The Building Blocks Approach to Organization Charts [Paperback]

N. Dean Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

An organization chart can make or break people's performance. In fact, organizational structure is one of the most powerful tools of leadership.
But because of its complexity, it's all too easy to make mistakes, solving some problems while creating others. And when a new structure is announced, the results are often frustrating. Staff endure the chaos, and then return to their old patterns of work. A few years later, the painful process is repeated.
There is a better way....
This book concisely describes the science of organizational structure.
With it, you can diagnose the problems with your current organization chart; design an optimal structure; define flexible, dynamic processes of cross-boundary teamwork; and plan an implementation process that's participative and brings about meaningful change.
Founded on the fundamentals of human nature and systems science, the Building Blocks Approach is applicable to every industry -- corporate, not-for-profit, or government -- and to any functional area.
This is breakthrough thinking, concisely described in an easy-to-read style. It's a "must read" for every executive who's concerned about the performance of his or her organization.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

N. Dean Meyer has made understanding and improving organizational performance his life's work. He is known for his innovative approaches to difficult leadership issues, and for bringing science to a subject long considered intangible.
Meyer has been teaching, lecturing, and consulting since 1968. He is the author of six books and four major research studies.
Meyer has implemented restructurings based on the Building Blocks Approach in dozens of diverse corporate and public-sector organizations.
Meyer founded NDMA Inc. in 1982 to focus exclusively on organizational issues. NDMA offers executive seminars and comprehensive consulting processes in the areas of corporate culture, structure, activity-based costing, and the internal economy (resource-management processes).

Product Details

• Paperback: 110 pages
• Publisher: NDMA Publishing (July 2002)
• ISBN-10: 1892606178
• ISBN-13: 978-1892606174
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,462,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A building block itself, June 29, 2004

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Building Blocks Approach to Organization Charts (Paperback)

The ideas and approach given in this book, and other recent ones from the author, started with concepts outlined in his "Structural Cybernetics" (ISBN 0964163519). In addition, this book is also the keystone for "RoadMap: How to understand, diagnose, and fix your organization" (ISBN 0964163527), and "The Internal Economy" (ISBN 1892606186), which are the capstones on a structured and practical approach to building and maintaining a cost-effective, customer-focused organization at the enterprise or department level.

Basic concepts are provided in the first thirteen chapters, each of which is filled with clear definitions to give context, and examples to reinforce the concepts. Highlights of this part of the book include a succinct description of what an organization is, what constitutes a healthy organization, and what I call organizational anti-patterns - symptoms and examples of unhealthy organizations and practices that any reader will recognize from their own workplace. This material also leads you through the basics of building a solid organization by showing how to properly align functions, close gaps, and eliminate barriers.

The building blocks presented in chapters 14 through 19 provide a framework and five essential functions that need to be structured within the framework - technologists, service, coordinators, consultancies and auditing. At first glance these do not seem to fit all organizations, but as you read through the detailed definitions of each you'll discover that they, in fact, do - they may go by different names, but the functions are present. The important point Meyer makes is these areas are not distinct functions on an organization chart, but need to be carefully grouped and aligned. How that is done is covered in chapters 20 through 22, which show how to diagnose your structure, design the optimum high-performance structure, and the domains in which functions will be bounded.

Discussions of high-performance teamwork and how to implement a restructuring are provided in the final five chapters.

In total, this short (less than 100 pages of main text) book provides a realistic approach to building a viable organization. Throughout are best practices, such as involving lower level stakeholders in the development of the organizational structure, advice on how to adapt this approach to small organizations, and clear definitions of key concepts. There is also a strong focus on leadership (versus just management), teamwork, and focusing to customers and business goals. Even without reading Meyer's other books this one will greatly influence how you go about organizing or reorganizing your company or departmental structure. With his other books, however, you will have a well designed blueprint for success.