Helmy H. Baligh

THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES AND THEIR INFORMATION SUBSTRUCTURES

The processes of organization design are logically identical to algorithms and search procedures, and have varying degrees of efficiency. Unless a logical order is imposed on the choice space in which the algorithm is to operate or the search to occur, there is no way to specify the algorithm or analyze its efficiency. This logical order, or algebra, forms the basis on which one may identify the conceptual steps in the algorithm or search procedure. For example, the process of differentiation for the calculus is directly based on the algebra of real numbers. It is an efficient way to proceed to find a continuous function’s maximum. It is more efficient than a totally random search. The same logic applies to processes of designing organization structures. The specification or identification of efficient processes depends on one’s capacity to impose a logical structure on the set of organization structures. Furthermore, unless this algebra allows us to map the operational components of organization structures onto it, it will be little or no use as a basis for determining process efficiency or the choice of efficient processes.

Marketing in moderation— The marketing concept and the organization's structure

Abstract This paper discusses the marketing concept and its impact on the strategy and structure of the business organization. The popular dictum that every firm should implement the marketing concept in its extreme form is challenged. Considerations of the overall structure of the firm, the time period in question, the amount of resources available are included in the determination of the degree of implementation which should be made. Finally, the conclusion indicates that the popular view that a change in environment necessitates a change in the organizational structure should be modified. The cost may be too great for the benefits derived.

DESIGNING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES: AN EXPERT SYSTEM METHOD

Abstract An expert system approach is applied to design an organizational structure. The logic is based on the concepts of performance and structural properties of organizations, and involves the choice of the values that properties are to take. The values are those that fit those of environment and task properties. The knowledge base is supplied by the authors from analyses in the literature, experience, and expertise. A prototype of the process of design is developed and illustrated

The fit between the organization structure and its cultural setting: aspects of Islamic cultures

It is argued that the efficiency of an organization structure is determined by how well it fits into the culture in which it is set. What a fit is, and what makes it good or bad is discussed in terms of those decision rules and rewards in organizations that make them efficient in the context of the beliefs and values in Islamic cultures. The kinds of organization structure decision rules that fit well the decision rules of Islamic cultures are derived. Also identified are the bases of organization rewards that fit well with Islamic beliefs about mans control over transformations and the relation of work to earthly and heavenly rewards.

Organization structure and cooperative market relations

A linear model is used as the vehicle for analyzing some of the interactions between an organizations cooperative market relations (product forms) and its structure (decomposition and coordination). Normative implications for organizational choice, and a set of conclusions concerning the nature of organizational change and growth for practical use are developed. The concept of product form as a description of cooperative market relations is the basis for relating the activities of the firm to its market environment. The decision on product form is viewed as a decision on the resource usage vector, and hence as a decision on the nature of the linear programming model formulated. The decision on the decomposition of this linear model and on the solution procedure are viewed as decisions on organization structure. They are viewed as decisions on the partitioning of the organizations decision variables into divisions and on the mechanisms used to coordinate these divisions.

Matching the organization's structure and its cooperative market relations

The logic of linking an organizations cooperative market relations and its internal organization structure is developed.The model permits one to simultaneously consider the best match of the environment and the most efficient internal structure. It is the matching relation which is not well developed in the literature, and the major contribution of this paper.