Organizational design challenges
Given the four basic organizational design challenges we have been introduced to this week, choose one and look for a quote from a management or leadership guru -preferably one you have been introduced to through your readings and class content (such as Drucker, Deming, or Senge)- that you believe sums up the conflict implicit to the design challenge you chose and/or the opportunities that you recognize as being an integral part of it from your perspective as leader. In what ways does your organization manage this balance?
Present the quote, attribute it, and then give an explanation as to how this quote addresses in some way the dilemma confronting your organization and your professional context.
Sample Solution
Peter Drucker’s famous quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast” serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and managing organizational culture in order to achieve success. This quote speaks directly to one of the four basic organizational design challenges identified this week: fostering an environment where employees feel empowered, motivated and engaged while also ensuring productivity levels are maintained. Employees who are not properly supported or feel their contributions are not valued will be less likely to remain invested in the organization and its objectives. Conversely, providing too much autonomy or resources can lead to wasted time, resources, and energy. As leaders, it is our responsibility to find that delicate yet effective balance between these two extremes (Kotter & Rathgeber, 2012).
In my organization we manage this balance by creating a culture of trust and collaboration. We strive to empower each individual employee with meaningful opportunities for growth and development through mentorship programs and investing in ongoing education initiatives. At the same time we ensure performance standards are met through frequent communication between managers and staff members on goals, expectations, progress tracking methods etc., as well as offering rewards for outstanding efforts.
