Build enough structure, not more Does the structure of your organization support it in moving through the world? Is it both strong and flexible? I facilitate the process of designing strong, flexible organizational structures that are focused on doing and guiding their work. Upper levels of management define deliverable results and tolerable variances, and delegate the details of execution to the people doing the work. Operational decisions are made by leaders in a traditional top-down hierarchy, and policy decisions – which guide and constrain those operational decisions – are made by the people who will implement them. One of those policy decisions is to appoint a representative to participate in upper-level management. This structure enables critical information about business priorities and constraints to flow in both directions. It also incubates new leaders by giving members of the workforce, selected by their peers in collaboration with their leader, opportunities to participate in decision-making at higher levels of management. |