Resource Management under a Broad Span of Control
Abstract
In order to prepare for coming changes in reserve resource management structure, this paper examines the effect of organization design on resource allocation strategies, especially as it applies to the Reserve Personnel, Army (RPA) appropriation. Up until now, RPA has been managed at a fairly macro level. The decision processes for allocating RPA funds were developed around the fact that there were only five major recipients. Under reorganization the number of major recipients increases ninefold. This calls for a reexamination of the policies and procedures used to allocate RPA funding. The information processing model treats the organization as an information processing system. The organization's design then becomes the mechanism for dealing with increased information flows. This model suggests a number of alternative strategies for resolving the RPA allocation problem. Three specific alternatives which apply the design criteria of the information processing model are the application of additional manpower, the increased use of automation and the use of objective allocation criteria. Each strategy has its limitations and benefits. Additional manpower meets operational requirements but may not help the analytical effort. Objective allocation criteria provide a potential solution where there is not a high risk relating to financial execution and where there are objective factors on which to base allocation and objective factors on which to judge program performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222513
Entities
People
- James R. Baldwin
Organizations
- Air University