Founded by Sam Sullivan in 1989, the Disabled Sailing Association (DSA) provides an accessible sailing experience for those with a variety of disabilities. The DSA uses a specially designed sailboat, called a Martin 16. This boat is designed to stay afloat and upright even in the worst of weather, and Uses technology such as the “Sip ‘n’ Puff,” which makes use of hydraulic winches and arms to operate the sheets and tiller, even those with extremely limited mobility and strength (such as quadriplegics) are able to participate in this sport.
In recent years, due to increased word-of-mouth marketing, the demand for the experience that the DSA offers has dramatically increased. As more sailors want to participate in the program, the head office realizes that the employees are beginning to struggle with the increased workload. Fortunately, communication is very open between management and workers, and employees are encouraged to provide insight and advice. In fact, the head office relies on employees to help them with hiring decisions and other decisions related to the overall organization. This is in part due to the structure of the organization: a single dedicated team of five people, who work hands on full time throughout the summer. This is a good demonstration of the positive effects of a flatter company structure, along with open communication.
