William Malik, a seasoned expert on organizational transformation, discusses the revolutionary Haier operating model. He details how Haier shifted from a failing state-owned enterprise to a $50 billion powerhouse with over 5,700 micro-enterprises. The conversation dives into their unique internal marketplace and the RenDanHeYi philosophy, which decentralizes management, fostering innovation. Malik argues for the advantages of a decentralized agile structure that drives performance and creativity, redefining success in a competitive landscape.
Haier's decentralized operating model empowers over 5,700 micro enterprises to innovate independently, fostering rapid responses to market demands.
The implementation of a value-added mechanism and smart contracts enhances collaboration, accountability, and performance tracking among micro enterprises.
Deep dives
Transformation of Hire into a Decentralized Organization
Hire, once a failing state-owned enterprise, transformed into a highly profitable entity through a decentralized operating model. This model empowered over 5,700 micro enterprises, allowing them to innovate and respond flexibly to market needs. The company generates significant revenue, around $50 billion annually, by enabling these small teams to operate as independent enterprises while sharing services and risks. The focus on a value-added approach enhances collaboration and fosters competition among the micro enterprises, which ultimately leads to improved overall performance and innovation.
The Value-Added Mechanism and Ecosystem Management
A critical aspect of Hire's success is its value-added mechanism, which ensures that all micro enterprises agree on the distribution of profits and costs in advance. This mechanism facilitates coordination among various teams, allowing them to work collaboratively in delivering products and services. Additionally, the Ecosystem Micro-Community (EMC) plays a vital role in managing relationships and orchestrating activities among these micro enterprises. These structures help maintain operational efficiency while encouraging entrepreneurial initiative within the organization.
Smart Contracts and Performance Accountability
Hire utilizes smart contracts to ensure transparency and accountability across its decentralized model, with an emphasis on performance metrics. Projects are monitored through a dashboard system that identifies performance issues in real-time, allowing teams to adapt swiftly or shut down underperforming initiatives. This reliance on data and mutual agreements encourages teams to take ownership of their success, promoting a culture of learning and experimentation. The failure of a project is viewed not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth and improvement, resulting in a rich repository of learnings that can inform future endeavors.
Decentralized Decision-Making and Employee Empowerment
In Hire's structure, decision-making authority rests with the micro enterprises, which operate akin to startups, promoting a strong sense of accountability and entrepreneurial spirit. Employees have the freedom to define their compensation based on the value they generate, significantly impacting motivation and performance. The structure enables swift adjustments to meet market demands, ensuring that teams can access external resources if internal services do not meet their needs. This boundary-less approach fosters innovation and responsiveness, challenging traditional corporate structures that often stifle agility and creativity.
Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with William Malek about the Haier operating model. Haier, a Chinese appliance giant, transitioned from a failing state-owned enterprise to a highly profitable publicly owned organisation with over 5,700 micro enterprises and $50 billion in revenue.
We explain how Haier uses an internal marketplace to allow microenterprises to trade goods and services with each other, based on a value added mechanism and smart contracts. An approach based on the philosophy of RenDanHeYi, where managers release control and support teams to achieve their potential to create valuable solutions within an open environment.
William makes a compelling case for the benefits of a decentralized agile organizational model in driving high innovation and performance.
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