The Next Next Common Sense - TEXT

The Next Next Common Sense

A professional services firm reorganized into semi-autonomous teams that operated as internal enterprises, making decisions about which cli- ents to serve and how to deliver value. These teams shared common infra- structure, brand, and knowledge systems while maintaining substantial autonomy in day-to-day operations. This approach increased both adapt- ability and entrepreneurial energy while maintaining coherence through shared platforms and purpose. Dynamic Governance Systems: Rather than fixed governance struc- tures, organizations are developing layered systems that enable different governance modes for different activities and conditions. These systems allow for appropriate levels of control, autonomy, and collaboration based on the specific context. A healthcare organization implementing this approach created a gov- ernance system with distinct but integrated layers: a stable foundation layer for essential standards and regulatory compliance; a strategic layer for longer-term direction and resource allocation; and an operational layer with substantial autonomy for day-to-day decisions. This layered approach provided necessary stability in critical functions while enabling adapta- tion and innovation in response to changing patient needs. These emerging forms aren’t mutually exclusive—many organiza- tions combine elements of multiple approaches based on their specific context and needs. The key insight is that organizational form should be consciously designed for the complexity of the environment rather than defaulting to traditional structures. Creating Sustainable Coherence in Rapid Change The final topic in the Stockholm discussion addressed perhaps the most challenging question: How do organizations maintain coherence—a sense of wholeness and alignment—amid constant change? Without co- herence, adaptation becomes fragmentation, with different parts of the organization moving in conflicting directions.

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