Use a logical approach when undertaking organizational alignment

Define the strategic direction of your unit vis-a-vis the organization’s goals
Ensure that the mission, vision, and strategy of your unit are logically integrated with the priorities of your organization. For example, ask yourself: Which set of existing customers will we continue to serve? Which markets will we exit? Which businesses will we invest in? Where will the extra capital come from? What is our organization good at? Which capabilities do we need to build up? What critical decisions must we make regarding resource commitments?

Examine whether the structure of your unit is adequate or not
To assess the structure of your unit, ask these questions: Do we have the right people in the right places to achieve our core objectives? Is it clear who is accountable for what? Are decision rights allocated in a way that helps us make the best decisions? Do we measure and reward the types of achievements that are most significant to our strategic objectives? This information will help you know whether the structure of your unit is supporting the organization’s strategy.

Align your unit’s core processes with its structure
For example, if you’re leading a customer service unit, ensure that the different teams within that unit share information regardless of the specific customer segments they’re responsible for. You can achieve this by using a workflow map to show how tasks flow throughout a process and who’s responsible for each task.

Develop your unit’s skills
Do your subordinates have the skills necessary to perform your core processes optimally? Ensure that your team has the right training, a teamwork mindset, knowledge of how to leverage the relevant technologies, and an awareness of where to acquire critical information.