Process organization-concept and origins with reference to the restructuring of Croatian manufacturing

This paper elaborates on the evolution of the term Process organization in order to point the possibilities of implementing the concept in the restructuring of the Croatian manufacturing industry. For that purpose, the paper starts by indicating the circumstances that led to the popularization of the concept among managers, especially due to the pressures that arise out of intensifying competition and global trends in enterprise restructuring. Here,we point to the fact, that even though the term has been known for quite some time, its meaning is changing: what makes it important these days is exactly the fact that process based restructuring makes easier the identification of critical business activities. The paper also stresses that there are other concepts related to organizational restructuring that are evolving along side, and, that are important for the understanding of the underlying logic and consequences of process oriented structures. Those are especially project organization, business networks, BPR and BPO.