A New Model of Organisational Structure: The 'Club/Sandwich'
Drawing together the concepts of Network Organisations, the Virtual Organisation, the Shamrock Organisation and the Learning Organisation, I suggest a new model: the 'Club/Sandwich' organisation.
The metaphor works in three ways:
1. The Club Sandwich: three layers, bound together by two different fillings.
2. Club: an association of people connected by common purpose.
3. Club: a meeting place providing facilities and amenities for members.
1. The Club Sandwich. Three slices of bread with two different fillings. The three slices are the core staff, the project workers and the external subcontractors. However the relationship between them is different and these are the different fillings. The core is in the middle and connected to the subcontractors through a simple but binding contract for delivery of services or goods. The core is concerned only with what, rather than how, goods are delivered. Product is more important than process here. However the relationship between the core and the project workers is different. Process as well as product matters. Though there is a contract, there needs to be a greater degree of understanding, involvement and trust. Here it does matter how the service is delivered; project workers will be perceived by customers as the company and therefore they need to work within the ethos of the organisation.
2. Another meaning of Club is an association of people who come together willingly for common purpose. This coming together need not be physical; it can be virtual, eg online communities. For this to work effectively, the purpose needs to be clearly understood with well-defined boundaries. Whether we think of an online chat-room, a political campaign or a university, it is the meeting of minds, as opposed to bodies, which is key here.
3. A third meaning of Club is an organisation which offers members facilities and amenities. This is the concrete rather than virtual version of a club, as in 'clubhouse'. This type of club provides the infrastructure with which to do the job: computer systems, phone and Internet access etc plus specialist equipment, vehicles etc. However the social amenities often offered by clubs are important too. For project workers who are often isolated, social interaction is vital; so the café is a vital piece of infrastructure. Despite the speed and efficiency of email and mobile phones, face to face meetings recharge the trust and understanding needed to make digital communication effective between human beings.
In conclusion, the 'Club Organisation', which takes account of all the different connotations mentioned above, is an appropriate model for many organisations who find themselves becoming increasingly project-based and need to be responsive to changing circumstances. Agility is the new stability
Note: This web page is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage of the subject, merely a brief introduction to provoke thought and to lead to a more in depth understanding and application of the topic, either through further reading - or from me as your management consultant, executive trainer or personal coach in a consultancy project, training course, workshop or seminar.