Flat Orgs & Learning LO4794

Roxanne S. Abbas (75263.3305@compuserve.com)
11 Jan 96 08:33:20 EST

Replying to LO4648 --

Dave,

I have a fair amount of experience working with companies that are
transitioning to a job-free environment. It is not easy! Most people at
all levels have never known anything but working within a narrowly defined
job description. The exception is anyone who has started their own
business. One of my clients tells his employees: "We have only one job
description here and it reads 'Does whatever needs to be done'. The
president had a vision of a job free workplace but he had few ideas on how
to operationalize his vision. He started by modeling the behavior he
wanted to see in others. He packed boxes, he answered phones and swept
the floor. But the group didn't self-organize as fast as he had hoped.
He hired me to help dismantle the job systems that kept people locked in
the old paradigm. We got rid of job evaluation, job descriptions, job
titles and job based performance management. We are now implementing
competency based pay which has already increased employees' interest in
learning. They have come a long ways but I still feel they need to work
on process documentation and assigning accountability for processes.

Roxanne

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"Roxanne S. Abbas" <75263.3305@compuserve.com>