Guiding Decentralized Decision-Making by Acting on Purpose

MIT CISR

Nick van der Meulen reads MIT CISR's October 2023 research briefing, which he co-authored with Cynthia Beath. See the text version and related content at https://cisr.mit.edu/publication/2023_1001_PurposeinAction_VanderMeulenBeath. Abstract: Recent MIT CISR survey data showed that nearly every participating organization had crafted a purpose statement. However, only half had defined the aspirations, propositions, and values that together comprise a comprehensive organizational purpose statement that can become ingrained in leaders’ strategic planning and teams’ decision-making. Drawing on MIT CISR survey data and a case study of Allstate Insurance, this research briefing describes how combining such a comprehensive organizational purpose with decentralized decision-making results in accelerated strategic objective realization and improved financial performance.