The U.S. Coast Guard sector construct : A study of organizational culture

Abstract

The U. S. Coast Guard has recently merged the operational forces responsible for maritime security in port and coastal zones into a new organization called the Sector construct. This thesis examines the cultural issues associated with this reorganization and poses three questions: 1. What are the cultural challenges associated with the Sector organization? 2. To what extent is cultural management relevant to the Coast Guard's strategic planning process? 3. How can the senior managers of the Coast Guard intentionally manage culture in order to facilitate lasting organizational change? The application of frameworks from several academic fields presents a holistic view of Coast Guard culture - its history, present state of transition, and future implications.