To check if an organization is running well, it’s important to conduct an organizational diagnosis.
Thinking of an organization as a large person made up of individuals is an interesting perspective. Just like people get regular health check-ups, organizations should also have regular check-ups on key areas. When I was asked by leaders or joined a new organization, I conducted a simple health check, similar to what a public health center would do. Surprisingly, I found basic issues, such as unclear job responsibilities or problems with regulations. Newer companies often had more issues with their operations and structure, while older companies had unexpected problems with their rules and systems.
Just like how we don’t wait for symptoms like a cold to see a doctor, organizations should regularly check their health in various areas, including cultural aspects, structure, systems, and processes. Relying only on employee satisfaction or short-term performance to judge an organization’s health is like only getting a mental health consultation without a full health check. While surface-level issues can be addressed, failing to check the underlying health can lead to bigger problems. It’s essential to examine multiple important areas, just like checking a person’s health.
I propose an approach that covers three main areas: surgical (organization structure and roles), internal (systems and processes), and psychological (culture and vision). This way, organizations can maintain a healthy state in their physical, operational, and mental aspects.
Surgical Approach:
- Job Structure: Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined and assigned?
- Organizational Structure: Is the division of roles efficient and effective?
- Responsibility Structure: Are the right people assigned to the right tasks?
- Leadership Structure: Are leaders chosen well, with appropriate authority and responsibility?
Internal Approach:
This checks decision-making, reporting, communication, collaboration, regulations, guidelines, evaluation, and rewards. It ensures that the organization and its members operate cohesively. Without a systematic approach, even a healthy organization may struggle to grow.
Psychological Approach:
This analyzes vision, core values, organizational culture, employee atmosphere, sense of purpose, and DNA. It assesses the mental health of the organization and how well its vision and philosophy are shared. Key points include whether the organization fosters a positive and productive culture.
Organizational health checks should not be one-time events but should be managed and executed regularly. This helps organizations build resilience to adapt to changes in their environment.
Not all organizations face the same issues, so it’s important to tailor the diagnosis to each organization’s unique characteristics and situation. Comprehensive results help identify problems, leading to appropriate solutions or interventions.
The health check can be conducted through the following steps:
a) Interview:
Just like a doctor asks about a patient’s discomfort, the first step in an organizational health check involves asking about the organization’s functions and culture. Ideally, this should be done by the HR department or the leader. If the organization is unsure about its state, external help can be sought, but it should not focus solely on cultural aspects.
b) Examination:
Similar to measuring blood pressure or temperature, this step checks for gaps in job assignments, the definition of regulations and processes, and cultural satisfaction. Various methods like surveys and monitoring can be used for this examination.
c) Analysis:
After the interview and examination, the results are analyzed to assess the overall health. This includes identifying strengths, weaknesses, and potential risks, as well as discussing necessary interventions. This is a crucial step in setting the direction for healthy organizational growth.
Organizational health is essential for achieving goals and sustaining growth. A new health check should go beyond cultural aspects to include structure, systems, and processes, helping organizations maintain a healthy state. It’s now essential for organizations to undergo comprehensive health checks.
How healthy is your team?
