Organizations That Are Built for Change… Shouldn’t that Be All of Them?

As I have progressed through my career path, one thing has been constant.  Organizations that are well equipped to be fluid and make changes are organizations that enjoy consistent success.  Those organizations that are rigid and not equipped for change often find small struggles become larger issues that eventually plague the entire company. Organizations that are consistently successful are organizations that are constantly adapting to technology and market demands.

In Worley & Lawler III’s (2006) article, “Designing Organizations that are Built to Change,” the various aspects that make up the fabric of the organization are discussed.  While each of those aspects have merit, for the purposes of this blog post, I am going to discuss how rewards play a role in organizations being built for change.

What I have learned from various positions is to focus the majority of the questions I ask during the interview process on what professional growth and development looks like, and how that growth and development is subsequently rewarded. As Worley & Lawler III (2006) note, pay and other rewards that are associated with longevity and seniority stifle change. Given a significant number of students in the USC MCM program work in marketing, communications, public relations, and related fields, and those fields are constantly evolving and changing, it is important for rewards to be flexible and reward the person, rather than the time they have been with an organization.

This notion may seem controversial, especially to those who have built seniority within an organization. However, those who have built seniority and still maintain their effectiveness likely have little critiques, as their valuable experience was built on being ready for change.

Reference:

Worley, C. G. & Lawler III, E. E. (2006). Designing organizations that are built to change. MIT Sloan Management Review. Retrieved from https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/designing-organizations-that-are-built-to-change/