Nature of Organisations Course In this course, we have set the stage for more detailed investigation of organisations & how they exist in today's business environment. We look at the functioning of organisations & relate these ideas back to the early researchers & theorists. In this course, we help you to explore the nature & purpose of organisations & to understand & identify different organisational structures. We aim also to give you an understanding of the factors that must be considered when an organisational structure is designed. Key choices & issues concerning organisational structure design include: how jobs & departments should be differentiated & grouped how organisational activities should be co-ordinated & controlled. By the end of the course, you should be able to: define an organisation. distinguish between the formal & informal elements of organisational life. identify the importance of organisation structures & what they do. identify the key processes that take place in the structuring of an organisation. analyse & evaluate in practical examples. explain the nature of organisational missions & goals. evaluate the relevance of particular organisational goals & missions & their importance for organisational effectiveness. identify the use & value of organisation theory. evaluate the influence of size, technology & environment on an organisation's structure.