Organization and working methods

‘Imagine if the organization could function as planned so that we deliver what we should to the satisfaction of our customers. Things ought to be like this, but sometimes there is uncertainty about roles – both what is involved in the actual role and how it integrates with others in the organization – and this affects how the organization functions.’ 

The organization is really a collection of working methods which must be carried out and where our job is to contribute to each other’s areas of responsibility by ensuring that our working methods maintain a high standard. Our approach must be one of constant improvement if we are to meet our customers’ present and future needs, and these must be based on continuous awareness of what is happening around us. 

A healthy organization is constantly in motion, it adapts and changes in relation to its environment, and can therefore be likened to a living organism. Without nourishment - in the shape of ideas,continuous development and adaptability – the organization will stop functioning and finally die.

Everyone in an organization must have the authority to carry out their tasks. This sounds obvious, but things are not always like that. A sales representative lacks real ability to negotiate with the customer, a middle manager understands that all decisions must be ratified by his or her own manager, a specialist is not invited to a meeting where his or her cutting-edge expertise could be invaluable – the examples are legion. It is essential that decisions can be made as far down the operation as possible. 

For the organization and the working methods to be effective, it is essential to have clear roles, clear authority and the necessary forums where decisions can be taken with the appropriate people present. 

Activities within the organization must be allocated in a natural way and coordinated to provide optimal opportunities to run and develop the activities involved. 

Ensuring that appropriate roles, authority and organizational structure are in place is a precondition of effective work processes. It is vital that every part of the process flow passes on the correct – and improved – result to the next part to guarantee consistent handling from the beginning to the end of the process. 

All organizations and all working methods require development. Success in this demands continuous effort to find constant improvements – and it is vital that these are based on the results of monitoring the business environment, taking account of changes in the market and in customer requirements, in competitors’ working methods, and in the need to scrutinise internal working methods. 

Constant improvement makes the organization and the working methods a living system which creates the best conditions in which to achieve objectives. This is how a ‘learning organization’ operates.

Read more about our Impact model working method here.