Organizing an Organization?

Despite my love of most (ok all) things organized I stumbled over the following questions: What are the building blocks of a good organization?; Who decides them? This semester's focus is organizational theory. It, like the other core classes, is providing me invaluable insight into the possibilities of a well-run organization. Like all core classes, the reading has been intense but worth staying up late or sacrificing a walk at lunch too keep pace. One book in particular has not only been informative and interesting, but a pleasurable read. 

Reframing Organizations: Artistry Choice, and Leadership outlines 4 common metaphors to view organizations. It's beneficial to understand the 4 metaphors so the leader is not rooted in a perspective-limiting established set of beliefs. 

Structural Frame

The right structure reduces or eliminates employee confusion, apathy and hostility. The structural frame is built on rationality, clarity, hierarchical authority, formality, and efficiency. An effective structural leader builds the organization through analysis and design. An ineffective one is a petty, tyrannical leader.

 

Human Resources Frame

The human resources frame focuses on talent and motivation. It is informal, egalitarian, with an emphasis on participation, support and empowerment. An effective HR leader is a catalyst and servant who shares power and sometimes uses open book management. An ineffective HR leader is a pushover.

Political Frame

 The political frame sees the organization as a jungle of competing interests with limited resources. It is established with agendas, an arena for debating enduring differences, conflict, alliances and coalition building against common enemies. Goals and decisions result from bargains and negotiations. The effective political leader is an advocate; the ineffective leader is a manipulative hustler.

Symbolic Frame

The symbolic frame creates the culture. It is nurtured and sustained on symbols, rituals, ceremonies, myths, stories and through this the organizational soul emerges. Effective symbolic leaders are prophets or poets who manage by walking around. They are ineffective when they behave like fools and consequently lose the meaning of the message with smoke and mirrors.

 
The leader who can understand and operate smoothly between these metaphorical frames, individually and jointly will feel more empowered. As the authors point out, "When the world seems hopelessly confusing and nothing is working, reframing is a powerful tool for gaining clarity, regaining balance, generating new opinions, and finding strategies that make a difference." Reframing also helps stimulate organizational imagination in what may otherwise seem desert-like conditions.