Abstract:
The Loosely Structured Organization (LSO) is presently regarded as a new management
paradigm, which determines the structure and functions of organizations today. LSO
evolved as a modern organizational form perfectly matching the multi-product, smallvolume
lean production system brought about by new technology in latter part of
1980s. LSO is currently considered as the dominant organizational form among
Japanese enterprises and increasingly diffusing among Japanese affiliates even in
abroad. This paper, which was based on an empirical research study focuses on
clarifying the patterns of organization structure of Japanese affiliates in SriLanka,
with special reference to the paradigm of LSO. The research framework conceptualized
structural patterns on the basis of a typology consisting of two main components:
work and management organizations of a firm. The study, which was carried out among
five Japanese affiliates operating in SriLanka, has found the existence of LSO in those
firms. The findings suggest that the LSO is diffusing across national borders and the
Japanese style of organizational form has universal characteristics.
