Lattice Ways to Participate: Creating a Company Culture of Collaboration and Transparency

By: Cathleen Benko and Molly Anderson

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Synopsis: The traditional corporate ladder is giving way to a new kind of organizational structure-the corporate lattice-in which success is no longer defined as a linear climb to the top, and rigid definitions of what work is, how it should be accomplished, and who gets to participate are being transformed. In this chapter, the authors examine how companies can enable broad-based, nonhierarchical forms of participation through the interrelated forces of collaboration and transparency. As the definition of the workplace expands from a physical and highly structured environment to a more virtual and adaptive one, so too does the notion of how people participate. In lattice organizations, people at all levels are free to voice their opinions and ideas, give feedback, and collaborate. (As technology thinker Clay Shirky has declared, "Here comes everybody.") These new forms of participation challenge traditional relationships and communication. They create empowered workers and an inclusive work environment. The authors turn to examples such as Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, AT&T, and Best Buy to show how companies are widening their views of whose voices can make a difference and where good ideas can come from. The result? A highly engaged, highly productive workforce. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 5 of "The Corporate Lattice: Achieving High Performance in the Changing World of Work."