The use and development of a descriptive organisational model in a retail co-operative society environment

The organisational model chosen for the study was a descriptive one comprising the elements of Strategy, Structure, Process, Performance and Management Style set in the context of the socio-economic environment of the organisation studied and constrained by the organisation's history and antecedents. The purpose of the study was twofold. Initially the model was applied to two very different Retail Co-operative Societies, both very large and mature organisations but with contrasting socio-economic environments, development histories and attitudes towards business strategy. One was an inertial organisation where structure was seen as a constraint on strategy, the other a dynamic organisation which appeared more in line with the Chandlerian concept of Strategy/Structure relationships. [Continues.]