The Corporate Lattice: Achieving High Performance In the Changing World of Work - Tapa dura

FROM THE BACK COVER: "Cathy Benko and Molly Anderson have produced a landmark book that should be read and reread by anyone who cares about improving corporate performance. It argues persuasively that the old corporate ladder metaphor is dead. What has emerged in its place is the corporate lattice, which is flatter and more collaborative and in tune with the changing workplace and workforce. You will find yourself nodding in agreement with the analysis of this new world and taking notes on what to do about it. This is a book that will have a profound and positive impact. I recommend it highly." -- Anne Mulcahy, Chairman, Xerox Corporation "The right model for the times. Lattice takes on worn-out corporate ladder assumptions and convincingly argues that the workplace must adopt more nimble ways to engage its people. This book illuminates a much-needed path forward, showing organizations how to tap into each individual's performance power to achieve exceptional bottom-line results." -- Marshall Goldsmith, world-renowned executive coach and New York Times best-selling author "The war for talent will never end. Victory will go to those organizations that solve the high performance and career-life quagmire. This book, a sequel to Mass Career Customization, moves beyond theory to everyday practice. It describes how the lattice has been made to work in real companies with great success. Anyone responsible for driving results should read this book." -- Shelly Lazarus, Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide "Read this book immediately if you want to crack the code on how to build and sustain a truly engaged, diverse workforce. A fascinating read with stunning data; it's chock full of pragmatic ideas and evocative examples." -- John Seely Brown, former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corporation; co-author of The Social Life of Information and The Power of Pull REVIEWS: "As a follow up to her book, Mass Career Customization, Cathleen Benko and Molly Anderson have teamed up to present The Corporate Lattice: Achieving High Performance in the Changing World of Work. As outlined in MCC, the world of work is changing, not only for companies, but also for individuals: personal values, diversity, and skills are being viewed differently than they once were, and it's changing the structure of people's lives. Because of these factors, more people aren't necessarily "climbing the ladder" like they once were. They're working from home and available 24/7 (as opposed to 9 to 5), they're looking for challenges, and they want to learn new things. Thus, the old corporate model also needs to adjust, and The Corporate Lattice provides the framework to make changes. As Shelly Lazarus, Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather, states on the back cover: "Anyone responsible for driving results should read this book." It's true. Whether you're an employee, looking for ways to advance your skill set and achieve more, read this book. Or, if you're a manager and want more from your team, read this book. For both, it's a clear guide on how to find, or provide, an environment that builds engagement -- and that engagement provides both sides a wealth of value. " -- 800-CEO-READ; The Daily Blog "I highly recommend the landmark and must read book The Corporate Lattice: Achieving High Performance in the Changing World of Work by Cathleen Benko and Molly Anderson, to anyone seeking a more in depth understanding of the transformation of the modern workplace from a traditional, hierarchical ladder concept to that of a more diverse, and multi-directional corporate lattice framework. The book contains the blueprint to guide corporate leaders and employees toward a more participatory and collaborative company where work and life are better balanced, employees are more engaged and productive, and where the corporate bottom line is improved as well." -- Blog Business World "Also recommended is Cathleen Benko and Molly Anderson's THE CORPORATE LATTICE: ACHIEVING HIGH PERFORMANCE IN THE CHANGING WORLD OF WORK. Changes in the definition and strategies of the corporate world are also changing definitions of work and how the corporate ladder may be climbed: this book creates a model for allowing companies to create more cost-effective approaches to work, from managing real estate and technology to engaging high-performing workers. Businesses need this model of success for the new corporate environment." -- The Business Book Shelf; Book Review

The corporate ladder has been the enduring standard for success since organizational hierarchy was invented. But organizations aren't what they used to be--and neither is the workforce.

Instead of climbing the corporate hierarchy, employees today want to move in and out of, up and down, and across organizations as their professional and personal priorities change. They need to work nontraditional hours to manage family responsibilities. And they're exchanging ideas and connecting with colleagues through social networking technologies, not memos and meetings.

Yet many companies still manage their talent using corporate--ladder practices--tying rewards to the "rung" each employee occupies, mandating 9-to-5 workdays, and communicating with workers through outdated channels. Result? They're having trouble attracting, keeping, and engaging talent.

In The Corporate Lattice, Cathleen Benko and Molly Anderson explain how to move from ladder to lattice in your company by designing an integrated set of policies for:

• How people build careers: For instance, replacing lifetime employment with opportunities to develop marketable skills
• Where, when, and how work gets done: Replacing traditional offices and schedules with collaborative, virtual work and "anytime" workdays
• How employees participate: Using podcasts, blogs, wikis, and other technologies to inform workers and keep them committed to your company

Apply this book's practices, and you keep talent flowing into and throughout your organization, while boosting employee engagement. The payoff? Unprecedented individual and organizational performance.