Tag Archives: structure

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Organize for Performance

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While not an original nor innovative concept, how we organize the work we do, from individual tasks, teams to enterprise structure makes a big difference to the cost, efficiency, and quality of the outcomes.

Success can be achieved through organizational optimization.  This is a continuous process, ongoing change is inevitable and how we are organized to address external and contextually change needs to reflect the current and forecast future situations.

What is Organization?

Organization is the act of getting people, places or things arranged in a systematic way, whether on a large or small scaled getting things organized in a way that the goals and objectives will be achieved with as much ease as possible.

This is not only about efficiency though, organization is how we can ensure the right things get done by the right person (or persons) at the right time.

Often we take the organization of things at the status quo and just carry on.  Why challenge what is working?  Unfortunately effective organization is integrated with a multitude of environmental factors.

As the environment changes so does the organizational effectiveness.  To attain the best results your routine needs to adapt to the changes.

For Example

You have organized your morning wake-up and get ready for the day in a particular day.  Maybe you get up at a set time and complete a defined set of activities from washing, shaving, dressing to eating before considering yourself ready.

The question becomes, is the same morning activity organization as effective today as it was the first time you practiced it?  Without altering your routine  to adapt to changing life events (e.g., getting married, having children, changing jobs, moving locations, etc.) it is highly likely the outcomes will have suffered.

Pay attention to how you and the things around you are organized, it matters.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Structure

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In its verb form structure is very much about creating an arrangement or organization of interrelated elements.  The structure forms the underlying foundation.

Unstructured activities are more on the innovative or creative side but have a greater risk of failure. When a structure is in place progress is planned, governed and results are far more likely to be both consistent and sustainable.

Governance

Rules, regulations, policies and processes are all structural components of any organization.  Without these in place to some degree, governance is not possible.

Governance practices are guided by the level of structure. The greater the flexibilty or lack of structure the harder it is to control the outcomes.

For example, if the plan is to complete an objective within six months or a year, versus a clearly defined exact six months, it is hard to measure,track and be confident the objective will be achieved as schedule. (It is hard to govern the result)

With the lack of structure the outcomes become a bit of a moving target.  Of course the flexibility increases the chance of being able to claim a successfull achievement.

Structured Process

How an activity or task is completed, the way the goal is attained can  be well defined or loosley structured.  If, for example, the structure requires documentation and validation the likelihood of producing consistent outcomes is enhanced.

To Structure or Not to Structure?

Sounds like structure has value, on the other hand the greater  effort, time and reduction in creativity can belie the positive benefits.

Like most practices a concious carefully balanced approach to the amount of structure exercised is ultimately the best approach.  One option, very structured or very unstructured and every thing in between, is rarely optimal.

Consider the desired results, pro’s and con’s and customize your structure to best feet the environmental requirements.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Structuring for Success

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Groups of  people bonded together by a common purpose require a defined organizational structure.  This applies whether it is a large corporation, charity, non-profit, government agency, to name just a few of the numerous  types of groups, right up to just a simple family.

The structure can develop organically (e.g., the parent child relationships in a family) or can be very complex requiring a lot of time and effort to develop.Outside consultants may be hired to provide guidance in the more complex cases.

Whether, organic, intuitive or intracately detailed the purpose of the structure is to guide the organization toward efficient and effective achievement of it’s purpose.

This is quite different from the individual goals and objectives that may cascade throughout the organization.  The organization structure enables seemless integration of disparate operations all focused on the overriding purpose of the organization.

Every Piece is Critical

Many years ago, I heard the story of a janitor at one of the Boeing aircraft factories whom, when asked what his work was clearly stated ” I build airplanes”.

The point is clear.  Boeing  builds airplanes and everyone who works there, regardless of their own specific role, plays a part in the companies ability to achieve their outcome.

Well crafted organization structures are a critical tool in making this happen.  Like a school of dolphins or military aircraft in close flight successfull completion of the journey requires every part to fully understand not only their role and accountabilities but all the others as well.

Everything must operate in perfect synchronization to ensure success.

So organization structure is critical, what next?

Hopefully I have set the frame in this post for how critical your structure is to your operations overall success.  In future posts I will explore key aspects to consider while developing that structure.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Organizational Behavior

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Regardless of type (e.g., charitable, corporate, social, government, etc.) organizations all share a set of common traits.  These influence the way the organizations members behave.

Heirarchy

This always exists in some form.  The structure could be pyramidical (most common) or relatively flat with shared authority and accountabilities.

The details of organization vary depending on type but ultimately there are rankings of authority (leaders, managers) and various other member levels.

Overall the relationships and authorities associated with the organizations members are defined .  This may be crystal clear or vague, either way, whether strictly defined or loosley defined a structure will exist.

Culture

The organizations leaders and managers, those recognized to have greater power, together with the organizations stated goals and objectives set the tone for how the members behave.

The Individuals

The organizational culture is further influenced by the capabilities and personalities of the entire membership of the organization.

Group Behaviour

The combination of the influences of the heirarchy (leadership structure, cultural and individual members personal traits) dictates the basic overall personality of the group (i.e, the group behaviour)

This ultimately impacts the organizations effectiveness.

When the combinations of structure, culture and individuality gel effectively, typically the organization itself over achieves. A key point here is no one factor alone can influence success.

For example having  effective leadership or an open and vibrant culture or a group of individual super people alone does not necessarily make for greatness.

Real success lies in the balance and integrated combination of all the above factors playing off each other like an orchestra.

Typically great leaders, skilled resoures or a stellar environment alone will not succeed unless the balance exists that binds them  and enables them to work seemlessly in concert.