Integration to Collaboration
I propose a simple visual below.
Parties A and B are having a disagreement. Three approaches can be taken by leadership. Integration, Collaboration, Laissez-Faire.
Two assumptions -
- Laissez-Faire is not an option.
- Everyone has good intent knowingly.
Integration
A and B do not share a common purpose. Both are attempting to validate their hypothesis with their own trials, and are going from a solid idea to a fuzzy vague idea. Leadership steps in, sees the resistance, and provides an impedance matching framework via integration.
Fuzzy * Fuzzy = (Fuzzy)^n
Purpose A + Purpose B != Purpose
End result -> rework ensues.
Collaboration
A and B do not share a common purpose. Leadership steps in early, instead of resistance, sees amplifiers in the circuit; or A and B ask for help early - out of a virtuous cycle - cross-functional - business agility culture. A and B are aligned to a common purpose - (customer centricity helps) - and collaborate on 'Data'-driven trials - starting from a fuzzy vague idea(s) - set experiments to validate/invalidate options - and converge to a more solid idea - upon whose execution - the light bulb sparks.
Fuzzy * Fuzzy -> Less Fuzzy * Less Fuzzy ->......-> Solid candidate 1..n -> ...->Solid
Purpose A + Purpose B = (Common Purpose)^n
End result -> customer/shareholder wins.
Benefits
Benefits can be measured in terms of ROI, Morale, Learning, Shareholder value, Management cost and plug your own value attributes. (Note that Collaboration may take more calendar time, and/but less rework, and economies of scale gains).
What can we do today
3 steps.
- Share Vision. Define Purpose. Set Objectives (Provide Focus) and empower with Key Results (Create Agility).
- Measure for data, Tune for purpose, Optimize for shareholder value.
- Diverge to converge. Collaborate vs Integrate.