Case studies

Want to grow your organisation and enliven and engage your workforce?

Do you understand the real purpose of your organisation? Do you even think it has a purpose?

Perhaps you are looking to increase resilience and flexibility or tap in to that under-utilised potential in your fellow workers?

Maybe you'd like to go further and ensure that what you have built is maintained and future-proofed by the very people that run it?

Below are some companies who have broken the rules and achieved some or all of the above. They have also profited handsomely in many ways by doing so.

Each organisation has a link on it's name if the organisation is still up and running. As time allows I'll be adding more information on each, right now you may need to dig around to find what is exceptional about each of these organisations.

I hope you find their stories inspiring.

 

AES Open in new window

Started: 1981

Based: Arlington, Virginia - USA and worldwide

Does: Electricity provider

Dennis Bakke and Roger Sant started consulting firm Applied Energy Services (AES) in 1981, in Arlington, Virginia, in a very classic and heavily industrial line of business. AES built and operated thermal and hydroelectric power generation systems, as well as electrical grids. Within ten years, the company had built power plants in 29 countries, joined the Fortune 200, and grown their employee base from 1,400 to 50,000.
Source: Reinventing Organizations - Frederic Laloux 2014)

Bakke and Sant have since left the company and it is not clear if their successors have maintained a self-management structure.

 

Brasilata Open in new window

Started: 1955

Based: São Paulo – Brazil

Does: Tin can manufacture

 

BSO/Origin

Started: 1976

Based: Eindhoven - Netherlands

Did: IT support

Notes: BSO/Origin merged with two French companies in 1997 to become ATOS Origin, now ATOS Open in new window

 

Buffer Open in new window

Started: 2010

Based: Worldwide

Does: Social media management

 

Buurtzorg Open in new window - English site Open in new window (USA)

Started: 2007

Based: Almelo - Netherlands (also Japan, Sweden and USA)

Does: Healthcare provider

Buurtzorg grew from 4 nurses in 2006 it to nearly 8,000 nurses in 2014 whilst savings the Dutch health care system roughly 40 percent in costs. More >>

 

ESBZ Open in new window

Started: 2007

Based: Berlin - Germany

Does: School

 

FAVI Open in new window

Started: 1957

Based: Hallencourt - France

Does: Design, optimize, die-cast, machine and assemble parts for the automotive industry

 

Fitzii Open in new window

Started: 2011

Based: Toronto - Canada

Does: Job Applicant Tracking System

 

Gripple Open in new window

Started: 1984

Based: Sheffield - UK with subsidiaries worldwide.

Does: Wire connector manufacture

 

Happy Open in new window

Started: 1987

Based: London - UK

Does: IT and Computer training courses

 

HCL Technologies Open in new window

Started: 1976

Based: Bangalore - India

Does: Software development and outsourcing

 

Holacracy Open in new window

Started: 2007

Based: Spring City, Pennsylvania - USA

Does: A complete system for self-organisation

 

Matt Black Systems Open in new window

Started: 1971

Based: Bournemouth - UK

Does: Design and manufacture of man-machine interfaces for land, sea and air applications

 

Morning Star Open in new window

Started: 1970

Based: California - USA

Does: Tomato processing

Principles:

Morning Star started with two, simple principles.

  1. People should not use force against other people.
  2. People should honour their commitments to each other.

These two simple principles evolved into a template Open in new window for conduct within Morning Star.

Morning Star have also set up an Institute Open in new window to train their colleagues (employees) and also others who are interested in the concept. This is another hallmark of self-managed organisations; most are happy to share their success.

They also provide a useful guide Open in new window to some of the misconceptions surrounding self-management.

Patagonia Open in new window

Started: 1973

Based: Ventura, California - USA

Does: Outdoor clothing and gear

 

RHD Open in new window

Started: 1970

Based: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - USA

Does: Diversified human services

 

Scott Bader Open in new window

Started: 1921

Based: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire - UK

Does: Chemical company

Notes: In 1951, the Founder, Ernest Bader and his family, gifted the company to the workers.  The shares of the company were transferred to Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited, a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, thereby creating a common trusteeship company.

 

Semco Open in new window

Started: 1980s

Based: São Paulo – Brazil

Does: Engineering and Engineering services

 

Sounds True Open in new window

Started: 1985

Based: Louisville, Colorado - USA

Does: Multimedia publishing company

 

Suma Open in new window

Started: 1975

Based: Leeds - UK

Does: Wholefood distributors

 

Sun Hydraulics Open in new window

Started: 1970

Based: Sarasota, Florida - USA

Does: Designer and manufacturer of high-performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds

 

WL Gore Open in new window

Started: 1958

BasedNewark, New Jersey - USA

Does: Polymers, textiles (Gore-Tex) and electrical products

 

Zappos Open in new window

Started: 1999

Based: Las Vegas, Nevada - USA

Does: Online shoe retailer

 

Zara Open in new window

Started: 1975

Based: A Coruña, Galicia - Spain and worldwide

Does: Clothing and accessories designer, manufacturer and retailer