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Summary: "The Lessons of Design."
Review: "Today, more and more companies are coming to realize that they can't hope to compete successfully in the twenty-first century with organizations based on nineteenth-century design. Radically different organizational architectures are emerging in much the same fashion as new schools of physical architecture...In order to perform effectively, the new architectures require new collateral technologies. In particular, they demand new leadership skills, new methods for selecting and developing key people, new human resources approaches to assessment and reward, and new techniques for enhancing the organization's capacity for collective learning...In this book, we consider a number of leading companies in the United States and around the world that are developing their own versions of the new architecture.(pp.7-10)."Throughout this study, David A. Nadler and Michael L. Tushman present a comprehensive, balanced approach to design that recognizes the technical requirements, human dynamics, and strategic demands of successful design in any organization or business unit. Nadler and Tushman summarize the ten basic themes that capture the essence of this book : 1. Organizational capabilities represent the last truly sustainable source of competitive advantage. 2. Organizational architecture provides a conceptual framework for employing strategic design to develop organizational capabilities. 3. At every level of the organization, design constitutes one of the most powerful tools for shaping performance. 4. Regardless of its scope or scale, there are certain fundamental concepts that apply to design at every level. 5. There is a logical sequence of actions and decisions that applies to the design process at any level of the organization. 6. There are no perfect design; the design process requires the weighing of choices and the balancing of trade-offs. 7.The best designs draw upon the knowledge, experience, and expertise of people throughout the organization. 8. Even the best designs can be derailed by ill-planned, poorly executed implementation. 9. As continual redesign becomes a fact of life, successful organizations will learn to create flexible architectures that can accommodate constant change. 10. Flexible architectures and designs that leverage competitive strengths will themselves become the ultimate competitive weapons. I highly recommend.
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Summary: Organizational design made feasible
Review: Competing by design is a great source for for anybody who thinks about organizational design. After having read it, you will never consider "cocktail-napkin" designs again, and you will recognize when you see a design created that way. The book doesn't only explain the basic elements of design, but also the do's and dont's of a design project. The structure of the book is very well-conceived, and the level of detail is just right: Focus on the important steps, best practices and lessons, with enough backup examples, and without boring repetitions or lenghthy explanations. I'm not sure you will sleep better after having read the book, as the size of the design project becomes clear, but you will certainly have the tools to make the process a successful one.
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Summary: Great Book on Org Design!
Review: If you are looking for a book devoted to Organizational Design, I recommend this one. To successfully implement Organizational Change (my area of expertise) it is necessary to have the proper organizational design. I recommend this book in addition to my own. Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"
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Summary: Too Academic
Review: This book is fine if you are interested in a purely academic approach. This offers nothing for practitioners.
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Summary: Good Start
Review: This is a very good start for Org Design consultants. The book correct addresses the key principles in designing an organization (Chap. 3) and explores the key issues that affect the key crucial design issues (Chap. 4). Don't wait for a "how to" book, this is much more a "what" one.
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