Should Lean Replace Mass Organization Systems? A Comparative Examination from a Management Coordination Perspective

From a management coordination perspective, this paper compares the relative performance of the lean and mass organization systems under different market environments and organizational operating conditions. Results from an empirically based computer model suggest that the success of either organization system depends not only on the organization's structural characteristics for management coordination, but also on internal and external environmental conditions. This study calls for caution against rushing into lean management practices.© 1999 JIBS. Journal of International Business Studies (1999) 30, 45–79