Designing Organizations: An Executive Briefing on Strategy, Structure, and Process (Jossey-Bass Management Series) [Hardcover]

Jay R. Galbraith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787900915 | ISBN-13: 978-0787900915 | Publication Date: May 3, 1995 | Edition: 1st

Build processes that drive success

A concise guide to creating a superior, more competitive organization. Based on ten years of research, Designing Organizations shows how organization design supports policies, affects behaviors and impact performance. It also tells what leaders can and must do to affect the process. Examples from such successful companies as Hewlett-Packard, Apple, MCI, McDonald's and Citibank demonstrate outstanding design in action. The author analyzes the four key forces that shape today's organizations -- buyer power, variety, change and speed -- and outlines concrete methods for designing a state-of-the-art organization that facilitates effective, rapid response to customer demands.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In our complex and rapidly changing business environment, business leaders have an increasing need to understand how organization design alternatives can help or impede their company's competitiveness. Jay has taken a little understood subject and provided a framework and thoughts that help business leaders deal with this issue." -Lawrence R. Phillips, senior human resources officer, Citicorp

"Jay Galbraith is the architect for CEOs, HR executives, and all others responsible for building organizational capability, His design principles and models are an excellent foundation for shaping an effective organization." -Stephen Balogh, vice president human resources, Raychem Corporation

"A must read for anyone who is ready for a dose of clear thinking on organization strategy and design. Jay Galbraith understands strategy and structure better than anyone I know." -Edward E. Lawler, director, Center for Effective Organizations, and author of The Ultimate Advantage

"A powerful and practical book for managers who seek to design state-of-the-art organizations for competitive advantage." -Stuart S. Winby, director of product processes change management, Hewlett Packard Company

"An easily understood approach that any businessperson or organization specialist in Human Resources might follow to build structure based on an analysis of the company's strategies and needs. Jay Galbraith's teaching experience and extensive knowledge of many corporate structures and strategies allow him to discuss actual applications of these concepts. He knows what works and why." -Richard L. Schaulin, vice-president human resources, GTE Telephone Operations

From the Inside Flap

Drawing on over ten years of research, the author cites examples from such successful companies as Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computer, MCI, Marriott, Frito-Lay, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Citibank to show how organization design supports policies, behaviors, and performanceand tells what leaders can and must do to effect the process. Galbraith analyzes the four key forces shaping today's organizationsbuyer power, variety, change, and speedand shows how to design a state-of-the-art organization that can create effective, rapid responses to customer demands.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (May 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787900915
• ISBN-13: 978-0787900915
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Design is a key task of the leader.", April 25, 2000

By 

Turgay BUGDACIGIL (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Organizations: An Executive Briefing on Strategy, Structure, and Process (Jossey-Bass Management Series) (Hardcover)

"This book is about designing effective organizations. It emphasizes that design is a key task of the leader. It suggests that effective organizations are necessary for competitiveness and they are a growing source for competitive advantage. The focus of the book is therefore on equipping leaders with the understanding and the tools necessary to create organizations that are superior to those of their competitors."

In this context J. Galbraith :

* examines the forces (buyer power, variety, change, and speed) that are shaping organizations.

* presents the organizational design framework in the form of "the star model". In the star model, design policies fall into five categories :

(1) Strategy,

(2) Structure,

(3) Processes,

(4) Rewards,

(5) People.

* looks at policy areas/dimensions that determine the structure of an organization : specialization, shape, distribution of power, and departmentalization.

* discusses the lateral processes as a multidimentional aspects and the ability to be responsive to products, customers, functions, geographies, and work flow processes.

* focuses on three organizational design models : functional integrators, the distributed organization, and the front/back hybrid structure.

* examines virtual corporation as a network of independent companies.

"In conclusion", J. Galbraith writes, "I wish to emphasize once again the role of leader. I see the leader as a decision shaper rather than a decision maker. The decision-shaping role is achieved through the organizational design. The star model provides the management-controlled policies that will influence how others make decisions."

I highly recommend.

See also :

* J. Galbraith - Designing the Global Corporation (2000)

* E. Lawler - From the Ground Up (2000)

* S. A. Mohrman et al - Tomorrow's Organization (1998)

10 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a leading book from a leading authority !, August 25, 1998

By 

"yasar" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Organizations: An Executive Briefing on Strategy, Structure, and Process (Jossey-Bass Management Series) (Hardcover)

A "must" reading for all executives managing living organizations and their human assets.