The document uses the analogy of a spinning top to represent the key factors for an organization to be sustainable. It states that an organization needs: 1) To recruit value-aligned employees, just as a top needs good form and a low center of gravity to spin optimally. 2) To have a values-based culture as its foundation, like the balance required for a top to remain upright. 3) To engage all of its employees, as outside forces like friction can cause a top to stop spinning and lack of engagement can undermine an organization's sustainability.

1. ALE – Assignment 5
Carol Longman & Neil Quin
The spinning top is used as a n analogy for a sustainable organisation.

2. …for the spinning top to spin optimally, it must be
designed with a low centre of gravity.
Form
…for an organisation to be sustainable, it is should
recruit value aligned employees.
Alignment
likened to the form of the spinning top

3. Alignment through recruitment
• Aligned employees make sound decision about priorities
• Aligned teams are more likely to work as one
• Aligned organisations are able to adapt to changing situations
As the form of the spinning top enhances its ability to spin efficiently,
so to should the recruitment methodology of the organisation
perpetuate its need for value aligned employees to support the
succession of people.

4. …for the spinning top to spin it must remain precisely
balanced.
…for an organisation to be sustainable, it is should
adopt a values based constitution.
Balance
Culture
likened to the balance of the spinning top

5. Culture
By spinning the top rapidly, centrifugal force and inertia allows the top
to spin around its axis and remain upright, so to should the values
constitution of the organisation be the cornerstone for aligned
decision making and promote guidance to employees.
• The culture is predicated on Personal responsibility
• It promotes consistency and sustainability
• It establishes connectivity between people and organisation direction

6. …the top will continue spinning until acted upon by
outside forces (friction and gravity)
Friction
…for an organisation to remain sustainable, it is should
establish a platform for all of its people to be engaged.
Engagement

7. Engaged employees
As would the forces of friction and gravity diminish the tops ability to
maintain its balance, and function, so too would the lack of forces to
support employee engagement diminish the organisations ability to
be sustainable in the long term
Engaged employees…
• promote commitment and focus
• promote efficiency, productivity and creativity
• are more likely to support long term sustainability

8. The spinning top is designed to
support the most efficient use of
transferred (kinetic) energy
through the manipulation of
internal and external forces
So too can an organisation only be
as sustainable as the construct of its
strategies for multi-generational
succession through total
engagement of all of its people