“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” -Vince Lombardi
Organizational Silos
Almost every organization, as it grows beyond the start-up stage, develops silos. It’s a tried-and-true, traditional way to organize and departmentalize a business, and it offers a level of comfort to employees and management alike. They know where they belong, what is expected of them, and who they report to.
By the same definition a project team can be seen as a siloed group—all members working together toward a common goal: the successful completion of project based work. This silo provides the right combination of talents and expertise needed for the project, and promotes strong team cohesion. Combine that with online project management software that promotes team collaboration, and you have the makings for a successful project.
But does that make silos right for an enterprise that hopes to succeed? I don’t believe it does.
Teaming works and is necessary; no argument there. The problem as I see it is that teams can become so insular and isolated they tend to forget to communicate outside of their (imaginary) walls. Even within a department (IT, Marketing, Sales, etc.) those doing disparate activities can get so focused on completing tasks and checking off to-do boxes they often ignore dependencies and can duplicate work. How many times have you seen an email go out to a number of people in different departments that ends with the words ‘take care of this’…? Without communication between those siloed departments, many people will take on the one task. What a waste of resources!
Help or Hindrance?
Silos, in my opinion, are a detriment to communication and in the long run a serious impediment to any business that hopes to succeed. But how do we overcome this?
In the area of project management, it’s probably on the PMs to set time aside each month or so to create bridges between teams, or even create a cross-functional team, to share successes, breakthroughs, and new ideas. This will benefit the individuals, the teams, the projects, and the company as a whole. Communication is still key to success, and anything that promotes team collaboration across the enterprise will help eliminate silos and lead to a stronger organization.
of communication, the emergence of management silos, and misalignment."
Med Yones President of International Institute of Management since 2005)
Agree? Disagree? What are your thoughts about the effectiveness or lack thereof of silos in the workplace?
I could equate the work place to a dysfunctional family. Everyone means to do the right thing, however their actions may be slightly misguided or construed as such. This perception can be created by the information at hand or a point of view. The saying about not judging a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes comes to mind. Silos get erected because those not on the ‘team’ just don’t understand. While a certain level of insulation probably fosters cohesion and teamwork, when the walls get too high they become counter productive. Going back to the family analogy, an inbred family will become extinct without enough outside influence. Bridging between groups takes continual work. The return in the long run is that it will keep the walls at a manageable level and improve the overall corporate efficiency. The end result ensures your organization doesn’t become extinct.