Sometimes people on your team don’t fit. Culture is that unwritten set of rules that governs our required behavior in the work that we do together. Some people don’t fit. It doesn’t make them a bad person, they just don’t fit.
Some companies hire for culture, assuming the company can train the technical stuff. Some companies require the technical stuff assuming the candidate can adapt to the culture.
Organizational structure is the way we define the working relationships between each other. Organizational structure is culture.
Based on your product or service, your business model, what is the relationship your customer wants with your organization? The Discipline of Market Leaders documents three types of relationships (why customers buy from us).
- Product Superiority (Quality)
- Low Cost
- Customer Intimacy
This narrative set the stage in 1995, and, now, there are more ways to define the customer relationship. (I would like to hear how you describe yours.)
Your customer relationship platform drives everything else, specifically your structure. It is the basis of your business model. As a small business owner, being able to accept credit card payments is one of the most important small business tools that should be at the top of your list. By accepting credit cards, you’re making it easier for customers to do business with you. When choosing a credit card processing provider, it’s best to compare the credit card processing fees they charge so you can get the best possible deal.
When I look at the three types of relationships, my mind drifts to that saying: “Speed, (low) price, and quality … you can pick two, but not all three.”
If there’s a parallel, I’ll pick customers that want Product Superiority and Customer Intimacy from that list!