Formal Structure: A Review of the Empirical Relationships Between Task Differentiation, Role Prescription, and Authority Dispersion

Abstract

The utility of the view of formal structure as a series of dimensions has been questioned because of the several inconsistencies in the empirical outcomes among various studies. Interrelations among three dimensions of formal structure are considered on the basis of 25 major empirical studies. A framework is developed from the substantive focus of the measures of task differentiation, role prescription, and authority dispersion. The application of this scheme, together with some secondary analysis of the empirical outcomes, explicates the relationships, produces consistency among the various studies, and highlights those areas where empirical evidence is lacking. In addition, the review indicates that the substantive meaning of variables and the content realm to which concepts are addressed cannot be disregarded, particularly if integrative models of different levels of analysis are to be the focus of future research.

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