What to Read: Mastering the Cube: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks and Building an Organization that Works
Those in the learning and development field are often keen readers on a variety of topics. Our facilitators and team members are as well. In our new series, “What to Read,” we will share some books and resources that we’ve found to be valuable.
This issue of “What to Read” highlights Mastering the Cube by Reed Desherl, Kreig Smith, Alyson Von Feldt.
A book about how to approach organizational change, design and structure organizations.
Quote
…the only way leaders will generate sustainable enhancements to organizational performance is by ensuring that the elements of their organization are optimally aligned to the enterprise strategy.
From Mastering the Cube: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks and Building an Organization that Works by Reed Deshler, Kreig Smith, Alyson Von Feldt
Summary
The authors outline a series of stumbling blocks that often appear when leaders are looking to make sweeping organizational change including ‘starting with names’ when redesigning the organization and rushing through the alignment process in favor of doing ‘real work.’
The book contains what the authors call, “Building Blocks” or ways to overcome common barriers in restructuring, consolidating, merging, acquiring, or experiencing new growth. These building blocks are not prescriptive—but rather are a series questions between stakeholders that can help shape an aligned organization.
Our Key Takeaways
In any organizational redesign, the change leader needs to consider work processes, structure and governance, information and metrics, people and rewards, continuous improvement and leadership and culture.
For HR leaders and organizational development teams, the questions outlined in the book are a useful starting place for planning a series of working sessions with senior leaders and others as they are tackling large-scale change. To implement be able to fully implement changes, HR and OD professionals’ expertise will still be needed.
Visit the author’s website to learn more.
