One More S: Solidarity

Solidarity in 7S Model
Walter Berns, Strategy Consultant, United States, Member
I find there is a soldarity built within this system. It is however easily missed if one does not pay close attention to the overall structure. Part of which is ensuring the corporate values are matched by all participants i.e. managers and non-managers. Hence, the center of the diagram depicting this basic idea. One may find this concept of oneness in more places than the one mentioned. From a martial arts point of view the individual needs to be of one mind combined with the physical nature of the body. In business this same practice is incorporated by a singlemindedness based on accepted corporate values of all parties involved. As a result, I agree with your insight.

Solidarity as Addition to the 7S Model
Jo Lee Loveland Link, Consultant, United States, Member
I won't even try to be cool or casual: I love this!!! I agree with you wholeheartedly that solidarity is the missing "S"... And plan on reworking the concept to include it for my own practice. Thank you!!!

Solidarity is Built in the 7S Model
Mansingh Jaswal, Director, India, Member
I think the model is built on solidarity. It is captured through "Shared Values". Unless the organisation has a common intent or central belief, it is difficult to integrate the other six elements. And this central belief binds all the other elements together and provides the necessary 'oneness' to the organisation. This central belief is expressed through the vision, mission and values of the organisation.

Solidarity is Inherent
Hemant Desai, Management Consultant, India, Member
Students of strategy should understand that solidarity is inherent to the 7S Framework. The 7S are not not vertically/horizontally disparate, but interwoven.

Solidarity in 7S Framework?
Dr. N.V.S.Raju, Professor, India, Member
I don't think there is any need of including solidarity as the 8th S, because it can be embedded in every other S. For example it can be chosen as one of the Strategies, be included in Structure and can be made part of the System and so on.

Why not Solidarity as the 8th S
Ravishankar, Project Manager, India, Member
We say solidarity is included in shared beliefs, in strategy. This means solidarity is a category that is seen to be present or "embedded" within the 7S, and not a distinct one. Look to many movements (I will be choose the benign instead of malicious ones), like people showing solidarity in at ground zero for 9/11 commemorations, Anna Hazare movement, all have one distinct factor i.e. standing united in spite of different political, religious, differentiations.

Solidarity is an Ambiguous Term
kamran, Student (University), Germany, Member
I guess solidarity is a case of private things, it can be different from one person to another.
It can change too.
And it can be described in another way per country or region of the world. What we believe is solidarity in Japan, is not gonna be the same in Europe.