Designing Dynamic Organizations: A Hands-on Guide for Leaders at All Levels [Paperback]

Jay Galbraith (Author), Diane Downey (Author), Amy Kates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2001

"Which business structures are best suited to the unpredictable 21st century? How can a company, division, or department reconfigure itself with minimum disruption and maximum impact? Every executive grapples with problems of restructuring--and most need hands-on guidance to solve them. This eye-opening book shows business leaders at all levels how to examine their choices by leading them systematically through these fundamental questions: * Should we restructure to meet our strategic goals? * What are the best structural options to achieve our success? * What lateral processes are necessary to support the new structure? * How do we staff the restructured organization to optimize results? Based on Galbraith's world-renowned approach, this guide includes examples and worksheets that pilot readers through the essential steps of organizational design."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a completely worthwhile read." -- HR Magazine February 2002

Review

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""This book offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use approach for creating high-impact organizations in uncertain times. The authors have successfully taken the complexity out of designing complex organizations."" -- Dennis Shiel, Vice President, Human Resources, MetLife

""Most corporate strategy does not fail because it is poorly conceived; it fails because the organization is unable to execute. Designing Dynamic Organizations is a must read for leaders who want their business to thrive in the global corporate environment. Galbraith, Downey, and Kates have combined their expertise to create a marriage between theory and practice. The authors provide the reader with a clear pathway for action, one that tightly bolts strategy to implementation."" -- Les F. Martel, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Learning and Performance, Instinet Corporation

""With increasingly uncertain and volatile markets, businesses are under crushing pressure to extend the reach of their strategic imperatives, to quickly adapt their work processes and structures, and to effectively leverage their human capital. Designing Dynamic Organizations is a veritable survival guide for organizations coping with these demands. The authors translate rigorous theories and models into practical step-by-step approaches that can be quickly absorbed and utilized by teams at all levels of the organization."" -- Nancy Bologna, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Best Buy Company, Inc.

""You will find Designing Dynamic Organizations an endless source of practical insights and ideas whether you are a line executive responsible for organizational performance or a human resources professional providing expert advice. Keep this book close at hand . . . it will prove to be invaluable!""-- Dave Tierno, Retired Senior Partner, Ernst & Young Consulting Group

""Galbraith, Downey, and Kates have done something delightfully different from the typical treatise on organization design. This book is all about practical tools and instruments, options and how-to’s. A real find for today’s business practitioner."" -- Reinhart Helmke, Executive Director, UN Office for Project Services"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 17 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (December 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814471196
• ISBN-13: 978-0814471197
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Business & Investing > Organizational Behavior > Organizational Change

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Pragmatic, December 26, 2007

By 

Christopher Rodriguez "Organizational Develop... (Houston, TX - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing Dynamic Organizations: A Hands-on Guide for Leaders at All Levels (Paperback)

Jay Galbraith is a well-respected, research-based practitioner in the field of Organizational Design. Companies of all sizes and industries have been using the STAR model as a guide to thinking systemically when designing their organizations. I personally have been using this model as an internal OD consultant/practitioner over the last decade. This book's material continues to be very relevant and current for today's leaders. This book should serve as a basic foundation for any OD/HR professional or manager/leader desiring to create a vital, sustainable, reconfigurable, and dynamic organization. What the reader can expect is simplistic language and pragmatic tools and methods. This is a true workbook. If you are sifting through books and don't know where to start...start here!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Easier Said than Done, May 13, 2008

By 

Metaworld (Midlothian, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Dynamic Organizations: A Hands-on Guide for Leaders at All Levels (Paperback)

Yes, it's easy to read and the forms look great. In practice, I've found that the flow and logic needs to be more tailored to the client. In some stages the flow seemed awkward, and didn't necessarily work. When you get that "confused look" from your client, and feel it yourself, you'll understand what I mean. I have an MSOD and have practiced 10 years. My sense is that my experience is not totally unique and I could see a revised version in the making.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, September 8, 2008

By 

Susan A. Dawson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Designing Dynamic Organizations: A Hands-on Guide for Leaders at All Levels (Paperback)

This is a fantastic hands on manual for experienced or novice practitioners. The chapters are easy to understand with great case study examples.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding dynamics and change within an organization.