Concept
Every organization has been designed either consciously or unconsciously. Decisions are made from the beginning about a multitude of things only one of which is organizational structure. We can compare the reporting structure of an organization to a skeleton and the various systems that hang on that structure to the organs and muscles that hang on a skeleton.
There are too many design decisions to enumerate them all here. A cursory list would include structure, recruiting, hiring, job design, control, performance appraisal, reward, learning, design, research, production, quality, and marketing.
Example
One company hires from employees’ alma maters while another advertises widely. One company outsources design activities while another hires internal designers. One company pays by the hour while another pays by output. One company has 10 layers top to bottom while another company has three. One company gives year-end bonuses while another does not. One company lobbies legislators while another doesn’t. One company has an automated assembly line while another uses autonomous teams. And on and on and on and on.
Diagram
1. Identify 20 systems in your company.
2. Assess each system in terms of its usefulness.
3. How if at all would you remodel those systems?
4. If you were starting your own business, what are the first 10 systems you would design?