Structures and Functioning of Business Organizations

The experience of Asian women in corporate America is largely one of working in organizational workplaces. Thus, it is important for employees to understand the structures and functioning of organizations. This chapter discusses research and foundational concepts in organizational structures, specifically as they related to businesses. The profit motive that drives businesses affects how employees' careers unfold within them. Specifically, it affects metrics for performance evaluation. The various organizational positions an individual occupies shapes her career path. The placement of an employee's work position within the hierarchy has numerous implications. For instance, positions are attached to decision making responsibilities and influence. Power is a significant aspect of organizational functioning that is often overlooked by employees who rely primarily on technical performance to propel their careers forward. This chapter addresses these topics as well as performance evaluation, which is the final determinant of an employee's career progress.