Structure, learning, and performance: a military point of view.

Chenista Rae Straubel

BUS 4013: Prof Gregory Gotches

April 14, 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this interview is to establish what type, if any, of

relationship exists between structure, learning, and performance in highly

mechanized organizational structures with wide and tall hierarchy of command

and authority. The US military is a perfect representation of a mechanized

organizational structure. I anticipate interviewing John L. Troyanos LCDR of the

US Navy. I interviewed John recently regarding empowerment within this

mechanistic structure and I hope to build upon my understanding of the

relationship or link between organizational structure and leadership.

Interview Questions

Some of the following questions apply to this interview and his responses

are listed below.

What is the structure of management within your organization (is it a

lateral or wide hierarchy)? Military are widely hierarchy in their command
structure.

What are your organizations goals, purpose, and mission? How do you
impart these values to your people?

What leadership style is predominantly used? Do you feel this

leadership style is an asset in the performance of the organization as a
whole?
How does the US Military impart values, goals, purpose, and a sense of
mission to its people? How does your organize instill or maintain
morale?

Do you feel this management structure is conducive to an empowered

organization? Why or why not? Hierarchy is not conducive to an
empowered organization. However, within many military lower level
organizations, where trust and integrity is critical to mission success that an
empowered organization doesn’t exist.

What role will empowerment play in the future of your organization? As

the leader of my organization embedded within the larger hierarchy structures
of the military, empowerment of our people in the command are the
cornerstones of our successes. It is my responsibility to build and nurture a
managerial and leadership environment.