Organization Design for Dynamic Fit: A Review and Projection

Authors

  • Mark Nissen Naval Postgraduate School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/jod.8196

Keywords:

organization design, organizational fit, dynamic fit, organizational alignment, misfit

Abstract

The concept of fit is central to organization design. In the organizational literature, fit historically has been portrayed as a static concept. Both organizations and their environments, however, are continually changing, so a valid concept of fit needs to reflect organizational dynamics. In this article, I analyze various theoretical perspectives and studies that relate to organizational fit, differentiating those that employ an equilibrating or a fluxing approach. Four substantive themes emerge from this analysis: design orientation, design tension, designer/manager roles, and measurement and validation. Implications of each of these themes for dynamic fit are derived, and promising future research directions are discussed.

Author Biography

Mark Nissen, Naval Postgraduate School

Professor of Information Science and Management

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Published

2014-08-29

How to Cite

Nissen, M. (2014). Organization Design for Dynamic Fit: A Review and Projection. Journal of Organization Design, 3(2), 30–42. https://doi.org/10.7146/jod.8196

Issue

Section

Research Article