A Debate about Going Beyond Tasks: Redesigning Organizations Around Goals and Knowledge

Catalyst Center for Work Innovation: The Debate · Oct 3, 2026 · 24m

Traditional organizational design, which relies primarily on task interdependence, struggles in modern, unpredictable environments because it assumes work can be mapped out in advance. To build more adaptable systems, contemporary leaders must embrace a broader tripartite framework that incorporates goal interdependence and knowledge interdependence. When assignments are ambiguous, aligning shared motivations and complementary expertise allows effective task structures to emerge organically rather than through rigid top-down planning. Mismanaging these connections often leads to performance…