Providing integration in a highly differentiated research organization — The role of a program staff

Administrators of large, geographically dispersed, government agencies, like their industry counterparts, may periodically examine their management systems and modify them to fit the environment within which they work. The administrator of such an organization will strive to develop a management system that will give maximum efficiency of operations and still maintain maximum effectiveness. Establishment of a line and staff matrix of organizational management is one approach to maximizing efficiency and effectiveness. In the paper, both the integrating and differentiating roles of the program staff are examined in the light of the Lawrence and Lorsch model. The functions and responsibilities of line and staff and the roles of program review and policy analysis in the organization are also examined.