Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change, Second Edition

Chapter 5. Managing Integration: Effective Coordination and Information Sharing

Introduction

Structure refers to the dissection or separation of the organization into operating units: divisions, functions, corporate center groups, and so on, as Chapter 4 just showed. This designation of form and function and the boxes and lines that depict it represent the anatomy of the organization, showing the separate parts and their positions, responsibilities, and relationships.

Creating a structure, however, is only half the story. For organizations to operate effectively, execute strategy, and achieve their goals, integration or coordination is also needed.

The work of diverse and separate organizational units must be coordinated to achieve desired ...