Designing Organizations: An Executive Guide to Strategy, Structure, and Process Revised [Hardcover]

Jay R. Galbraith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0787957453 | ISBN-13: 978-0787957452 | Edition: 2nd

A thoroughly revised second edition of the leader's concise guide to the process of creating and managing an organisation, no matter how complex, that will achieve unique competitive advantages and be poised to respond effectively and rapidly to customer demands.

In this book executives, managers, and consultants will find the concrete tools they need to select and implement an efficient design that creates superior and more competitive performance. In addition to analysing the four key forces shaping today's organisations -- buyer power, variety, change, and speed -- this new edition addresses the concerns of new economy by expanding on the section on the Flexible Organization and includes a new section on organising around the customer. The book:
* Describes what leaders can do to effect the change process
* Addresses the concerns of new economy companies
* Contains rich examples from successful companies

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book would be excellent for executives and managers..." (Quality Progress, August 2002)

Review

Praise for the first edition of Designing Organizations

"The clarity with which Galbraith explains design options. . . .is a welcome addition to the growing literature on organizational designs for the 21st century. . . . I will adopt this book whenever I teach organizational design to MBA students or executives."
— Personnel Psychology

"A distillation of design concepts, bringing together both old standbys and the latest ideas, focusing on structures and processes at the heart of organizational design."
— Stern's Management Review

"Jay Galbraith is the architect for CEOs, human resource 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 organizational strategy and design. Jay Galbraith understands strategy and structure better than anyone I know."
— Edward E. Lawler, director, Center for Effective Organizations

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 2nd edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787957453
• ISBN-13: 978-0787957452
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.8 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Guide to the factors that shape organizational design December 28, 2002

By Gerard Kroese

Format:Hardcover

Jay R. Galbraith is an internationally recognized expert on organization design. He is a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California and Professor Emeritus at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. This book is a updated/revised edition of 'Designing Organizations' which was originally published in 1995. It is split up into 10 chapters.

Chapter 1 - Introduction - really sets the stage for the rest of the book. It discusses the six main organization shapers: the increase buyer power; increase in the number of products and services; the Internet; multiple dimensions (functions, products, and geography, but also customer segments, solutions or offerings, and channels and processes); the requirement for a capacity to change; and speed (in bringing products and services to the market).

The following two chapters discuss how companies have to shape their organizational design, strategy, and structure in order how to deal with these organization shapers. Galbraith introduces his copyrighted Star Model (Strategy, structure, people, rewards, and processes), which looks AND sounds very similar to McKinsey's 7-S framework. Chapters 4 and 5 build on these chapter and discuss how organizations have to link their processes to coordination needs and integrate group processes.... Then, in Chapter 6 discusses the easily changeable or reconfigurable organization based on the Star Model, which, according to Galbraith, results from the skilled use of three capabilities: (1) forming teams and networks across organizational departments; (2) the use of internal prices, markets, and marketlike devices to coordinate the complexity of multiple teams; and (3) the forming of partnerships to secure capabilities that it does not have. Each of these capabilities are discussed in detail.

The Chapters 7 to 10 are all very current and fashionable. They discuss the organizing around the customer, customer-focused structures, the design of the virtual corporation, and organizing the continuous design process. Although the subjects discussed are important, some of the examples are too long and take up most of the chapters. Some of the examples also do not really apply to every company/organization but are too specific. Still, these are issues that should not be forgotten about, especially organizing around the customer remains important.

I must admit that I am somewhat disappointed with this book, which is written by a leading authority in the field of organizational design. I believe it is especially the title that lets the book down. It is not so much a guide into strategies and structures; it more discusses the organization shapers and the possibilities that companies/organizations have to tackle the organization shapers. I believe that the book is especially weak in discussing organizational design and structures. Galbraith discusses his own Star-model (which reminds me of McKinsey's 7-S framework) and his reconfigurable organization (the learning organization?), but leaves all other models/designs/structures untouched. I have not been generous, the book really deserves a 3.5-star rating. The author uses simple business US-English. Read more ›

7 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource September 6, 2003

By merrymousies

Format:Hardcover

Really good intro to ideas and concepts needed to redesign an organization in terms of its structure. Best if you already have some degree of experience in do it so you can really apply the concepts.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars applied the knowladge February 22, 2006

By Suleiman Alkahteeb

Format:Hardcover

i have read this book with a great deal of intrest. it was a great help in implementing change and designing a organization structure that is able to deliver on the new strategy.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Textbooks June 27, 2010

By Mary Tullis

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The textbook I ordered was very reasonably priced, shipped and arrived exactly when it said it would, and the quality was exceptional. Will buy again!