Paul wayne

Giving Back.

From the time I first joined the Organization Design Community years ago, I saw the potential of the Community to influence, serve, and give back to society.  Although we typically look at organization design as a lever to influence effectiveness or efficiency, design can also influence and enable learning and innovation. Our world is in dire need of all four of these potential outcomes of organization design.  

So as I thought about the Vision and Mission of ODC, the aspiration of advancing both the theory and practice of organization design resonate with me.  I realized that I wanted to become part of the Community.  This is the first reason I agreed to serve on the ODC Board.

Today I see the fruition of this Vision, as ODC partners with the UN on “Organizing For Good” to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).  

Practitioner Representation

The ODC membership comes predominantly from the academic sector.  As second reason I agreed to serve on the Board is to add to practitioner representation.  While the field would stagnate with academic study, research and learning, organization design also adds value to society through thoughtful application.  I strongly feel it is important to continue to strive to maintain and grow practitioner membership and Board representation.

Lateral Capability

A third reason that I agreed to serve on the ODC Board is around lateral capability: integration, linking mechanisms, collaboration.  I believe that lateral capability is more important than structure.  As only one of 3-4 small organizations in the field of organization design, I feel it important to maintain the linkages and interfaces with have with ODF and EODF.  I’m also very proud of Mark, Amy and others who maintain wide spheres of influence across multiple organizations in the organization design space.