Unlocking the Power of Organisation Design
A collaborative workshop hosted by Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment and KOZO Design Solutions.
When you hear “Organisation Design,” what comes to mind? A restructure? Job losses? Endless org charts? At our recent workshop—co-hosted by Sarah McKenna HR Recruitment and expertly delivered by KOZO Design—we set out to shift that thinking entirely.
Organisation Design isn’t about making things look tidy on paper. It’s about helping businesses thrive. It’s about enabling strategy, work, information and people to align and flow together.
This session brought HR professionals together to explore not only the theory behind organisation design, but also the tools, frameworks, and practical insights that can drive real value in today’s ever-changing work landscape.
So, What Is Organisation Design?
KOZO defines Organisation Design as the process of aligning an organisation’s strategy with its structure, systems, and people. The outcome? An operating model that helps you actually deliver on your strategy and meet your objectives.
It’s not a one-time event. It’s a journey.
This journey starts with understanding:
- Where your business is now
- Where you’re trying to get to
- What gaps and challenges you face along the way
And it hinges on one of the most powerful questions in business: Why? Why are we structured like this? Why do decisions take so long? Why now?
Design vs Development: What’s the Difference?
A key insight from KOZO’s session was the distinction between design levers and development levers.
| Design Levers | Development Levers |
|---|---|
|
Structure, governance, job design, process flows |
Leadership style, morale, engagement, incentives |
Put simply: Development is easier when the design is right. If work and information can’t flow, no amount of training, coaching or engagement workshops will make the impact you need.
Strategy First. Structure Last.
Many organisations start with the org chart—but that’s backwards.
KOZO’s advice:
“Fix the structure last. It starts with the work and how information flows.”
This means starting with your strategic intent, which typically falls into one of three categories:
- Product Leadership – Innovation is king. Think Nike.
- Operational Excellence – Efficiency is everything. Think Ryanair.
- Customer Intimacy – The client is at the centre. Think Walt Disney.
Most organisations want to be good at all three. But the real question is: Where do you want to lead? Where do you place your fifth star (think TripAdvisor rating) to signify increased focus?
This strategic clarity is crucial—because different shape and inform how you design your organisation.
Why Organisation Design Delivers Real Value
Good design doesn’t just feel better—it performs better.
KOZO highlighted five key outcomes of intentional organisation design:
- 🔗 Link structure to strategy – Focus leadership on the right priorities.
- 💡 Create value – Remove waste and redundancy.
- 🎯 Drive accountability – Clarify roles, decision rights, and outcomes.
- 🤝 Enable collaboration – Tap into informal networks that fuel innovation.
- ⚙️ Reduce friction – Streamline complexity so people can focus on what matters.
The KOZO Approach: Discover. Define. Deliver.
We loved how KOZO’s approach emphasised co-creation with teams—not imposing change from the top down. Their process is clear and practical:
- Discover – Explore how the organisation currently operates.
- Define – Align strategy with the right structures and systems for the future
- Deliver – Create a blueprint and roadmap to embed change.
It’s a flexible model, rooted in research and lived experience, and informed by frameworks such as Galbraith’s STAR, McKinsey 7S, and the Congruence Model.
Final Thoughts
As KOZO reminded us:
“All organisations are perfectly designed to get the results they are getting.”
If you want better results, you need a better design. And that starts with asking the right questions, involving the right people, and aligning your organisation from the inside out.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this rich, reflective, and energising session. We’re proud to co-host conversations like these that move our clients and communities forward.
Want to learn more or explore what Org Design could mean for your business?
📩 Get in touch: sarah@sarahmckenna.co.uk
🌐 Visit: www.kozodesignsolutions.co.uk