The Financial Times Guide to Strategy: How to Create and Deliver a Winning Strategy, Third Edition

Part 4. Strategic concepts, tools and techniques

 

Adhocracy

Invented by Warren Bennis in 1968 and popularised by Alvin Toffler. Crudely the opposite of bureaucracy, an adhocracy is an organisation that disregards the classical principles of management where everyone has a defined and permanent role. Adhocracies are usually fun to work in, chaotic, task and project team based, disrespectful of authority if not accompanied by expertise, and fast changing. Adhocracy suits cultures and individuals used to thinking for themselves and willing to tolerate ambiguity. Adhocracy is most suited to workforces that are highly educated and motivated and where the work requires creativity and responsiveness to unpredictable and volatile customer needs. Most car ...