Organizational Architecture

Organizational Architecture is a process developed by Corporate Transitions International to enable organizations to manage the dramatic transitions that are challenging them today. It is unique in that it touches all four basic components of business: strategy, structure, culture and communications.

Strategy

Some companies know exactly where they are going a year--maybe five or ten--down the road. Most don't. Even fewer know how they are going to get there. Organizational Architecture not only helps you to figure out where you are going, but it shows you how to get there in a clear, step-by step approach. It helps you to build an exciting, compelling Vision, shared by the entire organization, then generates a prioritized list of Vision Elements, the steps you must take to arrive at your goal.

It is also important to recognize the challenges, changes, threats, and trends that will affect your business. Most companies lack this ability, but Organizational Architecture teaches you how. And it doesn't stop there: inside every threat is an opportunity, and the Organizational Architecture process will give your company the skills to recognize the opportunities that come your way, and the agility take advantage of them. 

Structure

Most organizations are built on traditional systems and processes (structures) that were invented during the Industrial Revolution, a time when our society needed mass production. The rigidity of the structures gave them their strength. But given the rate of change that modern companies experience in today's marketplace, rigidity is a liability. If you try to change too quickly, the old structures will break down. They are obsolete. 

Nevertheless, these antiquated structures brought us to where we are today, and we are emotionally attached to them. So we continue to use them. But by holding onto them, we leave our organizations vulnerable. The huge transitions that are happening today, that we call "the Tidal Wave of Change", can smash your company flat. You need robust, flexible structures to withstand the onslaught. 

Organizational Architecture shows you how to build new, stronger, more flexible and adaptable structures. Your company will become more agile and more competent at handling transition.

Culture

We all too often remain stuck in the past, in terms of our thinking and behavior. Conventional wisdom tells us to "hang on to the old ways of doing things. Be safe. If you need to improve, just improve the past." Structures influence culture. Obsolete structures encourage obsolete thinking and behavior. Improving obsolete structures leads to improved obsolescence. 

Organizational Architecture flies in the face of conventional wisdom. It says to be bold--to build new ways of thinking, and create practices that will make your company agile enough to take advantage of the powerful transitions that are happening right now. Turn your challenges into opportunities! Organizational Architecture helps you move your organization into an entirely new realm of business, one in which it will not only survive the onslaught of the future, but in which it will thrive.

Communications

Any time you try to change an organization's structure and culture, there is a tremendous inertia, a compelling force that draws you back into the old, comfortable behavior. It is not easy to make these kinds of changes. This is why Organizational architecture includes a high-tech, high-touch Communications Platform that will provide reinforcement for the new ways of doing things, facilitating the new culture that will emerge. You will use it not only to design, implement, and reinforce the new structures, but also to communicate your overall progress towards achieving the Corporate Vision.

Organizational Architecture starts with a "clean piece of paper." 

Programs of re-engineering and process improvement squander the precious energy of your key players making obsolete structures more efficient. Process improvement may appear to work in the short term, but it always fails in the long run. No matter now you improve obsolete structure, it will always be obsolete.

What makes Organizational Architecture unique is that it starts with a clean piece of paper and helps you build new structures--in fact a new, agile organization--based on the shared Vision of how your company should be, rather than how it is. Inasmuch as old structures keep your organization imprisoned in the past, futilely and mechanistically doing things as they have always been done, Organizational Architecture gives you the freedom and the agility to think and act as changing circumstances require. 

Organizational Architecture helps you create new ways of doing business. The best talent from inside and outside your organization will create the business structure which will fulfill the Vision. While you will use the best parts of the old structure, you will invent the rest. 

It builds new muscles in your organization

Organizational Architecture gives the people in your organization the "muscles"--knowledge, skills, information, and confidence--to fulfill their part of the Vision. By completing the Tasks which are required by the Transition Management process, individuals gain knowledge and skills. By successfully completing the Tasks, they gain confidence in themselves and the organization. Over time, the organization gains the ability to Architect itself as the future need arises.

Comes from within

Organizational Architecture combines the discipline of proven transition-management techniques with a gentle, gradual learning process that fosters empowerment and awareness on many different levels. With Organizational Architecture, change comes from within. It is a process that views employees as individuals and fosters an atmosphere that respects each individual. Rather than imposing change from the outside, Organizational Architecture empowers your organization and the people in it by giving everyone a unique and important role in achieving the Vision.

Puts it all together

Organizational Architecture takes you all the way from a desire to be better to living the vision of how you want to be. Because the process is step-by-step, it doesn't require Herculean efforts. Because it is gradual, it works with your organization's culture, rather than against it. Because it comes from within, you end up with a healthy, happy organization, full of confidence and the ability to be the very best that it can be.

Organizational Architecture is a series of integrated programs developed by Corporate Transitions International that focus on the four basic components of business: strategy, structure, culture and communications. They comprise The CTI Steps to Optimum.

By going through the Organizational Architecture process, an organization is assured that all Seven Cs are functioning at their optimum. It uses the Seven Cs to determine not only the organizational overall level of health, but al so the progress of the transformation process itself.

It is a gentle, gradual learning process that not only brings your organization to its Optimum, but leaves behind the skills your organization needs to continuously self-renew.