Linkages
Every organizing choice creates a boundary. Linkages are the deliberate connections that stop those boundaries becoming walls.
Aim
Linkages are the ways by which an organization communicates and integrates across boundaries. They help to overcome or solve the organizational boundaries naturally caused by organizing choices.
Results
- Identification of the most effective communication channels across organizational boundaries.
- Boundaries naturally caused by organizing choices are overcome or solved.
Pro Tips
- Suggest appropriate linking mechanisms to address critical interdependencies, overcome the downsides of the organization's structure, and capitalize on the upsides.
- Ensure each linkage addresses a high-level process, system, practice or feature. Don't get stuck in the weeds trying to solve for smaller, non-strategic issues.
- Put a large image of the new organization on the wall to help identify interdependencies and risks. Number the linkage opportunities on the image, keep a list of the needed linkages on a separate sheet, prioritize them, and transfer them to the Linkage Planner.
How do you know you've achieved your aims?
- Connections across the operating model and the organizing rationale are fully called out and intentionally designed for.
- Connections that can happen organically without hurting the organization are identified, and corresponding linkages are left out of the final output.