“Magic happens when you build trust, create resilient coalitions and stick with it through the ups and downs.”
—Rafee Tarafdar, CTO Infosys
Why do silos appear in organizations? Companies espouse collaboration, communication, and cross-divisional cooperation. However, it’s easier said than done. Divisional turf wars are created through competition for limited resources – budget, people, and executive-level attention. Think of it as organizational tribalism. Such division only feeds a silo-based mindset. Most companies start off as scrappy entrepreneurial ventures, developing capabilities, building processes, and learning how to operate efficiently while continuing to innovate and capture market share. If you’re not collaborating and learning how to build alliances, you’re done, game over. Along the way, something happens, they reach an inflection point, and develop silos. This might be any or a combination of informational, operational, procedural, or technical (we’re talking data, processes, people, and systems). Why? In the previous chapter, we discussed organizational complexity that has accelerated with the introduction of greater levels of digitization. The threat here isn’t technological obsolescence. It’s organizational divisions. It’s a lack of unity. A Silo Monster feeds on poor communication, planning, and shared vision. It makes ...
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