Inspired Change Management- Bridging Macro and Micro Business Necessities

A productive organizational development process involves fortifying both individual parts (or replacing ones that cannot be supervised or rehabilitated) and strengthening the whole system. Similarly integrating formal and informal systems is vital to a proactive Organizational Development-Team Building process. Here are three essentials for inspired change management for better bottomline and happy customers (internal and external):
a. Macro and Formal. Using outlined structures and strategies as a foundation, your people building process needs to be ready to expand into an OD process through interaction amongst different departmental members. This occurs when various teams of a branch or division meet on a regular basis, for example, at a monthly staff meeting. Even if having employees run these larger macro meetings is not practical (though department heads might rotate as facilitators) you can still have a wavelength section. Here the primary focus is understanding the many obstacles in coordination and negotiation amongst the teams or departments. Do you have their mutual support or is it more in-house territoriality and seeped in cutthroat competition? A Q & A session on your prevailing macro structure can also disseminate key information. Such an event helps employees to scrutinize the knowledge and focus of their leadership.
b. Matrix Teaming. In between macro and micro, formal and informal is the matrix concept. Representative individuals from various teams or departments meet to discuss crosscutting issues. These meetings can range from small task groups to larger gatherings. This is an excellent way to gauge actual or potential, formal or informal productivity innovations that need to be given the green light for experimentation. The latter, when verified, can readily lend themselves to various “on the spot” rewards. Clearly, in an open system, such organizational problem-solving structures and teams can be mutually reinforcing in a very positive manner.
c. Micro and Informal. Team members need to gather and check with each other at regular intervals in informal settings, often with such icebreakers like snacks/coffee. Unfinished business or anticipated roadblocks can be easily identified. Useful short-term and spontaneous problem solving suggestions are easily generated at such meetings. Five or ten minutes of this informal morning or opening shift roundup will also increase people’s participation in the business goals focus. This collective ritual always enhances enterprise-wide cohesiveness, employee-morale and productivity.
- anshumali.saxena@soilindia.net