Its all about communication and power. Power is the ability to influence decisions and actions. Today, we like to talk about partnerships. We like to think we believe in shared decision-making. But to put the talk and the new thinking into action, we MUST reject a hierarchical view of organizations that will always prevent true partnerships from working.
Partnership is based on a common vision and shared responsibility for decisions and action.
This will require new types of organizational structures with new types of decision-making processes, and new ways of working. Today's organizations are designed after the Prussian military, the first successful large organization of the 19th century. I think its time to explore new models. Tomorrow's organization must be flatter, more fluid, and able to act more quickly, with multiple linkages in which information flows in all directions. While it is unnecessary to achieve consensus, it is necessary to achieve broad understanding.