What is one primary purpose of an organizational structure?

The primary purpose of an organizational structure is to define activities in terms of roles and responsibilities. This framework organizes how tasks are divided, coordinated, and supervised within an organization, ensuring that everyone knows their specific functions and who is responsible for what. Clearly defined roles help streamline processes, improve efficiency, and facilitate communication among employees. It allows for accountability, as individuals can be held responsible for particular outcomes associated with their roles.

In contrast to this, the other options do not represent the fundamental aim of an organizational structure. For instance, limiting collaboration among employees contradicts the intent of many modern organizational structures, which often seek to promote teamwork and synergy. Promoting informal relationships, while important, is typically a natural outcome of a well-structured organization rather than a primary purpose of the structure itself. Preventing management changes might be related to certain organizational strategies but does not reflect a core aspect of what an organizational structure is designed to achieve. Hence, defining roles and responsibilities stands out as the most critical purpose.