the procedure of formulating,
implementing and evaluating the strategies by an organization. It includes planning for recruitment,
selection, training and compensation activities based on the objectives and policies of the
corporation. The present report is based on Uni-part Logistics in Tamworth Warehouse of
Sainsbury’s Distribution centre, Staffordshire. The report describes about the importance of
strategic management and approaches that are used for running the enterprise . In addition to this
report is going to cover the impact of organization structure and culture on the performance of the
firm.
TASK 1
1.1
Tamworth Warehouse is a leading distribution centre of Sainsbury. Strategic human
resource management has assisted in achieving the goals of the firm in a planned and organised
way. It provides techniques and tools to management for formulating new strategies in order to meet
the challenges existing in the internal and external environment. Proper planning can be done by the
corporation after identifying opportunities and threats available in the business environment and
taking the decisions on the basis of that. It assists the enterprise in conducting various activities
within the firm (Storey, 2014). The major role played by strategic human resource management is in
the following activities of the business-
Strategic human resource management is defined as procedure adopted by an organization for
hiring, developing, rewarding and retaining staff members of the firm. It aid for accomplishing
required goals and objectives of the firm in successful manner. Major benefits that are achieved
through SHRM are as described :-
 It assist the firm for creating a effective communication channel in the Tamworth
Warehouse for running its operational activities in better way by developing mutual
understanding among co-workers.
 A productive method is provided by strategic human resource planning for taking
major decisions of the company by allocating resources of the firm in organized and
cost effective mode.
 It renders a co-operative and healthy work environment for staff members so that
they can work in enthusiastic way by maintaining discipline at the workplace.
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 Identification of opportunities available in the external and internal business
environment can be done and it helps in improving control of activities by meeting
the challenges available in the firm.
Recruitment and selection is another significant benefit of strategic human resources
management (Jackson, Schuler and Jiang, 2014.). It aids in ensuring that there are proper
procedures in recruitment and selection processes especiallyin the fields of job specification, job
description and training and induction.
Workplace legislations and employee relations are maintained in the Tamworth Warehouse
in a positive and effective way by doing strategic planning. It assures that equal opportunities in the
workplace should be provided to workers for example equal pay should be given to employees at
the same level of work and discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, culture, religion and
disability should not be done with employees (Marler and Fisher, 2013).
1.2
Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is used in the Tamworth Warehouse for
doing planning for its functional activities. The major role for performing this activity is to improve
the overall working of the organization by ensuring that strategic planning is integrated with human
resource management. Various activities are conducted in the company and SHRM helps in
achieving the tasks required to be done in the activities in the following way-
SHRM is important for the company as it aid for accomplishing following objectives :-
 It has assisted the Tamworth Warehouse to achieve competitive advantage by using
quantitative and qualitative tools and techniques. Sainsbury's is a leading retail firm and it
requires a well maintained ware house to support its functional activities. Logistics and
supply chain management is required for maintaining the operational activities in an
organized way (Buller and McEvoy, 2012).
 Tamworth Warehouse has major work for receiving the goods for Sainsbury's distribution
centre. Sorting of goods is done and after that storing of inventory in the store is done in an
organized manner to protect the quality of the material.
 Record keeping of all the inventory present in the warehouse is done for ensuring proper
maintenance of the warehouse. A proper strategic planning assist in accomplishing activities
related to logistic management in the warehouse. Workers are responsible for doing tasks
required to be done for maintaining warehouse activities.
 SHRM planning aid in recruiting skilled and experienced workforce that can handle the
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assigned task in a better manner (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). Suitable candidates should be
selected for effective working of the Tamworth Warehouse. After selection of the candidates
proper training is required to be given to the human resource of the organization.
 Further many activities in the firm are undertaken that involves risk and employees require
proper training for doing the assigned task to them. Handling automated instruments to carry
and transferring the inventory in the warehouse requires proper training and SHRM aid in
imparting the needed abilities to operate the electronic machineries used in the warehouse.
All the employees should be assigned the work in a planned and organized manner to avoid
confusion and conflicts in the firm (Holsapple, 2013). Work involving store merchandise,
documentation preparation, meeting the orders for transferring goods at Sainsbury's
distribution centre.
 SHRM approaches are sued for rewarding best and talented employees so that their work
can be awarded. Performance appraisal of staff members can be done so that morale and
motivational of staff members can be enhanced.
1.3
SHRM has given contribution in achieving objectives of the Tamworth Warehouse by
delivering techniques and methods for improving overall work structure. The objectives of the firm
which involves storing the inventory for Sainsbury's store and transferring along with receiving the
goods as per the requirement of Sainsbury's distribution centre. To achieve this objective SHRM aid
in doing job analysis for defining work that needs to be done in a particular task (Holsapple, 2013).
Personnel management is used less as it is a traditional task oriented approach. Human resource
management is a modern approach that is used in the firm for improving the overall organizational
structure by taking work from employees with improving their skills and abilities (Alfes and
et.al.,2013). The HRM strategy which is used to develop business plan and policies are quite
effective. Designing these strategies assist in achieving the objectives of the firm in a planned and
organized manner by making optimum utilization of resources of the Tamworth Warehouse.
Leadership strategy under SHRM aid in developing a plan for management to give the subordinates
a proper direction for completing the assigned job.
The Tamworth Warehouse used Guest's model of HRM for designing the overall corporation
strategy and the model has given guidelines for six dimensions for developing business plan for the
enterprise and it includes HRM strategy, practices, outcomes and behavioural, performance and
financial outcomes (Alfes and et.al.,2013). By adopting this model HRM strategies are developed
for achieving goals of the Tamworth Warehouse . The strategies designed are implemented by using
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suitable practices which results in getting outcomes in terms of effective financial performance of
the firm and improvement in productivity and working attitude of the employees. HRM strategies
that have been used in the company has proved effective and it has helped for completing all the
assigned task and activities in effective manner. Positive improvements in performance of the
company has been observed and it has also supported for making enhancement in financial revenue
of the company. All the supply chain and logistics activities are performed in effective manner
without facing any challenges. Morale and motivational level of the staff members can also be
enhanced.
TASK 2
2.1
Different external and internal business factors affects the overall performance of the
business firm by impacting its operational activities (Williams, 2016). The external factors that
affect human resource planning in the Tamworth Warehouse includes-
Competition:- Often businesses will feel pressure to expand and hire more workers in order to
remain competitive in a particular market. Tamworth warehouse faces challenge from competitors
existing in the market.
Technology:- Technological advancements may increase the demand for employees in certain
industries or professions (Jiang and et.al., 2012). The company also require professionals for
handling its automated work operation.
Economic Changes:- Growth of the economy or lower interest rates causes increased spending, and
often increases business opportunities. Tamworth Warehouse needs to change its working according
to bring change in the economic environment of the business.
Legal Aspects:- Legal issues affect the policy formulation activities of the business firm.
Governments has set norms for the industries and it is essential for the firms to folllow regulatory
frameworks. Tamworth Warehouse has set its business policies acording to the guidelines given by
the government.
Internal factors of the business organization also affects the human resource planning of
Tamworth Warehouse by impact on operational activities of the firm. The factors include location of
the warehouse, skills of the workers required to do a particular job, workforce profiles that contain
personnel qualification and talent of the employee. Changing nature of work also affects the internal
working of the company.
2.2
Tamworth Warehouse works to supply and receive inventory for the Sainsbury's distribution
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centre. The major work involved is about transferring the goods at the Sainsbury's store as per the
orders given. All the activities performed by the Tamworth Warehouse requires a particular set of
skills and HR manager need to ensure that all the workers should have qualification and skills
required to perform a task in a productive way. For example record keeping in Warehouse requires
accounting knowledge and the employee handling the record keeping activity should posses
necessary qualification for maintaining all the data and records of the information in a systematic
way to ensure smooth functioning of the firm.
The worker handling the work for filling and receiving orders should have knowledge and
experience of store management and good communication skills are also required to accomplish
this task. Oral and written communication skills of the employees should be good for doing this task
in effective manner. For transferring the goods from Tamworth Warehouse to Sainsbury's
distribution centre it is required that the staff members involved in this activity should be
experienced in handling logistics and supply chain activities and it aid them to receive and supply
the inventory at appropriate time as per the requirement. HR manager should have effective skills
such as delegation, leadership and time management for directing the subordinates in a planned and
organized manner for running the operational activities of the Tamworth Warehouse in a productive
manner. Proper training should be given to employees that can be on the job or off the job which
assist the workers for improving their abilities to perform a desired task (DuBrin, 2013). Need
assessment of workers can be done by using two methods that includes self inspection by employee
and evaluation by management. At the Tamworth Warehouse mutual collaboration of workers is
required for achieving the objectives of the firm and for that team working should be good and it
can be imparted to employees by training and role playing methods arranged for them.
2.3
Tamworth Warehouse needs to develop an effective human resource plan for making
optimum utilization of potential of the workforce. Proper planning will assist in managing the
human resource of the firm in more productive manner. Planning should be done after careful
analysis of internal business factors. The HR manager should do a proper job analysis for
identifying the requirement of tasks needed to be done in a particular job and skills needed in an
individual for accomplishing that task. It will assist the manager in doing a proper planning for
meeting the human resource objectives of the company. The major objective of the human resource
planning is recruitment and selection for filling the vacant positions of the organization. Employee
development and retention also comes in the category of human resource planning. The outcomes
achieved by this are in terms of enhanced financial and overall organizational performance. The
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goals set should be specific, measurable, attainable, reliable and smart and attainable (SMART).
Doing a SMART planning aid in getting better outcomes by the Tamworth Warehouse.
SMART Objectives for the company are as described :-
Human Resource
Planning
-Developing Human Resource Strategies
-Gap Analysis
-Assessment of current Human Resource capacity
-Succession Planning
-Forecasting of Human Resource requirements
-Future Projection
Recruitment -Job Analysis
-Appointment
-Selection Process
-Short-listing
-Confidentiality, and Equality and Diversity
Performance
Management
-Performance Appraisal
-Promotion
-Supervision
-Addressing Power Performance
-Career Progression
Training and
Development
-Training Needs Analysis
-Training Strategy
-Learning Design
-Competency Development
Employee Relations -Employee Privacy and Rights, employee welfare and culture
-Resolving disputes and Addressing Grievances
-Human Resources Policies
-Consulting with Trade Unions
-Management of employment tribunal cases
The human resource planning process involves many activities and in this strategies are
developed for achieving overall objectives of the business firm (Ashkenas and et.al., 2015.) Need
assessment of current human resource and required capacity should be done to find the gap
between them and taking the proper action to meet the gap. Internal and external recruitment can be
done to fill the vacant positions in the firm. Internal recruitment can be done by promoting the
existing employees at higher job positions and external recruitment can be done by inviting
applicants to apply for the job. Performance management should be done by Tamworth Warehouse
at yearly basis to appreciate the good work done by the workers. Employees should be given a
performance appraisal sheet to be filled at every day and it will give the management an effective
way for evaluating the work done by the employees. All the above activities will assist the HR
manager of Tamworth Warehouse in doing a strategic planning for managing the manpower of the
business firm.
SMART objectives has supported for performing al the required activities of the organization in
organized and systematic manner. Systematic and step by step procedure has been followed and it
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has helped for accomplishing the required goals in effectual manner. Specific timelines have been
set and all the functional activities are performed as per the set objective. Objectives related to
human resource planning, recruitment, performance management and training and developed have
been achieved and it has helped in achieving long term goals of the firm.
2.4
Human resource planning has assisted the Tamworth Warehouse for achieving the set targets
in an effective and planned manner. Resources of the firm can be utilized in more appropriate way
by making use of effective planning (Cummings and Worley, 2014). Company has recruited
talented and skilled employees for executing the business operations and in a functional manner. A
complex and interactive system of recruitment is selected to select the deserving and suitable
candidates for the corporation. Existing employees also promoted at higher job positions by
evaluating their performance and the workers who performed better as compared to others were
given job promotions as a reward.
Tamworth Warehouse did a need assessment for finding out requirement of skills that
needed to be given to employees and they were given opportunity to do self assessment of their
needs. A training program was arranged by the firm to impart the necessary skills to the employees
and it helped in improving the productivity of the workforce (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). Authority
and responsibility were transferred to the workers after doing a proper planning. The working of the
firm has been improved and the day to day work which involves receiving, storing, transferring and
record keeping of the goods has been performed in a productive manner by making use of proper
human resource planning.
The logistics operations of the business firms are executed in more advanced way and it has
also helped Sainsbury's distribution centre to run their operations at appropriate time and effective
way by making proper coordination with Tamworth Warehouse. A strategic human resource
planning has helped the management of the firm in executing all the activities in a productive way
by making effective utilization of its human resource. Human resource plan has helped for
scheduling all the necessary activities in planned manner. In addition to that it has helped for
achieving the required goals and objectives of the company in strategic way. Tamworth warehouse
has become capable for performing all the necessary functions in effective manner. Human
resource planning also helps the Team Leaders to plan the shifts, off days, holidays and over time
for the staff. Without planning employees would end up working unnecessary hours and it may
affect employee’s performance because of fatigue.
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TASK 3
3.1
Human resource policies in the organization are essential for effective working of the firm
(DuBrin, 2013). It helps in running the overall function of the Tamworth Warehouse in a more
functional and strategic way. It is necessary that human resource policies should comply with the
legal and regulatory framework set by the government. The management policies serve as lamppost
for providing the organization direction for achieving its objective in planned manner. Government
sets norms and policies that assist the management in framing the organizational policies. The areas
for which policies are formed in Tamworth Warehouse include recruitment and selection,
performance appraisal, training and development and compensations policies of the business firm.
The policies are set to maintain a protective work environment for the workers and for
achieving this objective management form policies related to working environment, compensation,
recruitment and training and discipline in the corporation.
The legislation's formed by the government includes Employment Relation act 2004,
Employment Act, Equal pay act 1970 and Sex Discrimination act (Guiso, Sapienza and Zingales,
2015).
The policies in Tamworth Warehouse gives guidelines that equal opportunity at the work
place should be provided to employees without doing any discrimination on the basis of age, sex
and religion. Recruitment and selection process should be fair and no favouritism should be
provided to any job applicant. Framing policies assist in developing a clear communication channel
between top management and workers of the Tamworth Warehouse. A set of guidelines are
provided under human resource management policies for superiors and managers. Business Policies
give framework for supervisors and managers for guiding their subordinates. The strategies and
policies og the enterprise should comply with all the legal and regulatory guidelines render by state
for t Developing a safe and protective business environment.
3.2
The regulatory requirements impact the overall human resource policies in the Tamworth
Warehouse. It affects the overall organizational structure by making it mandatory for the
management to frame the policies according to the norms set by the government (Galliers and
Leidner, 2014) . Some legislations and their impact on the organizational policies is as follows
Equal Pay Act1970:- Guidelines are given in this act for business firms to pay compensation
to employees at fair terms. Employer should not use any unfair labour practices while giving wages
to the employees. Tamworth Warehouse has developed its wage policy according to industry
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standards and it pays regular wages to the workers as per the norms set by the state. Applying this
act has supported for providing equal opportunity for all the staff members that are working in the
organization. Other than this all the staff members are provided with better job opportunities so that
all staff members are provided equal pay for equal work that is being performed by them.
Employee relation act 2004:- It was developed by the state for giving recognition to trade
unions. It has made mandatory for the business firms to allow trade unions for doing bargaining
with the employer to protect the rights of the workers and Tamworth Warehouse has followed this at
workplace. Trade union members in the company bargain for rights of the employees and it has
supported for developing effective and conductive working environment in the firm. Problems that
are being faced in the company have been solved and it has helped for developing safe and
conductive environment for the staff members.
TASK 4
4.1
Organizational structure defines the method by which different type of activities like
allocation of work, co-ordination and monitoring are performed in the corporation (Cummings and
Worley, 2014). Organizational structure impacts the overall working of the Tamworth Warehouse by
influencing the policies and strategies of the business firm. Weber's model of organizational
structure is used for this purpose and it has assisted the firm in developing a cooperative and
protective environment at the workplace.
A bureaucratic approach is being used for taking work from the staff members. The Weber's
model suggest that organizations should adopt a hierarchy in the business firms which should be
divided at three level of management including lower level, middle level and top level management
(Organizational structure 2016.). Supervisors should be given responsibility to monitor the
performance of their sub-ordinates. Tamworth Warehouse uses this approach for utilizing potential
of the employees for accomplishing the desired task. Organisational structure improves companies
streamline business operations. Companies can save money by reducing number of similar
functions which gets completed by many other department. Organisational structure thereby
improves the employee overall performance which provides flexibility in an organisation.
4.2
Organisational culture in simple terms means how employee of the company behaves in and
organisation. It can be defined as how the people of the company will relate to each other their work
and outside world in comparisons to the other organisations. Different behaviour and attitude of
workers coming from diverse geographical and cultural background develops a organization
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culture (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). In Tamworth Warehouse it impacts the beliefs and collective
values of the employees working in the business firm.
Scheins model' for organizational culture states that there are three levels in which a
organization works and the first level is structure and policies of the firm, second level is about
rules and code of conduct which is practised in the enterprise and the last level is about behaviour
and assumptions of the employees which is very difficult to identify (Guiso, Sapienza and Zingales,
2015). Tamworth Warehouse's working gets affected due to organization culture as it affects the
employee turnover rate of the firm. According to Schein's model it is difficult to identify the third
level in the enterprise that includes beliefs, assumptions and attitude of the employees.
Dissatisfaction of employees is hard to identify and there are strong possibilities that dissatisfied
employee will leave the work place. Organizational culture affects the employee turnover of the
Tamworth Warehouse. Elgar Scheins advanced the idea that different organisation have different
subcultures .But the company's have their “own unique culture”.
4.3
Effectiveness of human resource management for Tamworth Warehouse includes better
financial and performance outcomes. HRM has assisted in achieving goals of the business firms by
developing an effective strategy for achievement of the tasks assigned in each activity. The
Tamworth Warehouse has adopted HRM in the organization by formulating, developing and
implementing the HRM strategies.
The objective of the firm is to assist the Sainsbury's distribution centre by receiving and
supplying goods as per the demands and order given. Logistics and supply chain operations have
been executed in a much improved manner by enhancing skills and knowledge of the workers
through training (Purpose of HR Policies and procedures. 2016). The effectiveness of Human
resource management is monitored by assessing performance of the worker and outcomes achieved
by the business firms in terms of financial revenue and productivity. The components which were
assessed include employee turnover rate, output per employee and utility analysis Monitoring has
assisted in taking control of operational activities and errors and workplace problems have reduced
by adopting effective monitoring system in the business firm. A wide range of monitoring tools can
be used for monitoring the human resources. Tools could include the followings:
 Perception or satisfaction surveys
 Sequential visual analysis
 Model building and scenario testing
 Ask employees to use self monitoring tools to track their own performance.
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4.4
HR manager should adopt appropriate measures for improving the performance of its
workforce in the Tamworth Warehouse. Employees can be given performance appraisal sheets and
should be directed to fill the sheets on a daily basis. Monthly and yearly review of the sheets will
assist the management to evaluate the performance and output achieved by each employee (Purpose
of HR Policies and procedures. 2016). It will assist in taking effective measures for enhancing
knowledge and competence of the staff members by adopting different measures.
Annual review meetings can be conducted by HR manager for taking suggestions and
recommendations from workers related to the work environment and organization policies (DuBrin,
2013). The opinions of the employees should be given due importance for making necessary
changes in the organization.
Tamworth Warehouse is a well established brand in logistics industry among its competitors
and it need to do more for maintaining and improving the performance of the business firm. it can
adopt techniques of benchmarking in order to maintain its competitiveness in this industry by
improving in the areas where there is need for improvement like selection and recruitment, working
culture and compensation policies. Business can achieve growth and expansion by using innovative
methods of SHRM in its functional activities.
CONCLUSION
Present report describes about the impact of strategic human resource management on a
business firm. Tamworth Warehouse' uses methods of SHRM for improving the overall organization
culture and structure. The report describes about impact of various business factors and regulatory
frameworks on the human resource planning of the firm. Methods of monitoring the effectiveness
of human resource management and recommendations for improvement are also mentioned in this
report.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alfes, K., and et.al.,2013. The link between perceived human resource management practices,
engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model. The international journal
of human resource management. 24(2). pp.330-351.
Ashkenas, R., and et.al., 2015. The boundaryless organization: Breaking the chains of
organizational structure. John Wiley & Sons.
Buller, P.F. and McEvoy, G.M., 2012. Strategy, human resource management and performance:
Sharpening line of sight. Human resource management review. 22(1). pp.43-56.
Cummings, T.G. and Worley, C.G., 2014. Organization development and change. Cengage learning.
DuBrin, A.J., 2013. Fundamentals of organizational behavior: An applied perspective. Elsevier.
Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Guiso, L., Sapienza, P. and Zingales, L., 2015. The value of corporate culture. Journal of Financial
Economics, 117(1), pp.60-76.
Holsapple, C., 2013. Handbook on knowledge management 1: Knowledge matters. Springer Science
& Business Media.
Jackson, S.E., Schuler, R.S. and Jiang, K., 2014. An aspirational framework for strategic human
resource management. The Academy of Management Annals. 8(1). pp.1-56.
Jiang, K., and et.al., 2012. Clarifying the construct of human resource systems: Relating human
resource management to employee performance. Human Resource Management Review. 22(2).
pp.73-85.
Marler, J.H. and Fisher, S.L., 2013. An evidence-based review of e-HRM and strategic human
resource management. Human Resource Management Review. 23(1). pp.18-36.
Storey, J., 2014. New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals).
Routledge.
Williams, G.J.S., 2016. Managers’ motives for investing in HR practices and their implications for
public service motivation: a theoretical perspective. International Journal of Manpower. 37(5).
pp.764-776.
Online
Purpose of HR Policies and procedures. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/purpose-hr-policies-procedures-2055.html>. [Assessed on
27nd August 2016].
Organizational structure. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.global-integration.com/matrix-management/matrix-structure/matrix-
organization-structure/>. [Assessed on 27nd August 2016].
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