Organizational Structures

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how economic, social and political realities have suffered major transformations in terms of the basic principles they relied on. The paper discusses the theoretical dispute between those arguing in favor of traditional ways of organizational structures; the Fordist principles of organization and those demanding a more flexible approach; the matrix model of organization. The paper examines the Coca Cola Company which developed their organizational scheme according to a complex matrix structure. The paper explains that the Fordist principles, despite the fact that they do entail certain effectiveness in their application, lack the flexibility needed in order to survive in today's global market. The paper relates that the Coca Cola Company proves the effectiveness of the matrix organizational scheme.

From the Paper:

"Thus, the social system has become global in its structure, the political scene is more than ever on the service of the democratic power of the people; it was therefore only natural that the economic trend be different from the one determining the overall development of the early 20th century. These changes are visible at all the levels of the society and in all areas of activity. More importantly however is the clear manifestation of the opposing trends that tend to govern the new economic realities of our time."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Daft, Richard L. Organization Theory and Design. Cincinnati: South-Western, 1997 Gjerding, Allan Naes. The evolution of the flexible firm. 26 September 2006. < http://www.druid.dk/conferences/summer1999/conf-papers/gjerding.pdf#search=%22the%20flexible%20firm%22>
• Leadership. The Coca Cola Company. 2006. 28 September 2006. < http://www2.coca-cola.com/ourcompany/seniormanagement_operating_group_leadership.html>
• Piore,M.J. & Sabel, C.F. The Second Industrial Divide: Possibilities for Prosperity, New York: Perseus Book Group, 1984.
• Pollert, Anna. "The Flexible Firm': Fixation or Fact?" in Work, Employment & Society, Vol. 2, No. 3, 281-316 (1988)
• Rupert, Mark. Fordism. 2006. 28 September 2006. < http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/merupert/Research/Fordism/fordism.htm>

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