W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) is one of the most innovative and productive companies of the world. It holds over 2,000 patents worldwide, develops and manufactures a diverse range of almost 1,000 products, and has a revenue of approximately $3 billion per year. Gore has over 9,500 employees located in 30 countries worldwide. In many of these countries, Gore is considered one of the best companies to work for. Yet, Gore is a company with almost no organizational structure, no fixed or assigned authority, and where every employee shares the position of an associate. Gore’s unconventional management style stimulates creativity and commitment and is one of the main reasons for its success. Task environment and tasks The company is organized into four divisions; fabric, medical, industrial, and electronic products. For almost all products in every division the main basic material is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The dependency on PTFE is one of the weaknesses of Gore. An increase of material costs, the availability of a comparable low cost or technically superior substitute will have major impact on the company. Business units are small, product-focused, and have company-wide support functions to ensure …show more content…
Gore cherishes the notion of natural leadership that, according to Gore, is defined by followership. Leadership is earned over time by demonstrating special knowledge, skill, or experience that benefits business objectives. Candidates who wish to work for Gore are interviewed by a broad and diverse team and selected on these characteristics. Once hired, the newcomers get a personal sponsor to help them understand and fulfill their commitments. The sponsors also help finding a good fit between the skills and the needs of the particular