The Hindu Business Line : Organisational health

If so, what should be the parameters for determining organisational health? Research on these questions has been going on for some time in industrial countries, and attempts have been made even to isolate the DNA of particular organisations!

The findings of a "master global checkup" carried out by a renowned consultant firm Booz Allen, based on an analysis of the results of extensive surveys conducted by it, are revealing: Organisational health in China scores the highest, while the "most unhealthy of organisational environments" prevails in... ?

Can you guess? No, Sir (or Madam, as the case may be!) it is not India, but the US! Japan, Canada, and Australia too are said to fare equally badly.

Broadly, it is possible to classify unhealthy organisations as being passive-negative (everyone agrees with everyone else about what is to be done, but nothing gets done in the end); over- (including micro-) managed, prone to paralysis by analysis and activity without action; outgrown, in the sense of being stale and stagnant; and catatonic (erratic and uneven) given to functioning by fits and starts. Healthy organisations, on the contrary, are on the go and on the ball, abreast of advances in technology and management techniques and practices, forward-looking and adaptable.

The vitality of these organisations stems from three core attributes.

First is the morale evidenced by the dynamism and enthusiasm of the employees who are imbued with a sense of pride in working for their outfits.

Second is the free flow of communication at all levels so that there is clear understanding of the tasks and priorities, as well as the high standards of quality of products and performance expected.

Constant interaction also enables the employees to march in step towards the goals set. The resultant team-spirit generates synergy which, in turn, conduces to peak productivity.

The most important indicator of sound organisational health is the commitment, not just to profit-making, but to wealth creation and service to society, as a means of raising the nation's stature in the eyes of the rest of the world.

It may be worthwhile to take the pulse of Indian organisations also and ascertain their health.

B. S. Raghavan

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