·Identify and provide an example of the use of lateral collaboration and vertical collaboration within the organization, and prepare an action plan to use lateral and vertical collaboration. The type of collaboration directly depends upon the organizational structure of an organization. Having a look at the organogram of GE Oil & Gas, it can be seen that the CEO heads the organization. Under the CEO come 9 presidents or chairmen. The other employees including workers and laborers are under these 9 presidents and chairmen. The fact that under one person (the CEO) immediately come 9 other heads shows that the organizational setup is horizontal. (GE Company Organizational Chart)
Hence, the lateral collaboration will be more elaborate in case of GE Oil & Gas. Here, the lateral collaboration will be used between the top management and the middle management. As we know that lateral decision making is more practiced in such a setup and hence decisions and organizational changes are more organic instead of planned, such can also be easily seen in case of GE Oil & Gas. (Anderson, Differences Between Horizontal & Vertical Organizations)
However the fact is that an organization cannot wholly and solely depict one specific type of collaboration: different situations require different measures. There hierarchy seems to be horizontal here, but when we consider the organogram below these 9 chairmen and presidents, it is very much vertical. So the collaboration and decision making has to be vertical here. Vertical collaboration means that the seniors work together with the juniors to accomplish everyday tasks of the company in a structured manner. (Vertical Collaboration)
The action plan is that vertical collaboration is viable in lower level of the organization while lateral or horizontal collaboration is the solution in the upper level hierarchy of the organization.
Identify