Lattice Model
A lattice organization uses a lattice model that consists of three lattice ways: careers that can be organized to suit the needs of individual workers; flexible work scheduling that allows workers to achieve a work-life balance by taking on more or less responsibility; and full participation – providing ways for workers to contribute ideas and suggestions in every area of the company.
Lattice organizations allow employees to customize their careers as they need. Lattice ways to build careers offer multiple paths for learning and growth. Mike Davis, senior vice president of global human resources at General Mills, describes this customization in a CNBC article as mixing and matching “cross-functional assignments, cross-country assignments, people taking time off for personal leaves and then coming back. It’s really quite varied.” Increased collaboration is another hallmark of lattice organization. For example, AT&T created a mass-participation system allowing any employee to contribute ideas and then work on the resulting projects.