What is an Integrative Approach?

We start by recalling two of Albert Einstein’s many brilliant insights.

"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them."

and

“Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”

We have created complexity that is becoming unmanageable without having to split work into ever smaller components. By doing this we have lost sight of the whole and of the changing interdependencies within our organization's ecosystem. We badly need to regain - at all levels of the organization - a holistic perspective, i.e. a clear common view of the whole process, of the whole organization and of its ecosystem.

Why is an Integrative Approach Essential?

Fragmentation is expensive; it is inhibitive to trust, cooperation and innovation. Teams of any size, when moved by the same spirit, consistently outperform larger, better-equipped teams that do not share a solid Core Foundation. In times of accelerated change integrated teams and organizations are capable not only of adapting infinitely faster, but also proactively anticipating change.

Equal attention ought to be given to enrollment, i.e. motivation, alignment, commitment and to coherent implementation. They are totally interdependent. Conversations and activities linked to enrolment need be closely linked with visible implementation to stay on track and not lose momentum.

The ISM Integrative Approach to VBO

Is holistic or, if one prefers, systemic or comprehensive i.e. it

- identifies five distinct levels of depth of conversations and actions.
- addresses the needs and responsibilities of Core Stakeholders: Customers, Employees, Suppliers/Partners and Investors
- covers all three stages of VBO, i.e. Awareness, Enrollment and Implementation

* It provides a comprehensive Framework for past, current and planned initiatives, projects and processes

* It is animated by a vigorous, live Community Dialogue©

* It helps create, or strengthen a strong sustainable culture which fosters consistency in decisions taken in every part and every level of the organization

No strategy, orientation or architecture amounts to a hill of beans until it is implemented into day-to-day business practice, i.e. the organization’s four vital processes, the projects that create those processes and its measurement system.

When an organization chooses to start operating on a basis of values, purpose and vision, trust and integrity are the essential ingredients. They don’t need to be taught or hammered in. A framework for allowing that with which we are born to come to the surface and be applied in the everyday work environment will turn corporations and other types of communities into extraordinary places to work for and work with. Performance measurement, which is the fourth component of VBO, then changes from the heavy set of control mechanisms into an empowering tool for self-evaluation.

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