Your Organization’s Makeover: More Than Just Wallpaper!

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Your Organization’s Makeover: More Than Just Wallpaper!


By Desiree Grace

Some companies reorganize as often as my Mother would redecorate, meaning, every 3 years or as styles changed. In the case of Mother, it was her passion to redecorate and keep up with the latest trends in interior design. Some companies develop costly habits by following the latest trends in organizational design. In both cases, it's not advisable to blindly follow trends without justification. There should be a logical reason for making changes, such as a shift in the needs of the family or the company that necessitates a redesign.

If your corporate strategy or target market has changed, that might be a good impetus to check your current structure against your strategy. A few examples will illustrate the point.

Let’s say your new CEO has been charged with improving profits. He or she might look for redundant functions within the expensive VP, SVP, and C-suite functions. If your functions overlap, that could be an opportunity for rationalization and, unfortunately, editing within those departments. As painful as it might be, the CEO has an obligation to run a lean, mean profit machine.

In a different situation, there is an urgent requirement for increased business development. The Sales and Marketing departments need additional investment to drive growth. To address this, you would prioritize both departments and add horsepower to their teams, while also establishing clear goals, metrics, and a timeline for return on investment (ROI).

A new market looks promising, and you need to expand geography. This, too, will require investment in infrastructure, including a regional distribution center and added service centers. Operations and Procurement will need to support the expansion. Human Resources will need to help you staff those facilities. This, too, will require an organizational adjustment, such as a new region.

Organizations, whether they are associations, distributors, representative agents, or manufacturers, often encounter new strategies, goals, and even target markets. To effectively support these goals, it is crucial to ensure that your organizational structure aligns with them. Ask yourself the difficult questions: Is my current structure working? Is it meeting my needs? If the answer is no, then it’s time to revise, revamp, and restructure.

 

Restructuring should not be based on fads or trends; instead, it should support your overall mission. Otherwise, you may just be trading wallpaper for paint.


Stuck with how to structure? Give River Heights Consulting a shout. We’ve got experience with all types of design and can offer you support. (Wallpapering not included.)

 


About the Author

Desiree Grace is River Heights Consulting’s resident marketing strategist and organizational whisperer. With years of experience helping companies cut through the chaos and align their structure with their goals, Desiree has a keen ability to separate fads from fundamentals. Her expertise lies in designing organizations that are lively, adaptable, and ready to grow, without needing a new “redecorator” every few years.

 

 

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