Reorganization is the permanent condition of a vigorous organization.
Roy Ash
Charles Handy, probably the smartest workplace guru, said more than ten years ago that work is fundamentally changing. He coined the notion of ½ by 2 by 3 rule of corporate fitness. This workplace is characterized by half as many people on the payroll, paid twice as much, producing three times as much. Hand’s work model consists of 3 circles:
- Inner ring. The inner ring, the organizational core, is composed of corporate insiders, managers, and professionals. They are the glue that holds the organization together and grows it.
- Middle ring. Portfolio or project workers inhabit the middle ring according to Handy. These people are contractors or temporary workers. These people offer marketable, transferable skills, knowledge, and abilities that add organizational value. These skills are portable and can be sold to the highest bidder. A person may become an itinerant professional selling his or her skills from employer to employer.
- Outer ring. The outer ring is composed of largely interchangeable and disposable workers. These workers are often less skilled service employees. Many are marginal workers who service the repetitive needs of the organization such as food service, administrative chores, or travel services.
Life Lesson Earned: The Handy model is a process model of work. It’s critical to know if you are core, project or an exchangeable employee as far as your company or client is concerned.