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Organizational Design Guide

Enable HR and organizational leaders to navigate the complexities of organizational design.

  • Despite recognizing the importance of organizational design, many organizations struggle with outdated operating models and structures that hinder agility.
  • This discrepancy often results in operational inefficiencies, siloed departments, and a lack of alignment between organizational strategies and day-to-day operations.
  • Without a proactive approach to organizational design and effective change management, organizations risk stagnation, missed opportunities for efficiency, and increased employee turnover.

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Critical Insight

  • Organizational design is not only about restructuring; it is about aligning every aspect of the organization – from strategy and workflows to people and culture. This alignment ensures the organization operates efficiently, adapts to change, and maximizes its potential for continuous improvement and sustainability in an ever-changing business environment.

Impact and Result

  • Establish organizational design foundations to ensure strategic alignment, effective governance, and the embodiment of guiding and design principles.
  • Conduct a current-state assessment of the operating model, structure, people, culture, and external landscape to inform strategic decisions and have a positive impact on the organization.
  • Develop a future-state operating model and create a supporting organizational structure with defined accountabilities and responsibilities.
  • Measure the organizational design’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Organizational Design Guide Research & Tools

1. Organizational design foundations

Explore the foundations of organizational design, including change management, strategic alignment, governance, and guiding and design principles.

2. Current-state assessment

Conduct a current-state review by analyzing the current operating model, structure, and culture to inform strategic decisions.

3. Operating model & structure

Develop the operating model and design the supporting organizational structure with defined accountabilities and responsibilities

4. Communication & sustainment

Plan for communication and change sustainment and prepare to measure the design’s effectiveness.

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About McLean & Company

McLean & Company is an HR research and advisory firm providing practical solutions to human resources challenges via executable research, tools, diagnostics, and advisory services that have a clear and measurable impact on your business.

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Contributors

  • Allison Graham, Strategic Advisor on Workforce Resilience & Networking, Elevate Biz with Allison Graham
  • Brittany Lutes, Research Director Research Development, Info-Tech Research Group
  • Carlene McCubbin, Associate Vice President Research Development, Info-Tech Research Group
  • Hilary Marsden, Change Coach, Telus
  • James Felton, Manager VCOM and Support Services, Peel Police
  • Dr. Julie Cincotta, Principal, CLA Organizational Solutions LLC
  • Lindsey Micael Fenton, Organizational Design Consultant, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Tanya Liblik, Director Consulting, Info-Tech Research Group
  • Tony Ventura, Director Information Technology Services, Peel Police
  • Usama El Saman Mohamed, Vice President Consulting, Info-Tech Research Group
  • Youssef Kamar, Director Consulting, Info-Tech Research Group
  • 5 anonymous contributors