Building structure and systems on the foundation of strategy has driven the process of management since the invention of systematic management. In today’s knowledge age, however, conditions are so dynamic that they cause strategy to quickly become obsolete. Over focus on strategy can actually cause organizations to miss important warning signs that they need to make changes or that they are on the wrong path. Relying on a strategic plan all by itself is no longer enough. An organization must have a galvanizing vision of its purpose that speaks to the contribution that every member of the organization needs to make in order for the organization to achieve its goals.

Managers must become educators and leaders. Their primary purpose is to keep the members of the organization in the learning mode, so that each member of the organization learns the key elements of success in their drive towards purpose. This causes members to maintain focus on the overall purpose and to adjust and adapt more rapidly, instead of being caught up in following the strategy. The job of leadership is to constantly restate this vision and to help members stay focused on their purpose.

We are in the knowledge age and knowledge is universally available, however diverse people process knowledge differently. That diversity of understanding creates the opportunity for deeper insights into the challenges facing the organization. And, it creates the opportunity for more dynamic problem solving and more powerful implementation of lines of action to accomplish goals. That’s why it is so important that we understand how to manage diversity effectively. If we have diminished the value, real or perceived, of any member of the team because of their differences, the entire team will be plagued by conflict, impeded by diminished problem solving, and incomplete implementation.

To be successful, diversity programs must do more than promote awareness, repair conflict, and assure equity, they must inspire a new spirit and new patterns of interaction among organization members. They must help the organization grow stronger and more capable of achieving its core mission. Building models of unity in organizations can help managers and employees learn how to develop the principles, practices, and systems that help strengthen patterns of cooperation, and increase understanding and harmony among diverse people.

We are dedicated to helping organizations become smarter, more agile, more unified, and more productive. These qualities are essential in the knowledge age, where learning organizations prosper while others decline.

The Henderson Consulting Group is committed to helping organizations master the art of management-facilitating communication and individual responsibility to unify the diversity of skills, knowledge, cultures and kinds of work to be done. We are dedicated to helping organizations become smarter, more agile, more cohesive, and more productive. These qualities are essential in the knowledge age, where learning organizations prosper while others decline.