Overcoming Corporate Silos

Abstract

How can companies get their transformation done? Open organizations build collaborative advantage by renewing their capabilities through partnerships and acquisitions in the face of market turbulence and technological changes such as digitalization. This chapter explores effective strategies to break down silos and transmit transformation throughout the organization:

• 1. Apply Leadership Rotations to Foster a Unified Vision: Implement leadership rotations to unify diverse departments and teams behind a shared vision, breaking down silos and encouraging collaboration.

• 2. Build on Joint Field Trips to Align Departments Behind Transformation: Organize joint field trips that enable departments to better understand one another's challenges and perspectives, aligning them in support of organizational transformation.

• 3. Spark a Movement Behind Your Transformation by Connecting Change-Agents: Identify and connect change-agents within the organization to catalyze a movement that actively breaks down silos and encourages collaboration.

• 4. Assemble a Diverse Coalition to Increase Adaptability: Create a diverse coalition of stakeholders to enhance adaptability, ensuring that efforts to overcome silos are inclusive and successful.

• 5. Combine Internal and External Collaborative Structures: Examine the benefits of merging internal and external collaborative structures to tap into external expertise and enhance collaboration beyond corporate boundaries.

This chapter serves as a comprehensive guide for leaders and organizations seeking to unleash transformation by overcoming corporate silos. By adopting these strategies, you can dismantle barriers to transformation, foster innovation, and promote a more agile and responsive organizational culture in today's interconnected business landscape.