A functional—or role-based—structure is one of the most common organizational structures. The second type—the product- or market-based structure—is also hierarchical, vertical and centralized.

For example, all of your marketing employees would be in the same group. ... The functional structure provides focus to the employees, because they know they are working toward a common goal.

Benefits & Disadvantages of a Functional Organizational Structure. ... Human Resources employees have their own HR department, for example, as do employees working in sales, ...