Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Business Administration

Department

Business

First Advisor

Daniel W. Kemper

Second Advisor

Patrick Akers

Third Advisor

Jan Kniffen

Abstract

This thesis will focus on an analysis of organizational trends in the United States, and the move away from functionally based organizational structures toward team structures .

Increased domestic and international economic pressures have forced many U. S. companies to seek out new methods of operation in order to stay competitive and maintain market share . A major emphasis has been placed on organizational streamlining in an effort to become leaner and more productive . Many companies have taken the slow and cautious approach, carefully calculating the impact of organizational change, and others have leaped head first into new and innovation organizational structures . The most popular organizational changes involve the use of multi-disciplined integrated product process team structures.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the trends and issues surrounding organizational redesign, and to determine the validity and legitimacy of these new organizational concepts.

As part of this project's evaluation process, a comprehensive literature review was conducted . Over seventy pieces of literature were evaluated to attain a database from which to draw conclusions . From the broad literature search, three pieces of research were specifically pertinent to the investigation . These pieces of research included; a discussion of Integrated Product Teams at McDonnell Douglas Corporation's aircraft company in St . Louis Missouri , an explanation of Self- Directed Work Team at Heath Teena's Bellingham Washington production facility, and an article entitled "Cross-Functional Structures : A Review and Integration of Matrix Organization and Project Management " by Robert C. Ford and W. Alan Randolf of the University of Alabama- Birmingham and the University of Baltimore, respectively . The first two pieces deal with practical, real word implementation, and the third deals with team and matrix structures based on an academic analysis.

The research revealed overwhelming support for the team and matrix concepts . On the basis of the data complied during the literature review and the detailed analysis of the selected pieces of research, the writer concludes that team and matrix organizational structures are viable and legitimate concepts and do ultimately support increased productivity.

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