Every organization struggles to make trade-offs. Naturally, it is hard to say no to good opportunities. However, intuitively we know that we can’t be everything to everybody, that our resources are limited, and that not everything will fit onto our work plate. Fortunately, many businesses recognize the need for trade-offs and want to create more focused paths that eventually lead
Although matrix organizations are not new, they can remain puzzling even to the most seasoned executives. How can you recognize matrix driven issues when you, as an executive, are embroiled in the matrix itself? How can you evaluate the effectiveness of a matrix structure? Rather than lump all the common matrix issues together, it is important to understand that not
With the beginning of a new year, many executives are looking to improve their businesses, their market presence, and their competitive advantage over the course of the new year. This may include changes to strategy, enhancements to organization capabilities, streamlined processes, optimized structures, refined reward systems, new measurement systems, and more. While I don’t want to dampen enthusiasm for these
Whether we like it or not, today’s marketplace is increasingly more complex. As a result, many organizations have turned to a matrix structure to help mitigate the complexities. However, most organizations fail to fully utilize a matrix and instead it becomes little more than a few dotted-line reporting relationships sprinkled throughout the organization chart. So, how do you fully utilize
For many, the holiday season is a complicated time of year when we look forward to time with family and friends but also deadlines and year-end business commitments. For executives in the throes of an organization transformation, the holiday season can be stressful because milestones and deliverables don’t take a break with the festive season and transformation efforts can be
What is one of the most important ingredients in helping leaders guide their organizations through a change transformation? Having a trusted change partner to act as a guide, advisor, and sounding board along the way. But, what makes a good change partner? What are the five key to choosing the right change partner?
True organization transformation requires more than mere structural change. It demands that the organization does things differently and that executives, leaders, and ultimately every employee understands the organization’s intentions and strategic “difference.” This calibration of actions and thinking to drive a consistent strategy is organization alignment and leads to true organization transformation. Defining alignment and organizational transformation is the easy
When people talk about matrix organizations, different ideas come to mind. In the most straightforward sense, a matrix organization is when one individual formally reports to two or more managers (solid and dotted lines). We might also say that a matrix is one form (there are many) of organizational linking mechanisms that enable organizations to work across organizational boundaries. While
AlignOrg Solutions recently hosted a free webinar helping companies explore platform business models. What makes them so desirable? How are they different from traditional business models? Why are they getting so much attention? Despite the appeal, one of the challenges of a platform business model is the governance systems required to make them operate effectively to take advantage of the
Ever gone to a conference and heard stories from other great organizations about the innovative practices they are implementing? Ever come away from those conferences thinking, “How can I help our organization become an industry leader in such-and-such a practice?” If you have experienced these thoughts, you are not alone – many business and function leaders in organizations are constantly