HBR IdeaCast Breaking Down Bureaucracy and Building Up Workers
Aug 18, 2020
Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini, co-founders of the Management Lab, discuss the stifling effects of bureaucracy on employee engagement and organizational efficiency. They explore innovative approaches to dismantling rigid structures, advocating for a human-centered work culture that prioritizes autonomy and accountability. By sharing successful case studies, they reveal how empowering individuals and embracing grassroots change can transform organizations. Their insights build on concepts from their book, 'Humanocracy,' aiming to unlock the full potential of the workforce.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Bureaucracy's Invisibility
- Bureaucracy's pervasiveness makes it invisible, like "fish in water".
- Its costs are substantial, yet often overlooked due to its ingrained nature.
Bureaucracy's Cost
- Bureaucracy costs the U.S. roughly $3 trillion due to missed opportunities.
- The number of managers and administrators has doubled in 30 years, exceeding predictions of downsizing.
Wasted Human Capacity
- Most jobs require little originality, reflecting how we design jobs, not people's potential.
- Bureaucracy, designed for a different era, aimed to make humans as reliable as machines.
