2. Organization Design
Organization Design is a process for shaping the way organizations are
structured and run to achieve it’s goals.
It involves many different aspects of life at work, including team formations,
shift patterns, lines of reporting, decision-making procedures,
communication channels, and more.
The six basic elements of organizational structure are: departmentalization,
chain of command, span of control, centralization or decentralization, work
specialization and the degree of formalisation.
3. Potential success elements of effective
organisation design
Increased efficiency.
Faster and more effective decision making.
Improved quality of goods and services.
Higher profits.
Better customer relations.
Safer working conditions.
A happier, healthier and more motivated workforce.
Greater preparedness for future challenges.
4. Failure elements of inappropriate
organisation design
Ineffective problem solving.
Wasted time.
Lack of coordination between different parts of the business.
Inconsistent quality of work.
Failures of legal compliance.
Reputational damage.
Low morale, leading to high staff turnover.
Below-target business-level results.
5. Framing right design for the organisation:
Hierarchical/Organic
Characteristic Hierarchical structure Organic structure
Complexity
High – with an emphasis on horizontal
separation into functions,
and divisions.
Usually lower – less differentiation and
functional separation.
Formality
High – lots of well-defined lines of
control and responsibility.
Lower – no real hierarchy, and less
formal division of responsibilities.
Participation
Low – employees lower down the
organization have little involvement in
decision making.
Higher – lower-level employees have
more influence on decision makers.
Communication
Downward – information starts at the
top and trickles down to employees.
Lateral, upward and downward –
information flows through the
organization with fewer barriers.
6. 10 Principles of Organization Design
1. Declare amnesty for the past (Identify the key difference that design would make)
2. Design with “DNA.” (Work on each block of organisation)
3. Fix the structure last, not first.
4. Make the most of top talent.
5. Focus on what you can control.
6. Promote accountability.
7. Benchmark sparingly, if at all.
8. Let the “lines and boxes” fit your company’s purpose.
9. Accentuate the informal.
10. Build on your strengths.