Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Administration

Department

Business

First Advisor

Daniel W. Kemper

Second Advisor

Jeffrey Harris

Third Advisor

Sharon Steckler

Abstract

This is an expository study that will examine organizational problems that have contributed to the declining health of north American businesses. It will further identify a treatment approach, that when strategically applied can improve a business' performance and ultimately its ability to compete in global markets.

For many years North American Business have operated under a paradigm that embraced the belief that bureaucracy was the best organizational form to achieve business success. Research indicates that bureaucracy, and its failure to focus on people and the role that they play has been a leading cause to the decline in business. Many organizations are abandoning this paradigm or notion of bureaucracy and are restructuring to team based organizations. They are finding that implementing Self Directed Work Teams can be a strategic weapon and their competitive advantage.

The purpose of this study is to define those problems that have resulted from the bureaucratic form of organizing and demonstrate how using Self Directed Work Teams will help overcome them. Further, because restructuring a business or department is a complex task, organizations need a manual or plan that will lead them through a step by step process.

Implementing Self Directed Work Teams: A Manager's Guide to Successful Implementation Strategies, is the manual that was developed in conjunction with this study. Results from the evaluators of the manual indicate that this is a tool that can be used to help organizations successfully restructure from a traditional bureaucratic structure to a team based structure, using Self Directed Work Teams.

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