For next few weeks I want to discuss Organization. That’s both what an organization is and how is your business organized.
What is an organization? An organization is living, breathing organism. It is not some static inanimate object, it is not a machine. It is filled with people and therefore reacts to stimulus in a manner very similar to how a person would react. Therefore as leaders we need to recognize this and react accordingly.
How do you describe an organization, typically we start with what they do (what’s their purpose), as in – they manufacture widgets. Then we will describe the physical characteristics – size, location, etc.
But what makes the organization the organization it is? It is the organizational knowledge base that has been retained from the inception and through its various changes and forms. This is what allows the organization to fulfill it original purpose and function.
As with any organism an organization needs a path to follow or more appropriately a lesson plan for it to live, learn and grow by. This would include such things as:
It’s Vision
It’s Purpose
It’s Mission
It’s Values
It’s Goals and Objectives
It’s Policies
It’s Procedures
It’s Systems
The lesson plan needs to be communicated, published and displayed prominently for all to see and know, so that the appropriate decision making can be pushed down as far as possible through out the organization. It needs to be taught to all new employees so that they know the boundaries of their conduct and in a general basis, what the organizations expectations of them are.
When the organizational lesson plan is truly known and learned by the entire organization’s employees (as well as vendors and customers) then the organization will enjoy the benefits of increased efficiency, effectiveness, morale, satisfaction and profitability.
In the post we will discuss how your business is organized.