Sometimes, I think we miss the simple genius of how organizations are built for greatest success. The building blocks could be viewed as a) policies, processes, procedures and work instructions, b) recruiting and retaining the best people possible and c) architecting and creating a world class culture. Let’s take a look at how they interoperate.
First, there is the written policies, processes, procedures and work instructions
They must be very well well thought through, including unintended consequences and allowing for variability in context.
They must be written at the right detail level which ensures consistency while allowing employees to deal with the unexpected and bring their creativity to situations.
They are designed to generate consistent results, so make sure that the results generated are based upon the right needs and wants for all stakeholders.
Take note: No matter how well thought through, nor how thorough they are, there will always be cracks left open, so you need the next part of the organizational design.
Next, you will need to recruit and retain great people.
In “Good to Great” Jim Collins said that you need, “…the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus…”
We already know that even the best written policies, procedures etc. will leave cracks or will be inadequate for some circumstances. The right people figure out how to overcome the inevitable weaknesses in those processes. The importance of the right people cannot be overstated.
Finally, having a bunch of amazing people does not guarantee great results. They may come at things from an uncoordinated and inconsistent perspective that harms your brand.
How do you ensure that people do things, in the service of overcoming gaps, do them in alignment with what your organization wants? This is where culture comes in. We give them a mission, vision and values and select people that match them. That additional decision making criteria further refines how the amazing people will generate coordinated and consistent results that are a boon for your brand.
Give the appropriate time, attention and care to all levels of organizational design to generate optimal success.
Just my opinion. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
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