Management Quote by Gary L. Neilson
““Research by Neilson, Martin, and Powers shows that execution exemplars focus their efforts on two levers far more powerful than structural change: • Clarifying decision rights—for instance, specifying who “owns” each decision and who must provide input • Ensuring information flows where it’s needed—such as promoting managers laterally so they build networks needed for the cross-unit collaboration critical to a new strategy Tackle decision rights and information flows first, and only then alter organizational structures and realign incentives to support those moves. Armed””
About This Quote
Source Article: Harvard Business Review, “The Power of Decision Rights and Information Flow”, 2021
Effective execution depends more on clear decision ownership and robust information channels than on structural redesign.
In simple terms: Focus on who decides and how info moves.
Key Takeaway
Set decision rights and improve information flow first.
Themes
leadership
execution
organization
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
management
practical
When to use this quote
- strategy rollout
- cross‑functional projects
- change initiatives
- team alignment
Key Concepts
decision rights
information flow
networking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you map decision ownership in your team?
- What barriers block information sharing?
A Different Perspective
Structural changes alone may not fix execution problems.
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