1. What does it mean to say that an organization and its environment are loosely coupled? Is loose coupling an advantage or disadvantage for an organization?
2. Why is the role of the boundary spanner so important? so difficult? How could an organization prepare one of its employees for this role?
3. What strategies does an organization have for managing its dependence on the environment?
4. How might mergers, takeovers, and acquisitions be seen as a way of managing environmental dependence?