Intuiting Work Levels – Justin Foster’s Strategy Hierarchy
By Michelle Malay Carter on June 3, 2008
Jamie Notter mentioned coming upon Justin Foster’s idea of Strategy Hierarchy.?
Justin does a great job of describing work levels 5, 4, and 3.
Here’s Justin’s description:
- Vision – Develop the simple idea. This is very likely the original reason a venture or effort was started. In addition, the Vision is the picture of success in the mind of the founder, CEO, et al.? (aka work level 5)
- Systems – Determine the business model, infrastructure needs, tools, etc. (aka work level 4, business model decision is probably made at 5)
- Execution – Get things done on-time and on-budget.? (aka level 3)
Work Levels are a Natural Phenomenon
The reason why we keep intuiting work levels is because they are natural phenomenon.? The reason why we organize ourselves in hierarchies is because it is natural to do so.? Human cognitive ability to solve problems exists in levels too.
We don’t have to know anything about thermometers to sense that there is a difference between 50 degrees and 90 degrees.
Want Research?
There is over 50 years of research on the subject, started by Wilfred Brown and Elliott Jaques.? If?you care to peruse it, you can access it in exchange for filling out a brief survey here.?
Or you can bop around this blog and read about it yourself.? Just type your area of interest (succession planning, talent assessment, performance management, leadership, strategy, compensation) in the Mission Minded Management search box, and see how work levels impact it.
Work Levels Described
For a reminder on my descriptions of level 5 – 1 work, click here.
Hierarchies Have Existed for?Thousands?of Years
As I’ve said before, hierarchies are not the problem.? It’s is our ignorance of how to structure organizations to naturally align with naturally occurring work levels that causes dysfunction.
I’m OK.? You’re OK.? Let’s fix the system.
Have you ever sensed work levels?
Filed Under Organization Design, Requisite Organization, Strategy, Succession Planning, Work Levels
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