On the spatial structure of organizations and the complexity of metropolitan interdependence

TLDR: In this paper, the authors present empirical materials pertaining to the spatial pattern of intraorganizational and interorganizational interdependencies associated with specific metropolitan complexes and to ascertain whether or not these inter-dependencies are consistent with those assumed in the author's model of the process of city-system growth and development in advanced economies.

Abstract: In the United States and other highly industrialized, or postindustrial, countries the economy is dominated by large private-sector and government organizations that are normally composed of a number of functionally differentiated and spatially separated units. A variety of statistics indicates that the relative and absolute economic: power of such organizations has been rapidly expanding in recent decades (Pred [43]). Insofar as these organizations dominate the economy they are the most important generators of flows of goods, services, information, and capital. In other words, in an economically advanced system of cities large multilocational organizations are the major source of intermetropolitan and interurban interdependencies. Despite this fact, relatively little is known of the spatial characteristics of the citysys.tem interdependencies created by the intraorganizational and interorganizational relationships of major business corporations and government activities. The aims of this article are threefold: 1. To conceptually outline the characteristics of metropolitan interdependence arising from the spatial structure, or intraorganizational linkages, of major jobproviding organizations. 2. To present empirical materials pertaining to the spatial pattern of intraorganizational and interorganizational interdependencies associated with specific metropolitan complexes and to ascertain whether or not these interdependencies are consistent with those assumed in the author's model of the process of city-system growth and development in advanced economies. 3. To consider very briefly the regional planning implications of the spatial structure of large private and public organizations. Before these objectives can be dealt with directly, it is necessary to sketch the aforementioned model and to say something more precise of the growing role of large multilocational organizations in shaping the overall pattern of metropolitan interdependence.