How Apple Is Organized for Innovation

It has been cited that Apple's unusual organizational structure has enabled it to innovate over the years. Organization design is taught through the lens of organizational structure in most MBA programs. For decades, there has been a recurring debate over functional vs unit organizations. A company's organizational structure is one of the most legi... See more

The innovators moved from the centralized system to a multidivisional structure with product and geographic breakdowns. The concept left operating division chiefs with total control over everything except funding resources. Top managers took a more universal view of the business, monitoring the divisions and allocating capital accordingly.