Evolutive organisation

In previous articles, I mentioned that an organization with a purpose is a differentiating factor for customers and creates a motivating environment for employees and attracts talent. Combined with winning teams, with employees ready to fully commit to the success of the company with an entrepreneurial spirit, it increases its efficiency and develops the knowledge necessary for its success. 

The purpose and winning teams are two key elements for agile organizations, but they are not enough. The framework conditions between these two elements still need to be developed, structures need to be put in place that enable continuous learning, the import of new perspectives, the integration of suggestions from employees, partners and customers, and the ability to react effectively to the unexpected. 

Organizations that have put these framework conditions in place are characterized by 

Customer obsession 

The customer is at the center. Retaining them and building their loyalty is a priority. The structure and the organization of the company are built to satisfy customers efficiently. They are adjusted if the environment (customer requirements, market and competition) changes. The established culture ensures that everyone in the company contributes to fulfilling the customer’s requirements. The process system that has been put in place to define effective coordination within the company is built to effectively meet the requirements of the customers and the business.

The obsession of the customer within all levels of the company enables to work together efficiently for the customer.

A unity of doctrine

A common language, a system that allows all employees to focus on creating value for its customers, is put in place. This system defines how the main tasks are performed in the form of standardized processes. It defines how to interact with each other by establishing roles and responsibilities and assigning accountability.

With such a system in place, the exchange of experience is facilitated, collaboration is more fluid, and learning can be sustained and transmitted rapidly within the organization. Good practices are immediately integrated into the system. Thus, employees do not waste time looking for them and can focus on improving their own work methods. 

Having a unity of doctrine in place ensures the optimal use of the added value of any organization: the knowledge of its employees. 

The constant search for excellence

The organization creates the desire to evolve, to improve and to simplify the way of working at all levels of the organization. Improvements range from initiatives derived from the strategy to improvements at the workplace. In order to ensure the coherence of all these initiatives a systemic approach is put in place: the coherence, transparency and measurement of these initiatives are assessed against the strategy. 

The organization is not limited to internal suggestions, but is open to the outside world and looks for ideas everywhere, from customers, suppliers, partners, employees and other companies, to continuously improve and integrate other approaches in order to aim for excellence. 

The search for excellence allows to face changes without fear because the organization is trained to do so. 

A scientific approach

Reality is looked at straight forward. Problems are approached in an open manner. They are analyzed and resolved using a scientific approach to ensure that they do not recur. Everyone in the organization is trained and encouraged to solve problems as soon as they occur. 

The scientific approach allows to solve problems together by going back to the source.

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