ANALYZING CUSTOMER FOCUS, LEAN PRODUCTION , AND FLAT HIERARCHIES FROMA PSYCHOLOGICAL POINT-OF-VIEW

The concepts ''customer orientation'', ''lean production'', ''dehierar chization'', and ''network organization'' are often used too fuzzy and they are unduly confused. In the first step, distinctions are made in order to enable a better understanding of it from a work and organiza tional psychological point of view. Customer focus has primarily posit ive effects, such as giving orientation improving coordination, and en hancing motivation and commitment. Lean production, however, runs cont rary to the humanization of working life. Working in flat hierarchies yields chances for individual goal setting, autonomous decision making , task variation, and individual qualification. At the same rime, high psychomental strain results from high work load, severe rime pressure and incense task complexity. Different implementation strategies, the ir implications, and problems are reported.