Services: Organization Design

Organization Design

“We engaged Rob and his team to help us design, engineer and implement a complete transformation of our National technology engineering and operations team. Their analysis, recommendations, executive facilitation and coaching, and overall engagement style were a perfect fit for our needs. We accomplished all of our going-in expectations, and the results of our work have continued to pay off in improved efficiency, productivity and overall organizational effectiveness.”

John D. Schanz
Executive Vice President & Chief Network Officer
Comcast Cable

A common conundrum for CEO’s is how to organize various functions in a multi-unit business. Is a function better done centrally for all units, separately by each unit, or with some division of activities between ‘corporate’ and the various units? How should each function itself be organized, and what resource level is required?

VIA Partners has completed dozens of projects with Fortune 100 companies to solve these strategic questions. Virtually every function in a corporation has been studied, including:

  • Operations
  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Engineering
  • Product Development
  • Finance & Accounting (including FP&A)
  • Customer Care & Service
  • IT
  • HR
  • Legal
  • Real Estate
  • Purchasing

While each company’s situation is somewhat different, resolving operating model and organization design questions requires both a sound fact base and the engagement of those people who will be impacted by a decision.

Putting aside the human dimension for a moment, the optimal placement of activities and resources can usually be focused through the creation of a set of design principles. These principle help to neutrally assess various options and make decisions. To gain buy-in and acceptance, VIA engages key participants in the development of these design principles. By doing this, they will own the criteria for decision-making.

Oftentimes cost analysis is a critical part of operating model decisions. In these cases, VIA can conduct this analysis, or provide leadership and guidance to your staff in completing required analyses.

To address the human dimension of these decisions, VIA will typically conduct 1:1 confidential interviews with key stakeholders in these decisions, and at times conduct focus groups to gain the input of managers, supervisors or front line employees both at corporate and in various business units.

Projects we have completed range from the complete review of a 50,000 employee multi-division company, to the review of a single function in a 2,000-employee company. Success rate at subsequent acceptance and implementation are very high, and VIA often remains an advisor to the executive team during the critical first six months or more of the change process.

Clarifying the operating model of your company is not just a nice to do – our clients have experienced significant gains in efficiency, effectiveness, and morale. If the debates in your organization about how to organize and operate are no longer useful, and you’d like a clear and crisp operating model that everyone in your business understands and supports, we’re ready to help.