The simple structure has as its key part the strategic apex, uses direct supervision, and employs vertical and horizontal centralization. Examples of simple structures are relatively small corporations, new government departments, medium-sized retail stores, and small elementary school districts. The organization consists of the top manager and a few workers in the operative core. There is no technostructure, and the support staff is small; workers perform overlapping tasks. For example, teachers and administrators in small elementary school districts must assume many of the duties that the technostructure and support staff perform in larger districts. Frequently, however, small elementary school districts are members of cooperatives that provide many services (i.e., counselors, social workers) to a number of small school districts in one region of the county or state.
In small school districts, the superintendent may function as both superintendent
of the district and principal of a single school. Superintendents in such school districts
must be entrepreneurs. Because the organization is small, coordination is informal and
maintained through direct supervision. Moreover, this organization can adapt to
environmental changes rapidly. Goals stress innovation and long-term survival, although
innovation may be difficult for very small rural school districts because of the lack of
resources.