Turnaround

Half-measures won’t fix your broken organization.

The leaders of troubled organizations often believe they can regain equilibrium by spending more money or hiring additional people. Yet remedial strategies that rely on quick-fix philosophies seldom succeed.

Problem-solving requires a rigorous commitment to understanding the separate root cause of each issue. Repeated attempts to address the same problems indicate system failure. Organizations, projects and teams break down for the following reasons:

• Accelerated growth and inadequate planning – When a team enjoys a successful start, its budget typically expands and it brings more people aboard. But haphazard expansion can stress a shaky foundation. A merger or acquisition may allow for rapid growth, but poor integration promotes systemic inefficiences.
• Believing that money cures all – Decision-makers at struggling companies routinely throw cash at their problems. That provides only a temporary fix because the system remains broken.
• Can’t see the forest for...