Where the operating model gets in the way
A business can have a clear strategy and still struggle to act on it. The signs often appear in delayed decisions, overloaded teams and priorities that keep shifting.
The operating model shows itself in everyday decisions: what gets attention, where work waits and whether people have room to act. When those things are out of step with the strategy, progress slows long before a result appears on the dashboard.
The impact on performance
The cost is felt across the business. Decisions take longer. Teams work around unclear ownership. Important initiatives compete with the work that keeps customers served.
For leaders, the opportunity is to make the organisation easier to run and give important change a better chance to last.
Cite as: Markham Institute, “Where the operating model gets in the way”, Markham Perspectives, June 2026. Republication permitted with attribution.
Institute Briefings are written by the Markham Institute from engagement evidence, reviewed before publication. Positions are argued, priced, and open to challenge.
Discuss this essay