BLOGS

The Elements of Organization Design Success in Today’s Dynamic Market

How do you know if you have a good business model? In simple terms, it should solve a problem for your customer. Obviously there’s more to it than that. Your business model conceptualizes how your organization will create value for customers. There are three elements that need to be in

organization design

Enabling Executives to Find the Right Organization Design

Organization design: What does it mean? Why does your organization need it? How do you find the one that will support your goals? The selection of the right organization design is a real challenge for today’s leaders – but an important one to tackle. Take the process for granted and

Innovation Strategy

Strategic Business Planning: Is Your Innovation Strategy Adequate?

A recent survey of 246 CEOs worldwide found that 64% believe innovation and operational effectiveness carry equal importance for their companies’ success. More than half stated that innovation was a priority and they were adept at generating new ideas and approaches. We recently worked with a large company’s research and

Organization Strategy

Executing a Winning Organization Strategy

Companies seeking to gain market share have to execute an organization strategy that allows them to differentiate and win in the marketplace. There are many ways for organizations to differentiate. These may include, but are not limited to: Great customer service Most innovate product offerings Most convenient delivery method Best

Organization Design

Three Signs That You Need a New Organization Design

In today’s highly competitive global market, companies rise and fall faster than ever before. Motorola, Eastman Kodak, and Blockbuster are examples of well-recognized brands that were once market leaders in their respective industries. These companies were known for being innovative and capitalizing on market opportunities. All of that changed when they

Boxology: The Mythical Science of Organizational Change

Altering the organization’s structure might be necessary, but approaching change by changing the organization chart alone is insufficient in most cases. Over the years, a pseudo-science has emerged that focuses on finding the perfect organization chart. We call this boxology. Even if a perfect organization chart did exist (with the

High-Stakes Conversations

Organizations often have their own specific third rails—sensitive topics that are so highly charged that no one feels they can survive trying to address a problem or change needed. Sometimes these are long overdue changes where a powerful executive shuts down discussion. And so the organization continues irrationally behaving the

Give Human Resource Business Partners a Break

As we work with major organizations undergoing HR transformation (and many are still underway), we find variants of the three-pronged HR delivery model (business partners, HR operations and centers of expertise) popularized by David Ulrich over 20 years ago. One recurring challenge is freeing up Business Partners to fulfill the strategic relationship building and brokering role envisioned in many, if not most HR models.

Cost Cutting Should be Strategy Driven

So you have to make cuts. Make sure they’re the right cuts. “Here I am—most unwelcome, I know. Against my own will, too, since no one loves a messenger who brings with him bad news.” Sophocles’ play Antigone expresses well the distaste of delivering bad news. It’s one of the toughest parts of being a leader. And often the bad news is that costs must be cut.

Clear Strategy Removes Noise

We all deal with a flood of information. Spam, unwanted correspondence, and irrelevant information stuff our inboxes and voicemail. It can be difficult—despite sophisticated technological communication systems—to get clear and relevant information.