Organizational design considerations for the new Coast Guard WMEC-270

Abstract

The Coast Guard will receive the first of a new class of vessel, the 270 foot medium endurance cutter, beginning during the late summer of 1981. Records show extensive planning to determine the optimum physical structure as well as the optimum mix and number of personnel. The purpose of this study is to develop the optimum organizational structure which will support the interaction between the people and the physical characteristics of the vessel. Three major factors were analyzed as part of this study. First, the operational requirements imposed on the vessel. Second, the environment which affects the vessel's ability to perform its operational requirements. Third, the availability of alternative design structures as determined from a review of the literature on structuring organizations. Ultimately, a structural design is selected which best matches the organizational environment of the new Coast Guard WMEC-270 with its operational requirements in order to optimize the effectiveness of the new vessel.