Organizational DNA

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What is Organizational DNA? Meaning.

Organizational DNA is a metaphor created by consultancy firm Booz Allen Hamilton for the underlying factors that together define an organization’s “personality” and help explain its performance.

It is made out of 4 building blocks, which combined largely determine how an organization behaves, and whether it can achieve results:

1. Decision Rights. The underlying mechanics of how decisions are truly made. Who decides what... really... and how?

2. Information. Accurate and available information is needed. How is performance measured? How are activities coordinated, and how is knowlegde transferred? Without accurate and available information, decision-makers cannot make quick, smart moves in the marketplace, and employees don’t receive the recognition—either positive or negative—that their actions merit. Bad information has a powerful negative effect on the other DNA building blocks—particularly decision rights and motivators.

3. Motivators. Money and all of the objectives, incentives, and career opportunities that prompt people to care and achieve. What objectives, incentivesm and career alternatives do people have? These rewards, both financial and non-financial, can encourage individuals to align their goals with those of the organization and pursue them in earnest…or they can, however inadvertently, stimulate counterproductive behaviors by driving a wedge between self-interest and the good of the organization.

4. Structure. This should be the capstone, not the cornerstone, of most reorganization efforts. What does the overall organizational model look like, including the "lines and boxes" on the organizan chart?

Forum Forum about Organizational DNA. Start a new topic Share your knowledge or ask a question   The Influence of Corporate DNA on the Mindset of New Employees Unconscious decisions are highly personal. The ever changing dynamics of a Corporate suit the conscious mindset of an employee. Organizational DNA is the part which remains static—irrespective of an o... 4   2 comments 🔥 NEW Business Genetics: Activities to be Executed in Delivering Value Another view to the DNA of a business is the one by Cedric Tyler. Tyler developed a method around the decomposition of an organisation. He took the principles of Porter and expanded. His starting poin... 3   2 comments Cases of Organizational DNA. Examples Hi, do you know of a remarkable case or a good example of the organizational DNA of some well-known firm? Please enter a reaction to share it for other people to enjoy! Thanks for contributing... 2

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