Organizational Structure – What If…

By Michelle Malay Carter on June 18, 2008 

Employee Sink or SwimJack Fallow had this to say about my lamentation on organizational structural failures:?

Yes it is a problem that we under-engineer work environments and structures.

Typically, the engineer, first decides that weight bearing strength of 1000lbs is necessary, then adds 50% for security. Next, they choose the best material to carry the strain. Then, they make over-abundant connections so that should any fail, there will be back-up. This is followed by the installation of a safety net underneath.

But as for people? Well, they can sink or swim!

What if we?.. established workers, offered them 50% more training than they needed, doubled their connections inside the organisation, built safety nets underneath them and checked that they were carrying the weight? We might do better. That would be engineering with an attitude!

Wow, what if?? I’m OK.? You’re OK.? Let’s fix the system

Filed Under Corporate Values, Employee Engagement, Organization Design, Requisite Organization, Strategy, Talent Management

Comments

2 Responses to “Organizational Structure – What If…”

  1. Ralf Lippold on July 1st, 2008 12:13 pm

    Hello Michelle,

    thanks for that great post.

    It seems to be that everything else than people is often much more carefully handled, analysed and treated.

    How can this be as everything is dependant of people doing the right job right?

    Cheers,

    Ralf

  2. Michelle Malay Carter on July 1st, 2008 3:24 pm

    Hi Ralf,

    Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. It’s a shame that we are not yet savvy enough in the organizational design and structure arena to create work enabling organizational environments.

    Michelle