Integrative Case Study Ii
Integrative Case Analysis I: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc
W.L. Gore and Associates have developed a unique structure providing them industry leading innovations. At the top of the company sits Bill and Vieve Gore, president and secretary-treasurer respectively. Below them are the rest of the employees; all other employees within the company hold the title of associate. Daft offers characteristics that help analyze the structure of the organization. The first dimension is Formalization. Based on the description in the text I believe W.L. Gore to be more of an informal company, they encourage creativity and individuality while promoting based on performance. The second dimension is Specialization. Within the company there are multiple divisions such as; research and development, sales and engineering. Each division has its own set of duties leading to a higher degree of Specialization. The next dimension described by Daft is Hierarchy of Authority. As stated earlier Bill and Vieve Gore have the top control spots in the company, below them all other employees hold the title associates. However the strong employees are promoted into leadership positions with a wider range of control leading to short a shorter hierarchy. (Unknown, 2006) The fourth dimension is Centralization. The lax internal environment provided to all employees at W.L. Gore, encourages employees to control themselves setting their own goals. For this reason I believe Gore to be more of a decentralized company. The next dimension is Professionalism. The research and development position and the engineering positions both require education; for this reason I believe Gore to have a high level of professionalism. However the training provided at Gore is lacking. “While the open and relaxed environment of the company may allow some associates to excel, the workers that do not immediately adapt to the system are often left to fall through the cracks.” (Unknown, 2006) Overall the
W.L. Gore and Associates have developed a unique structure providing them industry leading innovations. At the top of the company sits Bill and Vieve Gore, president and secretary-treasurer respectively. Below them are the rest of the employees; all other employees within the company hold the title of associate. Daft offers characteristics that help analyze the structure of the organization. The first dimension is Formalization. Based on the description in the text I believe W.L. Gore to be more of an informal company, they encourage creativity and individuality while promoting based on performance. The second dimension is Specialization. Within the company there are multiple divisions such as; research and development, sales and engineering. Each division has its own set of duties leading to a higher degree of Specialization. The next dimension described by Daft is Hierarchy of Authority. As stated earlier Bill and Vieve Gore have the top control spots in the company, below them all other employees hold the title associates. However the strong employees are promoted into leadership positions with a wider range of control leading to short a shorter hierarchy. (Unknown, 2006) The fourth dimension is Centralization. The lax internal environment provided to all employees at W.L. Gore, encourages employees to control themselves setting their own goals. For this reason I believe Gore to be more of a decentralized company. The next dimension is Professionalism. The research and development position and the engineering positions both require education; for this reason I believe Gore to have a high level of professionalism. However the training provided at Gore is lacking. “While the open and relaxed environment of the company may allow some associates to excel, the workers that do not immediately adapt to the system are often left to fall through the cracks.” (Unknown, 2006) Overall the
References: Daft, R. L. (2010). Chapter 1: Organizations and Organization Theory. In M. Acuna & E. Guendelsberger (Eds.), Organization Theory and Design (pp. 2-55). Mason, OH: South-Western. Author, Unkown. (2006). Company Case Analysis: W. L. Gore & Associates Retrieved November 21, 2010, from Associatedcontent.com: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/71641/company_case_analysis_w_l_gore_associates.html?cat=3