In what way is the notion of formalization an important element of organizational structure and how has it been changing in many organizations?

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The Answer is The level of formalization in an organization refers to the degree to which rules, regulations, procedures, and the like govern how work is performed. In other words, formalization reflects the degree to which jobs within the organization are standardized. A high level of formalization means highly standardized work-that is, clear rules regarding how the work should be performed. Highly standardized work, or work that is very much rule-directed, suggests that there is little individual discretion in how that work can be performed. Workers know what is expected of them and how, exactly, they should be performing their jobs. In addition, the greater the degree of formalization, the less reliance there is on individual discretion. Essentially, what we have witnessed in many organizations is a shift from high formalization and standardization of work practices to less formality. Given the need to adapt to the rapidly changing external environment, organizations have found they must be willing to scrap the old way of doing things in favour of methods that better accommodate the changing demands of their environment.

In What Way Is the Notion of Formalization an Important