Entries in Mechanistic Solutions (4)
What’s the Problem? System or People?
System or People
This is a true story and a great example of the challenges of change leadership.
A large insurance company that had grown by M&A was experiencing new levels of competition. In the past, customers were loyal to a provider for many years. Now commercial customers are shopping for new providers each renewal period. Revenues and profits are dropping. Further, there’s a perceived need for a major software application upgrade (in the $40-to-100 million range) for the healthcare insurance division. Should the company change systems at this time? Read and ponder for yourself.
Michael Cushman
in Examples, Mechanistic Solutions, Culture
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Oops, IBM Supply Chain Snafu!
A few weeks ago I wrote about IBM’s new human supply chain solution for internal allocation of human resources. Since then I’ve read the full article in Intelligent Enterprise magazine and had a personal encounter with IBM’s HR requirements. Although I still praise the supply chain effort, the front end supplier, HR, is hurting IBM’s competitiveness. It's backwards.
Michael Cushman
in Mechanistic Solutions
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Workforce Optimization, IBM's Solution
About 7 years ago a data aggregator of pharmaceutical information asked a large consulting firm to help it develop 10 new products in the same year, using the same resource pool (mostly engineers). I was assigned to help craft a solution for the consulting company’s RFP. Unfortunately, the initial conversations with the client involved a PMO (Program Management Office) solution. Too bad, because I had seen this problem before. For this problem, project management is the wrong paradigm.
Michael Cushman
in Mechanistic Solutions
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What They don’t Teach in Business School: Culture and Change
The main problem: MBA thinking is backward.
Generally, business schools are about mechanistic solutions (functions, structures, process, systems, policies…), necessary but insufficient. The truth is that all business is done by, through, and for people. MBA programs are void of relevant thinking and skills regarding culture and change.
Yes, there are degrees in OD (Organizational Development). However, if these OD programs are so good, why can’t you think of any successful CEOs with a degree OD?
Michael Cushman
in Mechanistic Solutions, Culture, Projects
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