The second cycle: Winning the War Against Bureaucracy

Chapter 5. From Hierarchy to Collaboration

Take a Look at a “Normal” Organization

Think about a department in your organization or some other organization you know—10 to 50 employees. What probably comes to your mind is an office or laboratory environment, perhaps one floor of a building, and probably a boss with a separate office—most likely a male boss with a mixture of men and women on the staff.

The whole thing is most likely pretty well organized. Everyone has his or her functions, and life in the office today probably doesn’t differ much from yesterday. Everyone looks pretty busy with his or her files, binders, and computer screens. There are pictures of children and pets on the desk. Yellow paper notes here and there to remember names, ...