Effectiveness Versus Efficiency: Organizational Design and Its Impact on Airlift

The debate addressing the balance of efficiencies and effectiveness regarding an organization's resources has always existed. Some people like to look at the debate through the centralized versus decentralized management paradigm. However you view it, the contextual variables that interact to affect this balance must be taken into consideration. It is important to emphasize that this paper is not intended to pursue a Big Mac versus Little MAC argument. The crux of this study is to look at how the organizational design of airlift forces can influence the development and implementation of the decision-making process and the subsequent effect it will have on force structure orientation. As the threats to our national interests span a wide spectrum of conflict, it is going to become more important that our military force structure be properly sized and equipped. Additionally, given the assumption that fiscal realities will reflect a tightening of the national purse strings for the foreseeable future, and our aging forces will require crucial modernization while we continue acquisition of newer advanced weapon systems, the proper balance between effectiveness and efficiencies will become increasingly critical.