The design of effective public digital organizations 💪

The design of effective public digital organizations 💪

Society needs effective public organizations, and in today's digital age, being digitally effective is a crucial aspect of effectiveness. Just like private companies, public works should be equally, if not more, accountable for their performance. Transparency is key in building trust and ensuring that public organizations are delivering value to the citizens they serve.

But what does it mean to be digitally effective? It means constantly creating new value for customers and for the organization itself. It's not just about tweaking and optimizing existing products, but rather, developing each product to reach its full potential. This requires consistent product innovation, which is something that strong tech-product companies understand very well.

Successful digital products are almost always built by long-lived multi-disciplinary teams. These teams have the power and autonomy to shape their own work, making them empowered product teams. They are responsible for translating the organization's strategy into actionable plans that multiple product teams can efficiently execute on. Product management plays a crucial role in this process, ensuring that the organization's goals and strategies are aligned with the work of empowered product teams.

In order to foster a culture of innovation and effectiveness, it's important for an executive team to be consciously designed to support empowered product teams. This means creating a structure that prioritizes the needs of these teams and provides them with the resources and support they need to succeed. When Steve Jobs returned as CEO of Apple, he made drastic changes to the company's organizational structure to support innovation. He laid off general managers, combined functional departments, and put the entire company under one profit and loss statement. This radical move allowed Apple to become one of the most innovative companies in the world.

Now, let's shift our focus to the Japanese business culture and the concept of "朝礼" (morning meetings). In many Japanese companies, morning meetings are considered a necessary ritual, even though most employees see them as a waste of time. So why do Japanese companies continue to hold these meetings?

The answer lies in the role of management. Creating habits and constraints is a crucial aspect of management. When businesses expand, it becomes essential to leverage the skills and capabilities of every team member, including those in the lower tiers. This is where the concept of "梅" (ume), or the middle layer, comes into play. In order to manage the members in this layer effectively, Japanese companies often resort to seemingly trivial practices like morning meetings and daily reports.

The reality is that many employees struggle to perform even the most basic tasks. In such cases, introducing mechanisms like morning meetings and daily reports becomes necessary to create a sense of conformity and surveillance. By gathering every morning at a designated time and discussing the day's plans, employees feel a sense of accountability and alignment with the organization's goals. Similarly, reporting on the tasks completed at the end of the day creates a system of monitoring and ensures that everyone is on track.

In conclusion, the design of effective public digital organizations requires a focus on transparency, accountability, and innovation. Building empowered product teams that have the autonomy to shape their work is essential for success. Additionally, an executive team consciously designed to support these teams will greatly enhance the organization's chances of success. And while practices like morning meetings may seem trivial, they can play a crucial role in managing teams effectively and ensuring that everyone is aligned with the organization's goals.

Actionable advice:

1. Foster a culture of transparency and accountability within your organization. This will build trust among stakeholders and ensure that public organizations are delivering value to their constituents.
2. Empower your product teams by giving them the autonomy to shape their work. This will encourage innovation and result in the development of products that reach their full potential.
3. Evaluate your organizational structure and make changes if necessary. Design an executive team that supports empowered product teams and aligns with the organization's goals. This will create a solid foundation for success.

By implementing these actionable advice, public organizations can become digitally effective and deliver value to the citizens they serve. It's time to embrace transparency, accountability, and innovation in the design of our public organizations.