Using the ideas discussed below, how would you summarise ‘organisational fluidity’?

The concept of the virtual organisation appears suited to knowledge-based work that utilises technologies such as the internet. It epitomises the human resource implications described above for network and cellular organisations. In particular it may be seen as epitomising the alternative to hierarchy that was referred to in the introduction to this section, or at least demonstrating a new approach to hierarchy, where this may shift according to the particular task or project being undertaken within the virtual organisation.
The relationships implied by this approach suggest the need for high levels of cooperation and commitment. However, this is not to say that control is absent within such a virtual organisation, since the scope to change the supply of a particular service or product exists by using alternative suppliers on a global basis, suggesting that poor performance would not need to be tolerated by other contributors to the virtual organisation.
A summary of structural types is produced in Key Concepts 5.5.

Key Concepts 5.5:

Simple
A centralised structure, where one person or a few people exercise control over the direction and operation of the organisation.
Functional and divisionalised A functional structure is associated with a number of specialised managerial roles and operating departments. In a divisionalised structure, different products or services are organised into separate operating divisions.
Matrix
A matrix structure combines a functional hierarchical structure with a lateral, project-based approach.
Project based In this structure, project-based teams are responsible for undertaking the activities of the organisation.
Network
An organisational form designed to be flexible and responsive to change. There are different types of network organisation: internal; vertical; and dynamic.

Cellular
Another form of organisation designed to be flexible, based on principles of self-organisation and entrepreneurship.
Virtual
A highly flexible and transient form, which exists for a given period and purpose.