For this week's journal entry I wanted to use the example of a highly publisized NBA team, Miami Heat, and apply the concepts of the 7-S Framework to their organization.
The Heat are a relatively new organization that was founded in 1988, and you could really argue that in essence it is a brand new organization/team this year due to the heavy "superstar" infusion on the court. Ever since LeBron James announced his "Decision" to join the Heat along with Chris Bosh there has been a non-stop media buzz around the team. So how does this team stack up in terms of alignment and congruence according to the Framework?
Without a question the team possesses some of the best Skills in the league, cumulatively they are probably the most talented team in the league, with arguably NBA's best player in LeBron James. The team's main Strategy is to mainly use one-on-one isolation by LeBron or Dwayne Wade in combination with electrifying fast-breaks for easy buckets, which are often fueled by a high pressure defense. In this the team's Style is unique. Having the star power allows the offence to draw several defenders on a single player, often leaving wide open shooters like Mike Miller, Mike Bibby or James Jones. When those players are hitting their shots, the Heat is very difficult to beat. There seems to be a great deal of alignment between the team's Strategy and Style, the only question is : Can you win a championship using such tactics?
As it has been mentioned before the team's Skills come directly from the superior Staff or the players. It is also worthy to note the exceptional demeanor and expertise of a young coach, Eric Spoelstra. While there has been some criticism of Eric's qualifications and abilities, especially when the team is on a slight loosing streak, he has proven time after time that he is the right man for the job. I believe that his young age and relative lack of recognition perfectly align with the star players that he is assigned to coach. Perhaps having a more notable coach would create some tension of egos between the coaching staff and the players.
It is also important to point out a somewhat unique Structure of the current team. While the management was able to go out and recruit two more superstars on their squad, doing so left them with the challenge of filling up the rest of the roster using very little cash. Therefore, as of right now, the supporting cast of players looks bare, which has caused some in-game issues. This could especially become a problem when the team faces some of the deeper teams, like Boston or Chicago, in the playoffs. While the team is somewhat stuck with this situation for the rest of the season, I am sure that recruiting more valuable players at an affordable price is one of General Manager's primary goals in the off season.
Finally, I believe that the team's Shared Values are in line with the rest of the aspects mentioned above. More than anything, the team wants to win a title. This is what initially led LeBron and Bosh to sign with this ball club. Both players knew that they could not compete for a title with their previous teams. Having such determination adds a significant internal value or synergy to the organization. While it might take some time to work out the kinks , ultimately the team is on the same page and are steadily moving closer towards their ultimate goal with each game.
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