Visionary practices (beyond "best practices")

NDMA helps leaders envision the ideal organization as their end-point.

Three decades of work are captured in a database of vision statements which, taken together, describe everything that's expected of an organization if it's to consider itself "world class."

With both broad scope and precision, this database provides an inspiring benchmark which leaders use to assess the gaps in their current organizations and establish clear, consistent directions for organizational improvement programs.

Examples of expectations of a world-class organization....

Using this database, leaders can examine the capabilities of their current organization and assess the gaps.

Their gap assessment may include gathering input from a broad cross-section of staff and from key clients.

Then, NDMA helps leaders diagnose the root causes of these gaps -- obstacles that prevent the organization from achieving this ideal vision. Root causes are fundamental attributes of the organization that cause good people to perform poorly.

Root cause analysis is quite distinct from "best practices." In one study, three leaders expressed the same goal and the same concerns. But root cause analysis revealed three very different problems to solve, three different obstacles to achieving the same goal.

Had one leader resorted to best practices and imitated the solution implemented by another, he/she would not have solved that organization's unique problems. This is an example of how best practices can, in fact, be worst practices!

More on this....

Solutions aren't always transferable, and mimicking the practices of seemingly successful organizations may or may not work for you. Best practices are a short-cut. While it's good to learn from others, real leadership involves understanding your unique challenges and addressing them at the systematic, not the symptomatic, level.

More on systemic root causes...

How we do our research....

Publications

VISION: An Introduction to the Business-Within-a-Business Paradigm.

Seminars

Mission/Vision/Values/BLAH!

The Business-Within-a-Business Paradigm:
new modes of governance in empowered, entrepreneurial organizations

Consulting

RoadMap® Transformation Planning Process: systematic analysis of gaps, root causes, and the sequence of organizational changes -- the best starting point for leaders interested in a comprehensive approach to build a high-performance organization