Org structure is one of the subjects I teach ... thus this is only
slightly more valid than pure conjecture!
I have begun to focus on decisions as the key to devininig organizational
structure. This may not hold in old manufacturing technologies, but as
we become more and more service/information focused, it may be a path to
an answer.
If you can determine the core processes of the business (forgive the
inference of reductionism and BPR!), and further identify the key
decisions that must be made in those processes, the location of the
decisions should be manifest, and the nature in time obvious as well. By
nature in time, I mean are the decisions needed before action can be
taken, or are they related to a feedback loop that can afford to assert
control after the fact?
The locus dimension of the decision talks to empowerment, and the degree
to which such can be had ... and leads to an interesting course of
inquiry into the most effective measures of success. The time dimension
leads to discussion about the best place in the organization for
information gathering and analytic talent (if the decisions are best made
"out there" and control can best be asserted "after the fact," is makes
sense to have information and analytic talent "out there," with small
audit and measurement talent "in here."). The nature of the decision
itself can illuminate the information requirements.
Anyway, this incoherent babble comes to you from ...
Stephen B. Wehrenberg
Manpower Planner, US Coast Guard
The George Washington University
stephenw@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu
"Life is a jam session."
... and is not the opinion of either the Coast Guard or George Washington
University, unless they make me an offer.
-- "Stephen B. Wehrenberg" <stephenw@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>