The ever-evolving landscape of business requires innovative management approaches to maintain alignment and drive efficiency. One such approach gaining popularity is the Helix Organisational Structure. This model addresses common challenges in traditional structures, such as conflicting directives and lack of clear direction, by offering a more streamlined and dual-focused reporting system. Here’s a closer look at the Helix structure and its benefits.
The Challenge of Traditional Structures
In many organisations, employees often receive instructions from multiple managers, leading to conflicting priorities. For instance, a procurement specialist might face contradictory demands from finance, production, and IT departments. This misalignment not only hampers productivity but also breeds organisational entropy, where routines become stagnant and unexamined.
Moreover, traditional competency models are increasingly seen as outdated. According to a Gartner Supply Chain Practice survey, only 31% of supply chain leaders believe their current competency models are relevant. This indicates a pressing need for a more dynamic and relevant management approach.
Introducing the Helix Structure
The Helix Organisational Structure, proposed by McKinsey, addresses these issues by providing clear, dual reporting lines for each employee. In this model, every team member reports to two leaders:
-
Capabilities Manager: Focuses on the employee’s long-term career development, performance evaluations, and overall capabilities management.
-
Value-Creation Manager: Oversees day-to-day work, sets priorities, and ensures business objectives are met.
This dual reporting system ensures that all preferences and requests from different parts of the organisation are funnelled through these two leaders. They resolve any conflicts before they reach the employee, thus preventing confusion and misalignment.
Benefits of the Helix Structure
-
Clear Accountability: The Helix structure eliminates dotted lines of reporting, providing two clear, parallel lines of accountability. This clarity helps in avoiding the chaos often seen in traditional hierarchical models.
-
Balanced Work and Development: By having one leader focused on immediate tasks and another on long-term development, employees receive balanced guidance. This dual focus allows for real-time adaptation to both current projects and future growth.
-
Enhanced Communication: Better internal communication reduces stress on employees and team leaders alike. It creates an environment where employees can focus on larger company goals rather than juggling conflicting demands from various managers.
-
Improved Employee Retention: An organised and supportive work environment makes employees more likely to stay longer, feel more valued, and make smarter decisions.
The Helix Organisational Structure offers a modern solution to the challenges posed by traditional management models. By providing dual lines of accountability and balancing immediate tasks with long-term development, the Helix model enhances communication, reduces stress, and improves overall efficiency.
As businesses continue to navigate a complex and dynamic landscape, adopting innovative approaches like the Helix structure will be essential for sustaining growth and achieving long-term success. By aligning capabilities management with value-creation management, organisations can foster a more resilient and adaptable workforce, ready to meet the demands of the future.
Note:
This article is part of an ongoing series exploring hiring trends in the APAC procurement sector. Next, we’ll explore the importance of supplier relationships. Can’t wait? Download the entire series as a report here.
About the Author:
Ben McDonald is a Co-Founder and Partner at Connexus Global. With a 20-year track record in recruitment, particularly in Supply Chain & Logistics, Ben partners with clients to secure top talent, driving their success in the Asia-Pacific region.
About Connexus Global:
Connexus Global is a specialised recruitment firm operating in Singapore, Bangkok, London, and Austin, focusing on the industrial, consumer markets, commodity trading, and renewable energy sectors.
