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Org design draws charts. Operating architecture defines how decisions actually flow. One shows structure; the other governs behavior.
Charts showing departments, reporting lines, hierarchy. Formal structure that often differs from how work actually happens.
How decisions actually flow. Authority pathways, information channels, decision triggers. The real structure that governs behavior.
| Dimension | Org Design | Operating Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Reporting relationships, departments | How decisions actually flow |
| Relationship to reality | Often differs from actual behavior | Describes actual operations |
| Change mechanism | Reorganization announcements | Redesign of decision pathways |
| Scope | Formal hierarchy | All decision-relevant structures |
| Predictive power | Limited (charts vs reality) | High (governs actual behavior) |
Org design creates charts showing who reports to whom. Operating architecture describes how decisions actually flow through the organization. Charts show formal structure; architecture governs real behavior.
Org charts show formal hierarchy, but decisions don't follow hierarchy. They follow the actual pathways of information, authority, and influence. Operating architecture maps these real pathways.
Not through reorganization announcements but through redesign of decision pathways: who has authority over what, how information flows, what triggers decisions, who can mandate change. Structure shapes behavior.