“What Works: Organizational Design” with Amy Kates, Organization Design Expert, Consultant, Educator, and Author of Five Books

In this episode of the Future of HR podcast, Amy Kates, an expert in organizational design, explores the STAR model—Strategy, Talent, Architecture, and Rewards—for creating effective organizations. Kates highlights that organizational design is about influencing human behavior on a large scale, moving beyond just traditional org charts. The conversation addresses key business challenges that can be tackled through thoughtful design, such as growth, innovation, cost efficiency, agility, mergers and acquisitions, and sustainability. She stresses the importance of establishing clear design criteria and underscores HR's vital role in guiding the design process and implementing changes through development and change management. The episode also examines the intricacies of matrix organizations, emphasizing the need for intentional conflict resolution and collaborative planning. Ultimately, Kates champions HR's potential to enhance business performance through data-driven insights and the adoption of new technologies, rather than merely executing routine tasks.