41
Remember the Organizational “Layers” Involved

In making the decision on whom to involve, remember that it will depend greatly on where in the organization the outcomes will be felt. Generally speaking, there are three “layers” of any organization.

The first is at the lowest level, with the immediate supervisor of a group of people. Decisions here usually only involve those people and their work processes, so these decisions rarely involve others outside this small group.

The second layer includes decisions that involve more than one group and perhaps people in multiple departments and even locations. These decisions require more coordination, research, consultation, and even participation.

The third layer involves the organization as a whole—everyone in it and every process. These are complex decisions that will ultimately involve all key managers and the senior leadership team of the organization.

Who should be involved in a decision can often depend on the layer it affects.