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Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

 

Bartlett (born in Australia) works at Harvard Business School (pictured right)..

Ghoshal (Indian), was a London Business School professor

Ghoshal (pictured right below) died in 2004  

 

Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

See also...

Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal in the Management Gurus section. 

 

 

Book summary

 

What is an individualized corporation?Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

It is “flexible enough to exploit the idiosyncratic knowledge and unique skills of each individual employee”.

 

Why does it deliver business success?

The individualized corporation can achieve:

 Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

1. Empowerment

(requiring initiative and self-motivation, but it isn’t “abandonment” – empowered people are given clear work objectives and standards of performance).

 

2. Creativity and learning

Finding creative solutions to customers' problems.

 Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

3. Social responsibility

Responding to the needs of society and local communities.

 

4. Common purpose

A shared commitment to:

  • customer satisfaction. Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)
  • continuous improvement.

Employees must understand:

  • the organization's customer driven strategy.
  • their role in achieving it.

 

How to transform organizational performance

 

These four success factors (above) will help the organization to implement the three stages to transform its performance (in its processes like production and marketing):

 

1. Rationalization

  • continuous cost savings.
  • performance improving strategies (like training).

 Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

2. Revitalization

Questioning past success factors and changing the rules of the game, usually with new competencies and businesses – how?

  • self-discipline.
  • stretch (challenging objectives).
  • effective cross-functional teams.
  • mutual trust and support.

“Sweet and sour” management is necessary in which rationalization and revitalization are continually balanced.

 Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal,The Individualized Corporation (1997)

3. Regeneration

Achieving continuous self-renewal by each employee through:

  • encouraging and supporting continual learning and improvement (with managers acting as coaches).
  • sharing information and ideas.

An organization must continually re-evaluate its performance in times of success and failure.

The danger of success is a complacent refusal to change and improve (“the failure of success”).

 

Key quote on empowerment

Empowerment is not abandonment.

 

Key quote on business success

They [successful companies] have moved beyond the old doctrine of strategy, structure and systems to...the development of purpose, process and people.
 

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