Today's Leaders must anticipate the need for change and, when necessary, be ready to re-examine their organization to its core. When incremental change is insufficient, then they must be prepared to undertake fundamental change that could ultimately reshape everything from their company's vision, mission and strategy to its management structure, culture, technology and work processes.
Change on this scale is hard to plan and harder still to manage. Organizations, by their very nature, resist change, and those with a long history of business success often resist with particular tenacity. CEOs frequently complain that they seem to be pushing all the right buttons at the top, but nothing changes down below. Overcoming the inertia of a large organization calls for relentless dedication as well as formidable skill.
Overwhelming as they might sometimes seem, the unceasing demands of today's business world present opportunities as well as challenges. In this turbulent environment, enterprises that successfully develop new organizational capabilities will gain significant competitive advantage.
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Close-Knit Company |
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In many organizations, employees are required to work both on-site at the office and off-site often working at a client's office. Members of an organization should meet regularly at meetings, corporate gatherings and at social and charity events that the company may sponsor. A team from within the company should organize each event, ensuring that every employee feels like a part of "the bigger picture" at each gathering. From organizing the corporate picnic to acting out a part in the company's Christmas Skit, every employee must feel like an integral part of the company's culture.
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....Image from Junsang Ahn, 1999
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Teamwork |
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Team work and a spirit of participation are essential in a fast-paced atmosphere where clients demand creative and quick responses. A team dedicated to finding employee-driven solutions should be set up. The team should focus on the continuous improvement and growth of the employees within the work place. The concept of team-work will provide each employee with opportunity to learn and develop a variety of skills from other members of the company. A team should utilize all staff levels to combine new ideas and energy with experience and expertise.
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Continuous Improvement Teams (CITs) |
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.......................Image from Maga Sports, July/ 1998
The employee must feel that she has the means available to effect real change within the company. People should be encouraged to participate in the development and evaluation of company policies and activities. A company must sell it's goals and objectives effectively to its employees, such that, the members of a company find self-actualization in achieving the company's goals.
The Operations Committee, for example, meets weekly to discuss suggestions they receive from everyone in the company. |
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Technology |
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.............Image from Junsang Ahn, 1998
More than ever before, technology determines the relationship between people in an organization. With highly developed telecommunications systems an organization does not require employees to work at the same place any more or indeed at the same time. Time also directly influences the work processes related to cost and the needs of the client
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Diverse Workforce |
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............. Image from Junsang Ahn, 1998
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Diversity in the workforce is an important value. A diverse workforce provides more perspectives, styles, approaches, and skill levels to offer
customers and creates a rich environment from which to learn within the organization. |
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Organizational Structure |
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...Image from Program In RE, 1998
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The organizational structure of a company is like the skeleton, it determines how effectively and fast every part of the organization moves. How well a team or department reacts to the company's needs is based on how effectively the organization is structured. This can be achieved by carefully evaluating the inter-relationships between the various units in a company and putting them together to ensure maximum interaction and dexterity
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Globalization |
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People will often say that the world has become a smaller place … a "global village". These terms are often used in romantic terms. The reality for organizations the world over couldn't be more different. Organizations now have to work in a world where business competition isn't restricted by geographic or territorial boundaries, companies now compete globally for business. It is therefore more essential than ever that a company operate as efficiently as possible, reducing costs and maximizing revenues to protect their bottom line.
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....... Image from Asian BusinessWeek, DEC/ 1997
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concerning this page to
Junsang Ahn
or Arul Raj Prashant
or both at once
Last updated February 18, 1999