Sue Mohrman and Chris Worley examine the relationship and the full system of capabilities required to create a sustainably effective organization. Both work system design and organization design are needed and must be orchestrated in order to align the resources and activities of the organization with strategy, and to ensure that valued high quality services and products are reliably and affordably delivered to the customer.
Research and Insights Archive
Research and Insights from the Center for Effective Organizations
Available Content
Performance Where It Matters
This article by Tom Williams (Booz & Company) and Christopher G. Worley (CEO) focuses on two related management concerns: (1) is consistent/sustained high performance possible and (2) what might account for it?
Sustained High Performance and the Role of Agility
Tom Williams (Booz & Company), Chris Worley (CEO), Niko Canner (Booz & Company) and Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) explain that “Competitive environments change continuously, and the pace of change continues to increase. Yet some companies in every industry show superior performance relative to their peers over very long periods of time. Does your company have the agility required to keep up?”
Large-Group Interventions: An Empirical Field Study of Their Composition, Process, and Outcomes
Large group interventions are an important method of organization change. This paper by Christopher G. Worley (CEO), Susan A. Mohrman (CEO), and Jennifer Nevitt (Microsoft) received the McGregor Award for the outstanding contribution to the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science for 2011.
Network Designs For Sustainable Effectiveness—What Does it Really Take to Get Beyond the Constraints of Hierarchy and Segmentation?, 9/26/2011
To get a glimpse into the network design of the future, Sue Mohrman and Chris Worley shared a framework and case examples from our research on “Organizing for Sustainability.” Guest Speaker: Sally Breyley Parker, President, Currere, Inc.
Effective Talent Management
Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and Christopher G. Worley (CEO) share that sustainability initiatives and corporate social responsibility programs are a possible first step toward developing organizations that are able to perform well financially, socially, and environmentally, what we like to call sustainable effectiveness.
A Suggestion for Creating Effective Sustainable Organizations: Get Rid of Job Descriptions
Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and Christopher G. Worley (CEO) argue that despite their widespread uses, job descriptions frequently are more dysfunctional than helpful, even in traditional bureaucratic organizations.
Sustainability Initiatives are not the Answer: A New Approach to Management is Needed
Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and Christopher G.Worley (CEO) share that sustainability has become a major issue for most large corporations. Willingly or grudgingly, organizations are accepting responsibility for the impact that they have on the natural environment, the people they employ and the societies they operate in.
Models & Choices for Shared Functions & Services, 4/11/2011
Chris Worley and Sue Mohrman talk about Models and Choices for Shared Functions and Services. They provide models and company examples of how to design shared functions, services and Centers of Excellence.
Management Reset: Organizing for Sustainable Effectiveness
In Management Reset, Ed Lawler and Chris Worley, the authors of the best-selling book Built to Change offer a next-step resource for any organization that wants to thrive in our difficult economic environment.
Nine Principles for Sustainable Talent Management
Talent management is arguably the single most important HR activity in a sustainable management organization (SMO).This article by Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and Christopher G. Worley (CEO) describes nine principles and practices that should drive the way talent is managed in SMOs.
Creating Sustainable-Effective Businesses
Edward E. Lawler III (CEO) and Christopher G. Worley (CEO) talk about necessary steps and give example of companies making themselves into sustainably effective organizations.
