Such steps
generally reap some shortterm
effi ciencies quickly, but
in so doing address only the
symptoms of dysfunction, not its root causes. Several years
later, companies usually end up in the same place they started.
Structural change can and should be part of the path to improved
execution, but it’s best to think of it as the capstone,
not the cornerstone, of any organizational transformation. In
fact, our research shows that actions having to do with decision
rights and information are far more important – about
twice as effective – as improvements made to the other two
building blocks. (See the exhibit “What Matters Most to Strategy
Execution.”