September 2003

August/September 2006

Innovation Tips

…ideas for building collaborative innovation

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Order Versus Control—Geese or Pyramids?

The traditional organizational structure is often depicted as a series of boxes indicating lines of authority and control. While these charts can be helpful in delineating reporting relationships, they can also do much to suppress organizational vitality.

The box-and-line diagram can implicitly create certain unproductive dynamics: superior/subordinate hierarchies, operational silos, “not my job” mentalities and bureaucracy. Bureaucracy tends to suppress innovation and too much control tends to suppress personal initiative.

The differences between control and order must be made clear. We create trouble for ourselves by confusing control with order.

Think of the V-shape that geese make as they unite to make their migratory journey. It is a natural ordering system that enables each of the geese to make the journey with greater ease. The geese share the more difficult point position while their aggregate wing formation reduces wind resistance for the rest of the flock.

Their V-shaped formation is a good metaphor for a well-ordered organization that is not highly controlled. It is flexible, organic, responsive and collaborative. Leadership is shared by many.

Organizations that function with natural ordering systems are leader-full organizations where anyone, from any sector of the organization, can freely take initiative. They tend to be ordered more by enthusiasm, ideas, knowledge, and talents than hierarchies of control. They are like the geese that order themselves flexibly while moving toward a common mission.

Now think of the ancient pyramids of Egypt. They could be the metaphor for an organizational hierarchy heavy with control. They are rigid with one fixed point of leadership at the top. The stones don’t move.

The metaphor of the geese suggests order with little control that liberates personal initiative. The metaphor of the pyramid suggests order with much control that suppresses personal initiative. Is your organization light with the natural order of the geese or heavy with the control of a pyramid? Choose the geese and watch the vitality of your organization soar.

What Else?

Partners for Innovation is in the business of helping you create organizations that thrive on collaborative innovation and strong social capital. We write these articles to support your work in building a vital organization. Please tell us what else you would like to learn. We depend on you for our subject matter, and as the subject of our work, you matter!

Please send the editor an email to let us know what you would like to learn in these essays: jgjohnston@partnersfi.com

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