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Organization Policies and Procedures

I have not been with this company very long, but it is one of the most unorganized businesses I have ever seen. In places where systems and procedures are needed, there are none, and many of the existing systems are long obsolete. My manager tells me that this looseness is by design, adding that chaos can build creativity and agility, and that companies that are too structured are left behind. Am I off base in thinking that this makes no sense?



When a business is chaotic, that does not imply creativity, nimbleness, or broad thinking; rather, putting all the rationalizations aside, the implication is that the business is a mess.

It makes more sense to view businesses as being arrayed on a continuum, with the hyper-organized on one end, and the chaotic on the other. At one extreme, the businesses are so filled with layers, levels, and policies that people can hardly breathe without looking in a manual. And, at the other extreme, the businesses are so void of organization that people are basically wandering around.

In today's dynamic marketplace, it makes sense for businesses to have a flat structure, streamlined policies, employee empowerment, cross training, and a clear focus its mission and objectives. That may sound chaotic when compared to an overly organized company, but it is not chaos at all.

Your manager is correct in asserting that overly structured companies are left behind, but he needs to realize chaotic companies sit hand in hand with them.



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