Add Workflow Links to Complete Org Chart
Horizontal Relationships

CEO asks people to add implicit workflow links between their organizations and teams

CEO watches as top-level workflow diagram forms in Tier 2 as R&D senior team leader ties orange-arrow ribbon to seat of Engineering team senior leader, who ties ribbon to seat of Manufacturing team leader, who ties one to Sales seat

  • Asks workflow team leaders to rearrange their chairs along tiers in order of process flow, resource/support functions to sit with team leaders
Now the operating network of teams lines up horizontally along internal critical paths, flowing from suppliers upstream to customers downstream to the organization’s ultimate external customer

As with hierarchy structure, from their position seats people see only a snippet of workflow process a few links and levels away, each team’s horizon limited to its customer’s customers and supplier’s suppliers

With exercise concluded, CEO invites all to Stadium Reception in Great Field that stretches behind the stadium
  • People stay in uniforms, leave stadium, making plans with friends for evening event