4/8/2023 0 Comments Subsume defintionPS - (always a PS) - sometimes in restructuring one functional area may take over the functions of another - or two are integrated into one - this is also a form subsuming but is a healthy part of all Complex Adaptive Systems.At a recent class, a new Scrum Master asked me for a simple example of a Definition of Done. They reduced the complexity of their endeavour and by doing that, actively undermined achieving their desired strategic intent. Rather then fixing the problem, which means picking the right people to deal with the role complexity and performance managing them through full authority and accountability, both CEOs chose the most difficult course of action with the smallest harvest. No work system in the human or natural landscape functions optimally with missing, crowded or subsumed functional levels. A level of work exists to create the conditions for the level below to flourish and to add its own unique value add. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg - subsuming work is common all the way down to supervisor level. In both cases the work of the CEO is now stretched across two work levels - both are unable to focus on thier own unique value both are frustrated with company performance, both are critical of the team whose work they are undermining by subsuming their work level. He fails to hold the executive team members accountable for delivering their own unique value adds. He calls in consultants and despite coaching and assistance some of the old team members remain working at the levels where they are comfortable. The CEO, frustrated, takes over the strategic project work himself. Some of the old team are not capable of stepping up to the new mark and as a result progress is slow and results patchy. The organisation is not prepared for this transition and there is no change management process to assist this stepping up. His executive team battle to deal with the challenge of the emergence of the new level. This requires shifting the organisation a full level of complexity - never an easy challenge but the CEO is confident, capable and energetic. The management ethos of floggings will continue until morale improves sums up a culture where recriminations, loss of focus on the client and internal politics are manifest of a collapse of vertical levels of works structure.Ĭost efficiencies and cost reduction (rather then wealth management and its creation) became the SBU focus as the more complex levels were subsumed by the Group CEO and ExecutiveĮxample 2- picture a CEO in a medium sized business of 650 employees, setting an ambitious intent. Stung by board accusations the Group CEO became involved in day to day management of the SBU and this micro management of the executive team, who undermined, lost long term focus and accountability and with that, their authority. The group executive, (whose Unique Value Add is not leading individual SBUs) - panicked and appointed a short term CEO to "fix it". In the Group portfolio of assets one SBU (originally the flagship) hits problems after a succession of short lived CEOs under whose watches the SBU lost reputation, damaged its brand through price warfare, became bloated with additional employees and ended up with a sliding market share. A dictionary definition is- to include or place within something larger or more comprehensive : encompass as a subordinate or component element eg Įxample 1: picture an international organisation with five Strategic Business Units (SBUs) in different countries Each SBU is characterised by >6,000 employees, listed with an independent board, owner or part owning a numerous of smaller enterprises, JVs with significant players, vigorous and sometimes competing R&D teams and household name brands. When options include "subsuming" as an organisational design option, chances are that the organisation is in or will be in crises.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |