NCJ Number
162932
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 25 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1995) Pages: 29-32
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Although Mary Washington College's Police Department was structured in a traditional hierarchical manner prior to 1993, the department now has a flattened structure.
Abstract
The flattened organizational structure realizes benefits that include but are not limited to greater flexibility in personnel assignments, better allocation of funds, and the potential for increased morale and initiative. Police managers and administrators are beginning to understand what the private sector has known regarding flattened organizational structures as part of adaptive management theory. In particular, participative management is designed to enhance organizational effectiveness and reduce job dissatisfaction and stress. Inherent in participative management is the need for continuous developmental training of all personnel, and the use of flattened organizational structures facilitates speed and agility in responding to situations. Characteristics of participative management are described, and community policing is discussed as a form of participative management. The authors conclude that flattening the organizational structure of campus police agencies will foster a participative atmosphere in which employees can develop and improve their productivity and effectiveness. 10 references