Overview of Organization Design

2 Hour Topic

Human Resources and Training and Development Employees and Managers

The “patchwork” of structure and systems that supports an organization in the achievement of its business is often the result of a long history of adjustment to the competitive environment and internal stresses made through intentional and unintentional responses to growth or crises. The patchwork is often a hidden source of a continuing series of organizational problems and it is indeed the rare occasion when organizations are made more effective through the application of design, i.e. using a systematic approach to improving performance by methodically considering all the factors that add up to improved results. Even when systematic interventions are chosen, they are often left in the hands of specialists with expertise in organization design unguided by the leaders who need to understand the requisite changes the most. We believe leaders should have a grasp of the basic organization design principles so their expertise in their business can complement the expertise of those who re-design organizations.