New Organizational Style On The Way

5/12/2015

Fig 1. iBlueSky

Fig 2. Lucidchart

Fig 3. Inkflow

I’ve read recently that organizations are starting to recognize that they no longer function like a hierarchy, which comes to us from a military model that is probably 10,000 years old. Instead they recognize that a network is closer to reality. In a network each node (person) is connected to several others. Sometimes there is a client-vendor relationship. I would include boss-employee relationships under client-vendor for the sake of simplicity. Simplicity might be at odds with clarity, though. Other times the relationship is more peer-to-peer or even resource-researcher.

What nodes do you see in a smallish design firm?

Owner/client (client-vendor)
Principal-in-charge (client-vendor)*
Project architect
Structural engineer
M/E engineer
Civil engineer
Hardware consultant
Bookkeeper
CAD tech
Resources:
AIA Contracts
RS Means cost data
ARCAT specs

* I tried labeling each node above and quickly learned that many of them will have multiple labels. ’Lesson learned’ is that words aren't a very helpful tool in describing networks. Graphics are needed.

It's kind of odd that you can't easily draw a network because there are very few tools that can handle it. CAD is the handiest (lucky for us), but outside the design field what would you use? Lucidchart, mind mapping, drawing tools like the Inkflow app? Because until you draw the network, it's pretty hard to think about it. That’s one reason hierarchies have worked so well - just assign people to roles: soldier, squad leader, platoon leader, company commander, etc. No need to draw it.

Mind mapping doesn't work unless your program allows interconnections - this one (iBlueSky app) doesn't. Fig 1.

Lucidchart works pretty well. Fig 2. A Lucidchart network diagram lets you use shape, color, line types, and arrow heads to convey information about your network. This might be better than CAD. Lucidchart’s toolbox makes it pretty easy to recognize all the subtle relationships in a network. (In Fig 2 I used their ’Flowchart’ shapes with one of the simple themes.)

I tried Inkflow, too, but I didn't see any benefits of drawing the network by hand, even if you can cut and paste easily to re-arrange nodes. Fig 3.

I think we are in for some really big changes when you combine this management concept, the prevalence of contract workers and the move to embrace more telecommuting. Design firms don't seem to be in a leadership position on these changes except maybe contract workers, thanks to the Great Recession. Not being a leader, though, doesn't mean you won't be affected.

I tried for years to sketch our organization; now I see that I wasn't using the right concept/tool to tackle the job.

Here is an article with an interesting comparison.

http://www.digitalinnovation.pwc.com.au/hierarchy-vs-network-business-models/