Hewlett-Packard (HP) and IBM are two of the world’s larger and best known organizations. Their vision and time-honored culture set the foundation for how they are structured and managed.

When organizing a department, the supervisor should envision the ideal arrangement based on the assumption that all required and qualified employees are available. Because there are seldom employees with all the desired qualifications, available employees must be fit to the structure. Over time,

the supervisor should make changes to move the department toward its ideal structure. Supervisors who strive for superior performance should adopt the concepts instrumental in creating a “learning organization.” Because structure should follow strategy, as strategy changes, structures should be reviewed and modified appropriately.? P-987