I chose the strategic design perspective because it seemed like the most obvious and transparent one, and because the changes being made in new organizations are changes in the system (design) and in the means of achieving the goal (strategy).

One of the key features of the new organization is the emphasis placed on team work and especially their cross-functionality. This is best explained with the first element of organizational design: strategic grouping. “Old” firms were grouped mostly by activity, “new” ones are grouped by output, customer and geography. Grouping by output means bringing individuals with different tasks but who contribute to one final product. This goes along with the idea of networking. The wider the product line the more there is a need for output grouping. Activity grouping, on the other side, would be more advantageous in companies with a less diverse product line. I can’t see a great need for output grouping for companies like Coca-cola. With one or few major products, and with little change in markets and customers it doesn’t need the responsiveness of the networked organization.

Its being global, however, commands grouping by geography.

Some topics in this essay:
, Permanent Cross-Unit, Product/Geography Matrix, strategic linking, top management, strategic design, strategic design perspective, organization strategic design, organization strategic, sharing information, lower level, business unit, product line, design perspective,