From Organization Design to Organization Designing

Organization design in its verb form is explored through a study of the design practices of a major contemporary architect, Frank O. Gehry, and his firm, Gehry Partners, LLP. Through four case studies, we explore how the organization design of his architectural projects is an outcome of Gehry Partne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Organization science (Providence, R.I.) R.I.), 2006-03, Vol.17 (2), p.215-229
Main Authors: Yoo, Youngjin, Boland, Richard J., Jr, Lyytinen, Kalle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architectural design
Architectural services
Architecture
Buildings
Case studies
Collaboration
Cost estimation models
Design
design gestalt
Enterprises
form giving
Industrial design
knowledge
organization design
Organization theory
Organizational research
Organizational structure
project
Project evaluation
sensemaking
Steels
Studies
Subcontractors
Success
Three dimensional modeling
Wood buildings
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Summary:Organization design in its verb form is explored through a study of the design practices of a major contemporary architect, Frank O. Gehry, and his firm, Gehry Partners, LLP. Through four case studies, we explore how the organization design of his architectural projects is an outcome of Gehry Partner's design gestalt. We argue that this design gestalt is a primary source of their organization designing and is composed of an architectural vision, the tight coupling of multiple representation technologies, and a commitment to a collaborative process of design and construction. These elements of design together form a holistic, organizing pattern-their design gestalt-that is evident in all of Gehry Partners projects, both their buildings and their organizational forms. We offer three characteristics of organization designing-focus on form giving, relation to environment, and temporality. We argue that developing a design gestalt and strengthening the capacity for organization designing is crucial for firms in our increasingly knowledge- and experience-based economy.
ISSN:1047-7039
1526-5455
DOI:10.1287/orsc.1050.0168