The emerging flexible organization: perspectives from Silicon Valley

Article Abstract:

Many enterprises, public and private alike, are in the midst of fundamental organizational changes. These cover a spectrum of initiatives - ranging from downsizing and delayering to the creation of team-based networks, partnerships, and alliances - and involve a fundamental reassessment of employment security, critical competencies, and career trajectories. Collectively, these trends highlight some of the limitations of our traditional approaches for managing continuous, rather than periodic, transformations. High-technology firms in Silicon Valley are experimenting with flexible organizational building blocks, designed to address novel tasks, "Kaleidoscopic" change, and continuous innovation. This article describes the building blocks of flexible organizational designs. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Innovations, Industrial organization

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Stratocracy in high-technology firms

Article Abstract:

Historically, major organizational innovations have been associated with the emergence of new industries. The unique environment of California's Silicon Valley has spawned a novel organizational regime, one which is designed to provide a sense of focus, increase the firm's speed of response to emerging developments, and facilitate the continuous adjustment of organizational arrangements in accordance with situational imperatives. "Stratocracy" is here defined as "rule by the doers." This article examines the distinguishing features of the high-technology arena, describes the structural characteristics of high-technology firms, and contrasts stratocracy with other organizational regimes. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Organizational change

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Flexible re-cycling and high-technology entrepreneurship

Article Abstract:

This article explores high-technology entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley - an environment in which technological innovation and new enterprises have thrived during the past 30 years. In this domain, the demise of one firm typically leads to the formation of others. This process of "flexible re-cycling" can result in novel reconfiguration of knowledge and human capabilities, allowing new firms to rise from the ashes of disengaged enterprises. The versatile ecosystem of Silicon Valley facilitates the process of flexible re-cycling and can be viewed as the enduring dimension of business activity. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Electronic Computer Manufacturing, Computers & Auxiliary Equip, Research, Silicon Valley, Entrepreneurship

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