• The Need for Adaptability: Traditional organization charts fail to capture the fluid nature of modern work environments. These charts overlook the informal networks—relationships, power dynamics, and communication channels. These informal networks often play a more significant role in influencing behavior and driving outcomes. Many successful organizations today succeed despite their formal structures, not because of them. In an Adaptable Organization, value creation hinges on understanding and leveraging these informal structures. This approach aligns formal and informal networks around customer-focused missions, driving innovation, experimentation, and idea generation. By organizing work around how people naturally interact, organizations can foster a more collaborative and happier workplace.
• Rethinking Teams and Structures: Traditional functions on an organization chart don’t reflect how work actually gets done. Instead, many organizations operate through cross-functional communities that cut across these formal boundaries. An Adaptable Organization recognizes the power of these informal networks and uses them to assess how individuals and teams align with customer missions. To navigate the complexities of modern business, teams in an Adaptable Organization are organized along a spectrum of efficiency and adaptability:

 Shared Services: High-efficiency teams focused on standardized, transactional tasks. 

Resource Pools: Moderately adaptable teams of specialized workers who collaborate across projects based on demand. 

Cross-Functional Teams: Highly adaptable teams that are decentralized, collaborative, and mission-focused, often driving innovation.