Mechanistic versus Organic Style of Management

As noted in Chapter Four through Six of Police Administration, there are variations in how mid-level managers in police organizations and private sector organizations administer their units. On the one hand, mechanistic organizations exert more control over employees while organic organizations allow lower-level employees to make more decisions and control the work they perform. In some cases, this is beneficial, because units may adapt to community needs more promptly. In other cases, it could mean that police officers are not achieving important departmental goals or that certain policies are not being kept. Police administrators must make sure that policies are followed and that problems, such as excessive force, questionable shootings, or false arrests, do not occur.

As a police administrator, how would you control the department while ensuring that officers have and maintain good relations with the public? Would you adopt a mechanistic style or a more organic style of management, or a combination of both? Why? Provide examples of situations in which each style would be beneficial to a police organization.