Cathleen Benko - The Corporate Lattice: Achieving High Performance In the Changing World of Work

Gratitude is the hearts memory.

B. Ellis

A CTIONS ARE THE TRUEST MEASURE of intent. This work benefited greatly from the support of the many business leaders, researchers, academics, and professionals who opened their schedules to share their experiences and insights. Your generosity signifies the relevance of the changing world of work, and your candor added depth and rich examples of practical application. We hold you in the highest esteem.

To move from concept to action requires bold leadership. Its humbling to experience how a remarkable leadership team, led by Barry Salzberg and Sharon Allen, overturned long-held workplace beliefs and not only embraced the notion of a lattice organization, but shepherded its adoption, driving the change.

Weve had the privilege of collaborating with an extraordinary community that first came together to embrace the principles and framework outlined in Mass Career Customization. You were the risk takers and the trailblazers, believing before the evidence. The ideas and observations of the lattice organization emerged during this collaboration, and this prequel is in many ways a tribute to your efforts.

We applaud our colleagues who contributed in so many ways. Partnership works, and the whole is surely greater than the sum of any individuals contributions. A special thank-you to Barbara Adachi, Andy Liakopoulos, and Jeff Schwartz, who profoundly influenced this effort both directly and indirectly.

Special recognition goes to our key collaborators, whose zeal, good humor, and sharp intellects inspired and sustained us:

To Mickey Buttsyour eye for the flow of logic and skill for refining the written word is evident on every page.

To Suzanne MacGibbonyour doggedness in crafting, challenging, and clarifying ideas made a lasting contribution.

To Laura Stokkeryou have the heart of a lion and have mastered both the art and science of project management. This work is stronger as a result of it.

To Anne Weisbergthe thesis of this book extends from our earlier works; we appreciate your contributions to all.

Thanks also to Jackie Boyle, Maggie Chao, Jennifer Clarke, Karen Crandall, and Suzanne Vickberg: you were an integral part of bringing this work to fruition. To Dave Gershenson, Suzanne Gylfe, Ken Horner, Mary McGoff, and the TEG: we appreciate the critical eye. And our thanks as well to all those who lent a helping hand, whether it was taking on more of the work of our day jobs, tracking down research studies, crafting graphics, or offering to pitch in on the home front. Your generosity fueled us.

Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to the many others, some anonymous and others not, who contributed through blog posts and other means: your views surely enhanced our thinking. Our thanks as well to our editor, Jacque Murphy, who has a knack for helping to shape our views and keep us on task.

Finally, well, theres no place like home. From Cathy: To George, Brendan, and Ellie, your unwavering support and personal sacrifices in support of this project, and indeed the broader base of my professional pursuits, mean the world to me. From Molly: To Richard, Emily, and Matthew, I am deeply grateful for your bottomless well of support and sacrifice. You are my heart and my joy, and you inspire me every day.

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In the spirit of Friedrich Engels, who said, An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory, its now time to get to work exploring ways to make sense of and respond to the change thats all around us in a concerted and deliberate fashion.

Also by Cathleen Benko:

Cathleen Benko and Anne Weisberg,

Mass Career Customization:

Aligning the Workplace with Todays
Nontraditional Workforce