Organisational Mechanics
When you ask for an organisation chart I bet you expect to see something like this:
If I gave you an organisation chart that looked a little more like this:
What would that tell you about the organisation?
What does your organisation chart look like? An organisation, or a power struggle?
Enjoy this post? Click here for updates delivered straight to your inbox
Read another opinion
Image by Gordon Bell
James Lawther is a middle-aged, middle manager.
To reach this highly elevated position he has worked in numerous industries, from supermarket retailing to tax collecting. He has had several operational roles, including running the night shift in a frozen pea packing factory and carrying out operational research for a credit card company.
As you can see from his C.V. he has either a wealth of experience or is incapable of holding down a job. If the latter is true this post isn’t worth a minute of your attention.
Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to read it and decide for yourself.
[…] The test and the clues to the alignment of us to our work lies in James Lawther’s article How are you Organised? […]
James,
Great post… organize around the customer… and everyone wins.
Annette :-)
Although brief, it was a good read. Most organizations have the typical pyramid structure with the person responsible for leading the organization being the furthest away from the front line. The whole organization needs to be closer to the customer.
Some would argue the pyramid should be inverted, but I think you are right, the whole organisation needs to be closer to the customer.
James
Hi James,
I often wonder if our organisation charts are reflective of the way that we structure our societies and govern ourselves.
Adrian
I think they probably are Adrian, though that might not be a good thing