New to HR: How Do I Create an Effective Organizational Structure for My Company?

Dear All, I have just been given a job as an Admin/HR officer for a cotton company. The M.D. has asked me to draw up an organizational structure that would show each functional unit and hierarchy. I'm kind of confused because it's my first HR task, and I really want to get it right.

Thank you all, Regards

Can you provide more details about your query, such as the number of functional departments, line departments, job titles, etc.? Based on your information, I can roughly suggest the following. However, please confirm with seniors on the board.

- Managing Director
- Functional HOD (HR / Finance / Marketing / Production)
- Supervisor
- Executive
- Associate

You can repeat a similar structure across functional departments by linking job titles to their reporting seniors. Work in PowerPoint, which offers ready-made templates to build organizational structure.

Thank you for the prompt response. We have seven functional departments: Admin/HR, Import and Export, Finance, Corporate Affairs, Audit, Farming/Outgrower, Procurement, and Fleet.

From the talks I had with my boss, they want to have GMs, AGMs, DGMs, Managers, and Officers for each unit. I feel the chart might be too extensive. I'm just thinking, should I draw up the structure irrespective of my concerns about the size?

I agree with you; there seem to be a lot of fancy job titles, which sound like more leaders and fewer followers. I can understand up to GMs and AGMs, but DGMs seem more like a stretched position. I may be wrong in my comments, depending on the size and scale of the organization's operations.

Another doubt is, how can Audit and Farming/Outgrower be clubbed together? Can you explain?

From the above-given information, it looks very easy to create a basic structure, and as per detailed information, you can customize the structure based on the understanding of the roles involved.

From your query, what I understand is that you are being asked to only draw up an organizational structure as advised. Are you allowed to suggest or advise about the organizational structure?

We have all learned there are 3 kinds of OS (Organizational Structure): Vertical, Horizontal, and Hybrid. In my opinion, it looks like a hybrid structure where all functional departments are reporting to the MD, and every functional unit has its own GMs. When they are specific to the unit, what is general about them?

To discuss your query, extensive information is required about your organization, the number of employees in units at the levels you mentioned, etc., the number of offices, plants, branches, and the nature of the organization. Is it a core manufacturing company, trading, wholesale, or retailer, etc.?

Regards,