🌿🧭🌳 OD21: Org design virtual conference by ODF ∙ Lessons learned from a decade in Product ∙ OD goodies
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Foreword
We acknowledge that there’s a lot going on in the world right now. It’s hard for us here in Romania and we imagine that each of you might be going through a difficult period, both at work and at home.
Our hope is that we can help bring a bit of inspiration for leading your organizations or advising organizational leaders around you. We firmly believe that organizations are places where meaningful changes can happen, changes that can have a positive impact in the society.
Stay safe and present,
Raluca & Bülent
Org design conference by ODF
If you have a passion for designing thriving organizations, here’s some good news.
The Organization Design Forum has announced that their annual conference is now virtual, free to register and takes place between June 18-24.
Here are some sessions that we’re looking forward to:
Organizational Network Analysis - session seems to focus on the future of organizational analysis. We’re curious about new tools that might support active data collection (instead of the eternal survey);
Creating a Sense-and-Respond Organization - sense-and-respond techniques that inform organizational design and management. We named our practice Sense & Change so this resonated with us immediately;
Linking Org Design with Workplace Design Strategies - workplace design (especially the mix between the remote and the on-site workplace) has become extremely relevant for how well the organizations will function from now on;
Design Adaptable Organizations to Thrive in a Complex World - similar to the ONA session above, this one seems to cover how network analysis can be used to organize for better business performance.
Lessons learned from a decade in Product
We found that many ideas and tools from the Product world are extremely useful when working to improve organizational performance, especially if you use the lens of the Organization as a Product - lens 9 covered in OD04.
Martin Eriksson, founding member of Product Tank - the largest Product Management global community - shares some insightful lessons based on the evolution of the field in the past 10 years. As we value learning across disciplines, we think it’s worthwhile to pay attention to such reflections.
If your work is focused on developing organizations, you might find some useful analogies. Here are the main points - you can find details about each one in the article.
What’s worked well:
Defining the Craft (Almost)
Putting Users in Focus
Embracing Cross-Functional Teams
Moving Towards Outcomes
Making Bets
What could have gone better:
Systems Thinking
The Time Spent Debating Semantics
Copy/Paste Culture
Self Care
What should we do differently:
Show Our Work
Embrace Learning
Focus on the Whole
Think Strategically
Focus on Value
OD Goodies
Curious about more resources on leading organizations?
Here’s a section with very short descriptions and links.
Being mindful of the current events in US, The Management Center has created a resource page to help managers and their teams: How to Manage When Things Are Not Ok (And Haven’t Been for Centuries).
“Care for your team as people, not just workers”. If we wish we bring our whole selves at work, maybe it’s time to openly discuss what’s happening in the world outside the organization.
Asana and Box have recently shared their “Remote Work Study” results.
An INSEAD team is studying the impact of the pandemic on teamwork trends. Share your view about how teams are adapting.
The OrgDev newsletter is curated by Raluca and Bülent Duagi, the team behind Sense & Change. We work as OD Advisers to high performing cross-functional teams, guiding strategy execution and increasing team effectiveness in complex and uncertain contexts.